Short answer: the Marshall Kilburn II. It ranks #43 of 102 large speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $279; the Turtlebox Cub ranks #77, rated 3.0/5, and costs $330, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Marshall Kilburn II is the better-sounding, longer-running option. 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 14 for the Turtlebox Cub. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Turtlebox Cub. The catch: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
The Turtlebox Cub is the tougher pick. A compact, cube-shaped Turtlebox at 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) with a real two-way layout: a 4.5 inch woofer and a 1.3 inch titanium tweeter. It is rated IP67 against IPX2 for the Marshall Kilburn II. It links with other speakers (Party Mode), which the Marshall Kilburn II cannot. The catch: The evidence so far is listening impressions from two reviews, with no side by side tests against other brands.
Buy the Marshall Kilburn II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Turtlebox Cub and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Kilburn II | Turtlebox Cub | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.00 | $330.00 |
| Ranked | #43 of 102 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #77 of 102 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 | IP67 |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 36W | - |
| Dimensions | 9.6” x 6.4” x 5.5” (243 x 162 x 140 mm) | 8.6”H x 7.2”W x 5.7”D (218 x 183 x 146 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters | 1x 4.5” (114mm) woofer + 1x 1.3” (33mm) titanium tweeter |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Marshall Kilburn II:
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Marshall Kilburn II
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Marshall Kilburn II
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Brane X
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Kilburn II: $279.00 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Kilburn III, ranked higher, rated 3.8/5.
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. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 36W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 DEEP BASS👌💪💖🆚 Marshall Kilburn 2 Outside
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Turtlebox Cub: $330.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A compact, cube-shaped Turtlebox at 2.4 kg with a real two-way layout: a 4.5 inch woofer and a 1.3 inch titanium tweeter. Reviewers found it very loud for its size, with warm, bass-forward tuning and a bit more bass than the Turtlebox Ranger. IP67 waterproof and dustproof, crush and drop resistant, stainless steel tie-downs, a claimed 14+ hours from a 49.95Wh battery, USB-C charging with a power bank output, stereo pairing and Party Mode.
Cons: The evidence so far is listening impressions from two reviews, with no side by side tests against other brands. One reviewer found it loses bass at high volume, and it is not as loud as the full-size Turtlebox. Turtlebox’s claimed 118dB is a figure the brand’s larger speakers have not come close to at a standard one meter distance. It is also mono from one unit, and its recessed USB-C port only fits slim cable plugs.
Full Turtlebox Cub review and specifications →
| Battery Life | 14+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 7.2”W x 5.7”D (218 x 183 x 146 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4.5” (114mm) woofer + 1x 1.3” (33mm) titanium tweeter |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons