Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Plus. It ranks #22 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $199; the Marshall Middleton ranks #31 and costs $224.90, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Bose SoundLink Plus offers: IP67 rated, IP67 water/dustproof. Watch for: 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.
On the Marshall Middleton side: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Set against that: 5db dip at 1.7khz and 6.3khz.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Middleton and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | Marshall Middleton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 | $224.90 |
| Ranked | #22 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #31 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 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 3.4" (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 9.1" x 3.7" x 4.3" (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer | 50W |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5" (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78" (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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Marshall Middleton: $224.90 Amazon
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight.
Cons: 5db dip at 1.7khz and 6.3khz. 9khz treble peak. Not a very smooth frequency response. A lot of Marshall’s added dsp echo which cannot be turned off, very distracting and annoying. It’s like forcing you to listen to your music in an echo chamber. Bass is reasonably deep but artificial sounding and flabby, with no attack and no dynamics. Treble is rolled off.
Full Marshall Middleton review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.7" x 4.3" (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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