Short answer: the Brane X. It ranks #4 of 115 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $549. The Marshall Middleton II ranks #31, rated 4.1/5, at $279.99, $269.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Marshall Middleton II is the longer-running, lighter option. A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and an app EQ. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 12 for the Brane X. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs much less than the Brane X at 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg). Watch for: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
The Brane X is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input. Its bass reaches about 31Hz before falling 10dB, against 38Hz for the Marshall Middleton II. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton II lacks. Watch for: The front-facing design has only moderate dispersion, so sound changes noticeably off to the sides or behind it.
Buy the Brane X. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $269.01 with the Marshall Middleton II does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and an app EQ.
A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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
| Marshall Middleton II | Brane X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.99 | $549.00 |
| Ranked | #31 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Brane app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | 31Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (5 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP57 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) | 9.3” x 7” x 6.1” (236 x 178 x 155 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 2.5” midrange, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 6.5”x9” subwoofer |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 200W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Brane X compares with other leading options: