These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Marshall Middleton II ranks #31 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $279.99; the JBL Boombox 4 ranks #20 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $549.95.
The Marshall Middleton II is the lighter option. A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and an app EQ. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs much less than the JBL Boombox 4 at 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg). It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Boombox 4 lacks. The catch: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
The case for the JBL Boombox 4: An extremely loud boombox for its size with fully waterproof, dustproof build, a long battery and a flexible app EQ. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton II lacks. The catch: Pretty overpriced for the category.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II at $279.99 for a large speaker, or the JBL Boombox 4 at $549.95 for a boombox speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | JBL Boombox 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.99 | $549.95 |
| Ranked | #31 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power cord |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, LC3, AAC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 210W AC / 200W battery |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Microphone Input | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
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