These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The JBL Charge 5 Wifi ranks #29 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $139.95; the Marshall Middleton ranks #33 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $257.52.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the lighter option. A rugged waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound plus Wi-Fi streaming over AirPlay and Chromecast, long battery life and a phone charging port. At 2.2 lbs (1 kg) it weighs much less than the Marshall Middleton at 4 lbs (1.8 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Marshall Middleton lacks. Watch for: Shouty upper mids.
The Marshall Middleton is the deeper-bass choice. A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and a detachable strap. Its bass reaches about 39Hz before falling 10dB, against 53Hz for the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi lacks. It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi cannot. The catch: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi ($139.95) for a medium speaker; the Marshall Middleton ($257.52) suits a large speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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 Wifi | Marshall Middleton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.95 | $257.52 |
| Ranked | #29 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #33 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 50W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
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