Short answer: the Marshall Kilburn II. It ranks #36 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $294.73; the JBL Xtreme 4 ranks #37 and costs $380, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Marshall Kilburn II gets right: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. The catch: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
What the JBL Xtreme 4 offers: Removable battery. Watch for: High priced.
Buy the Marshall Kilburn II. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Xtreme 4 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Xtreme 4 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Marshall Kilburn II at IPX2 (light drips).
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Kilburn II | JBL Xtreme 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.73 | $380 |
| Ranked | #36 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #37 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 | IP67 |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (5 band) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Output Power | 36W | 100W |
| Dimensions | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) | 11.7" x 5.9" x 5.6" (297 x 149 x 141 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Max Volume | 102dB | 106dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 220ms |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | - | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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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.
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JBL Xtreme 4: $380 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Removable battery. Slightly deeper bass than Xtreme 3. Use this EQ for the best sound quality.
Cons: High priced. Some bass boost. Dip in the upper bass to midrange makes it sound strange which cannot be EQd out. Some upper mids and treble boost at high levels.
Full JBL Xtreme 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 220ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7" x 5.9" x 5.6" (297 x 149 x 141 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 106dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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