Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Plus on balance, the Marshall Kilburn II for quick charging. The Kilburn II runs 20+ hours and a 20 minute charge buys 3 hours of play, but it is not very detailed and has a boosted upper bass with an upper-mids peak. The Bose offers IP67 and close to 20 hours with clean mids, though its bass is thuddy and our notes say the SoundLink Flex is the better Bose.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Kilburn II and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Bose SoundLink Plus at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Marshall Kilburn II, which has IPX2 (light drips).
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | Marshall Kilburn II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $279.00 |
| Ranked | #25 of 97 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 97 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~58Hz |
| Amplifier Power | - | 36W |
| Maximum SPL | - | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Plus: $179.00 Amazon eBay
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 $179.
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 | Yes |
| 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 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) |
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Marshall Kilburn II: $279.00 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Kilburn III, ranked higher, rated 3.8/5.
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. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 36W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
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