Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Marshall Middleton II ranks #31 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $279.99; the JBL Charge 5 ranks #30 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $114.95.
The Marshall Middleton II is the deeper-bass, longer-running option. A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and an app EQ. Its bass reaches about 38Hz before falling 10dB, against 53Hz for the JBL Charge 5. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 20 for the JBL Charge 5. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 5 lacks. Watch for: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
The JBL Charge 5 is the lighter option. A rugged, fully waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound and long battery life that also charges your phone. At 2.1 lbs (960 g) it weighs much less than the Marshall Middleton II at 4 lbs (1.8 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton II lacks. The tradeoff: Shouty upper mids.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II at $279.99 for a large speaker, or the JBL Charge 5 at $114.95 for a medium speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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 | JBL Charge 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.99 | $114.95 |
| Ranked | #31 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #30 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (dual microphones) |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| 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) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 125ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Charge 5: