Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Plus. It ranks #22 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $199; the Marshall Kilburn II ranks #36 and costs $279, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Bose SoundLink Plus side: IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. Close to 20 hour battery life. Vibrant sound with booming bass, clean mids. Set against that: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
The case for the Marshall Kilburn II: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. 20+ hour battery with quick-charge (20 min charges 3 hours of play). The tradeoff: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Kilburn II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the Bose SoundLink Plus at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Marshall Kilburn II at IPX2 (light drips).
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | Marshall Kilburn II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 | $279.00 |
| Ranked | #22 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX2 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 3.4" (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer | 36W |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5" (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78" (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~58Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 102dB |
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- JBL Xtreme 4 vs Soundcore Motion X500
- JBL Xtreme 4 vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Marshall Kilburn II
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony ULT Field 5
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Plus: $199.00 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. Close to 20 hour battery life. Vibrant sound with booming bass, clean mids. Bluetooth 5.4 with good range. Premium tactile grille, smooth silicone. Quality build at $269.
Cons: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
Full Bose SoundLink Plus review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 3.4" (231 x 99 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5" (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78" (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Teufel Rockster Cross
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Sonos Move 2
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Bose SoundLink Max
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs Sonos Move
- See all 24 comparisons
Marshall Kilburn II: $279.00 Amazon
Pros: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. 20+ hour battery with quick-charge (20 min charges 3 hours of play). Rugged design with leather handle and reinforced corners, IPX2 rated. Thrives with rock music. Bluetooth 5.0 with 30ft range.
Cons: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak. Very low IPX2 water rating. AC charging
Full Marshall Kilburn II review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 36W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Xdobo Bucket /BMTL Bucket / Zicoroop Ts
- Marshall Kilburn II vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Marshall Middleton
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony SRS-XB43
- Marshall Kilburn II vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Marshall Kilburn II vs W-King D8
- See all 18 comparisons