Short answer: the Marshall Kilburn II for better sound quality, the JBL Xtreme 2 for the lower price. The Marshall Kilburn II ranks #36 of 77 large speakers at $294.73. The JBL Xtreme 2 ranks #44 at $149.99, $144.74 cheaper.
On the Marshall Kilburn II side: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. Set against that: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
What the JBL Xtreme 2 offers: Four drivers with refined bass balance, closer to studio monitors than typical portables. Watch for: External AC power brick for charging.
Buy the Marshall Kilburn II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Xtreme 2 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Xtreme 2 at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Marshall Kilburn II at IPX2 (light drips).
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Kilburn II | JBL Xtreme 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.73 | $149.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #36 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #44 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 | IPX7 |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg | 5.3 lbs / 2.4 kg |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Output Power | 36W | 40W RMS |
| Dimensions | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) | 11.3" x 5.4" x 4.2" (287 x 137 x 107 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Max Volume | 102dB | 98dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Xtreme 4 vs Zealot S97
- JBL Xtreme 4 vs onn Portable FM Boombox
- JBL Xtreme 4 vs W-King T9
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony SRS-XB43
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Kilburn II: $294.73 Amazon
Pros: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. 20+ hour battery with quick-charge (20 min charges 3 hours of play). Rugged design with leather handle and reinforced corners, IPX2 rated. Thrives with rock music. Bluetooth 5.0 with 30ft range.
Cons: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak. Very low IPX2 water rating. AC charging
Full Marshall Kilburn II review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 36W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Xdobo Bucket /BMTL Bucket / Zicoroop Ts
- Marshall Kilburn II vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Marshall Middleton
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony SRS-XB43
- Marshall Kilburn II vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Marshall Kilburn II vs W-King D8
- See all 16 comparisons
JBL Xtreme 2: $149.99 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Four drivers with refined bass balance, closer to studio monitors than typical portables. IPX7 water-resistant. Amazing real-world battery: ~20 hours at 75dB (vs 15hr claim). USB-A port charges other devices. Optional carry strap.
Cons: External AC power brick for charging. Boosted bass. Treble harsh at high volumes. Discontinued.
Full JBL Xtreme 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.3" x 5.4" x 4.2" (287 x 137 x 107 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 98dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 40W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs / 2.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: W-King D8 speaker review 50 watts power against JBL xtreme 2 and soundcore Motion plus
- Alan Ross Reviews: W-King X10 vs JBL Xtreme 3, Xtreme 2 and Xtreme 1! Xtreme Review 🤓
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 3 vs JBL Xtreme 2 and Xtreme 1 - review and sound test
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb43 JBL Xtreme 2 W-King d8 Dockin D Fine
- Ezekielo: JBL Xtreme 2 vs Sonos Move with Sound Comparison
- HT Sound: Devialet Mania VS JBL Xtreme 2 - 60% Vol (Listen with headphones)
- Reddit Search for JBL Xtreme 2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons