Short answer: the JBL Xtreme 5 for deep bass, the Marshall Kilburn II for a compact amp-style design. The Xtreme 5 has a removable battery but is high priced. The Kilburn II pairs a 20W Class D amp with dual 8W tweeters, but its upper bass is boosted, it is not very detailed, it does not go as deep as competitors and its upper mids peak.
Buy the JBL Xtreme 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $180.95 saving on the Marshall Kilburn II is not enough to make up the difference.
Water resistance is not close: the JBL Xtreme 5 is rated at IP68 (extended submersion), well ahead of the Marshall Kilburn II at IPX2 (light drips).
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Xtreme 5 | Marshall Kilburn II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.95 | $219.00 |
| Ranked | #2 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX2 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 6.5” x 6.1” (346 x 165 x 155 mm) | 9.6” x 6.4” x 5.5” (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 4” (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 1 x 90W RMS Woofer + 2 x 20W RMS Tweeter (AC power mode) 1 x 60W RMS Woofer + 2 x 15W RMS Tweeter (Battery mode) | 36W |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | ~58Hz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Xtreme 5: