These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The JBL Charge 5 ranks #30 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $114.95; the Marshall Stockwell II ranks #11 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $229.99.
Our notes call the Stockwell II possibly the most natural sounding Marshall speaker, with excellent off-axis behavior. The catch is a DSP reverb effect that’s always on, which our notes say audio purists may find annoying, and it isn’t stereo or especially loud.
The Charge 5’s complaints are more conventional. A warm sound, shouty upper mids, boosted bass, and slightly rolled-off treble, plus a price our notes call overly expensive for what it delivers. It does double as a USB power bank, which the Stockwell II doesn’t.
Buy the Stockwell II for the more natural sound and higher rating, if you can live with the always-on reverb. Buy the Charge 5 for the power bank function and JBL’s broader ecosystem.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone.
A light, strap equipped speaker with some of the most natural sound around, even off to the side, and a long battery.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 | Marshall Stockwell II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.95 | $229.99 |
| Ranked | #30 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | 50ms |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 7.1” x 6.3” x 2.8” (180 x 161 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 3” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 20W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 Review and huge sound test! - vs JBL Charge 5! 💯
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 3 greatest EQ settings of all time! Its sEARius!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dali Katch G2 high end audio takes on the entire world of bluetooth speakers! 👌👋
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