Short answer: the Middleton, even with its own real flaw. It ranks #30 of 76 large speakers at $238.99; the Detroit ranks #53 at $299, $60 more for a much weaker placement.
The Middleton’s biggest complaint is unusually specific. Our notes describe Marshall’s added DSP echo effect, which cannot be turned off, as very distracting and annoying, like being forced to listen in an echo chamber. Bass is deep but described as artificial and flabby, lacking attack and dynamics.
The Detroit’s problems are Klipsch’s house sound, for better or worse. Weird boosted upper bass that doesn’t go very deep, and boosted lower treble our notes call harsh, like most other Klipsch speakers, covered in more depth on the Klipsch brand page.
Buy the Middleton despite its DSP quirk; the ranking gap is large enough that it’s still the better measured speaker. Buy the Detroit only if you specifically want Klipsch’s horn-driven character over Marshall’s.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Detroit | Marshall Middleton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $238.99 |
| Ranked | #53 of 75 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #30 of 75 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (broadcast mode) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 13.1" x 4.2" x 4.68" (334 x 107 x 119 mm) | 9.1" x 3.7" x 4.3" (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 30W RMS | 50W |
| Max Volume | 93dB | 99dB |
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch Detroit: $299.00 Amazon
Pros: Dual 1” tweeters + 3” woofers deliver excellent sound detail and robust bass. IP67 dust/waterproof rating submersible 1m for 30 min. 20-hour battery life at moderate volume (12-15 hours at high volume). USB-C fast-charge in 2 hours with two-way power for device charging.
Cons: Weird boosted upper bass, bass not very deep. Boosted lower treble, somewhat harsh sounding like most other Klipsch speakers. Not very loud.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 13.1" x 4.2" x 4.68" (334 x 107 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Output Power | 30W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (broadcast mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Walts TV: The Austin NEW Klipsch Bluetooth Speaker Review + Sound Test
- Audio Inside Scoop: Klipsch Detroit VS JBL Xtreme 3 Hear With Me!!
- Audio Inside Scoop: Klipsch Detroit VS JBL Charge Hear With Me!!
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Middleton vs Klipsch Detroit
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Klipsch Detroit - unboxing & first impressions
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Klipsch Detroid vs SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor test
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Marshall Middleton: $238.99 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: 3 minutes ago….. Marshall Middleton Review, true stereophonic, no honestly 😊
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro MAX HiFi ?🆚 MARSHALL🎸MIDDELTON
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Middleton👌🎶 🆚 JBL Xtreme 4 🎶📢
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton - first impressions
- Danny Pops: Is it Any Good? - Marshall Middleton Review
- Smart Home Sounds: Best Premium Bluetooth Speakers: Sonos Move, JBL Xtreme 3, Marshall Middleton & More…
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Middleton vs Klipsch Detroit
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bass Check 💣 Treblab HD-360, Ultimate Ears EpicBoom, Marshall Middleton & JBL Pulse 5. Boom or Bust?
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.