Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II. It ranks #31 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $329.99. The Klipsch Detroit ranks #76, rated 3.1/5, at $235.99, $94 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Marshall Middleton II is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. Very deep bass for the size/weight. Its bass reaches about 38Hz before falling 10dB, against 55Hz for the Klipsch Detroit. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 20 for the Klipsch Detroit. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Klipsch Detroit at 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg). The tradeoff: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
The case for the Klipsch Detroit: Dual 1” tweeters + 3” woofers deliver excellent sound detail and robust bass. Watch for: Weird boosted upper bass, bass not very deep.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $94 with the Klipsch Detroit does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | Klipsch Detroit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.99 | $235.99 |
| Ranked | #31 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #76 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C, 10W) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) | 13.1” x 4.2” x 4.7” (334 x 107 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 76mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 30W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Middleton II:
- Marshall Middleton II vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Marshall Middleton II
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Marshall Middleton II
- Marshall Middleton II vs Brane X
- Marshall Middleton II vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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.
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Middleton II: $329.99 Amazon $329.99 eBay
Older model: the Marshall Middleton (ranked lower, rated 4/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Same family: the Marshall Willen II (smaller model, rated 4/5), the Marshall Emberton III (smaller model, rated 2.7/5), the Marshall Stockwell III (larger model, ranked lower, rated 3/5) and the Marshall Kilburn III (larger model, ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Measured bass extension of 38Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange. Dip around 200Hz, peak at 1kHz, dipped at 1.6kHz. Strange frequency response through the mids.
Full Marshall Middleton II review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - better with EQ? More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - first impressions
- Dominik Reviews: Marshall Middleton II vs Middleton I - Huge Differences? - Sound Test More from Dominik Reviews →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 vs Marshall Middleton 2 Opinion in Subtitles More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Middleton II vs Sonos Move
- Marshall Middleton II vs Mee Audio PartySPKR
- Marshall Middleton II vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Marshall Middleton II vs Sonos Move 2
- Marshall Middleton II vs Marshall Middleton
- Marshall Middleton II vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Middleton II vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Marshall Middleton II vs Onn Portable FM Boombox
- See all 75 comparisons
Klipsch Detroit: $235.99 Amazon $235.99 eBay
Same family: the Klipsch Austin (smaller model, rated 3.7/5) and the Klipsch Nashville (smaller model, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: Dual 1” tweeters + 3” woofers deliver excellent sound detail and robust bass. IP67 dust/waterproof rating submersible 1m for 30 min. 20-hour battery life at moderate volume (12-15 hours at high volume). USB-C fast-charge in 2 hours with two-way power for device charging. Measured bass extension of ~55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Weird boosted upper bass, bass not very deep. Boosted lower treble, somewhat harsh sounding like most other Klipsch speakers. Not very loud.
Full Klipsch Detroit review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.1” x 4.2” x 4.7” (334 x 107 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 10W) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Klipsch Detroit - unboxing & first impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Klipsch Detroid vs SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor test
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Middleton vs Klipsch Detroit More from storytripperhd →
- Walts TV: The Austin NEW Klipsch Bluetooth Speaker Review + Sound Test
- Audio Inside Scoop: Klipsch Detroit VS JBL Charge Hear With Me!!
- Audio Inside Scoop: Klipsch Detroit VS JBL Xtreme 3 Hear With Me!!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Detroit vs Sony SRS-XG300
- Klipsch Detroit vs DOSS Soundbox XL
- Klipsch Detroit vs Marshall Stockwell III
- Klipsch Detroit vs Turtlebox Cub
- Klipsch Detroit vs JBL Xtreme
- Klipsch Detroit vs Tronsmart Force Max
- Klipsch Detroit vs Tronsmart Halo 100
- Klipsch Detroit vs Xdobo X8 Max
- See all 68 comparisons