Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Plus. It ranks #25 of 115 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $179; the Marshall Stockwell III ranks #79, rated 3.0/5, and costs $249.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Bose SoundLink Plus is the better-sounding, tougher choice. A waterproof mid size speaker with vibrant sound, booming bass, clean mids, a long battery and premium build. It is rated IP67 against IP55 for the Marshall Stockwell III. The tradeoff: 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 Marshall Stockwell III is the longer-running pick. A stylish, rugged speaker with a very long battery you can swap yourself, a detailed app EQ, and power bank charging. It is rated for 40 hours of battery against 20 for the Bose SoundLink Plus. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. The catch: Highs are recessed by default and need the treble control maxed to compensate, still lacking detail even then.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Stockwell III and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A waterproof mid size speaker with vibrant sound, booming bass, clean mids, a long battery and premium build.
A stylish, rugged speaker with a very long battery you can swap yourself, a detailed app EQ, and power bank charging.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Plus | Marshall Stockwell III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #25 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #79 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP55 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LE Audio with LC3 |
| EQ | No | Yes (parametric, via app) |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 7.1” x 6.4” x 2.9” (180 x 162 x 74 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 1x 3” woofer, 2x 1.75” wide-band drivers |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Frequency Response | - | 54Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 44W |
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