Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II for better sound quality, the Marshall Kilburn II for the lower price. The Marshall Middleton II ranks #28 of 77 large speakers at $330. The Marshall Kilburn II ranks #36 at $294.73, $35.27 cheaper.
What the Marshall Middleton II offers: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Watch for: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
On the Marshall Kilburn II side: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. Set against that: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Marshall Kilburn II if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Middleton II is rated for 30 hours versus 20 hours for the Marshall Kilburn II.
If water resistance matters to you, the Marshall Middleton II at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Marshall Kilburn II at IPX2 (light drips).
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | Marshall Kilburn II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $330 | $294.73 |
| Ranked | #28 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX2 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 4.3" (230 x 98 x 110 mm) | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 80W | 36W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Max Volume | - | 102dB |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Middleton II: $330 Amazon
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight.
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 →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 80W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Middleton II vs Sonos Move
- 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 Bose SoundLink Plus
- Marshall Middleton II vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
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Marshall Kilburn II: $294.73 Amazon
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.
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 →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 36W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Xdobo Bucket /BMTL Bucket / Zicoroop Ts
- Marshall Kilburn II vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Marshall Middleton
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony SRS-XB43
- Marshall Kilburn II vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Marshall Kilburn II vs W-King D8
- See all 16 comparisons