Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II. It ranks #31 of 97 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $330; the Marshall Kilburn III ranks #41, rated 3.8/5, and costs $379.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Marshall Middleton II is the deeper-bass, lighter option. Very deep bass for the size/weight. Its bass reaches about 38Hz before falling 10dB, against 45Hz for the Marshall Kilburn III. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Marshall Kilburn III at 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg). It is rated IP67 against IP54 for the Marshall Kilburn III. Watch for: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
The Marshall Kilburn III is the longer-running choice. Spacious soundstage with broad stereo dispersion from Marshall’s True Stereophonic multi-driver layout, delivering warm, room-filling sound with 45Hz bass extension. It is rated for 50 hours of battery against 30 for the Marshall Middleton II. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton II lacks. The catch: Noticeable dips in the midrange compromise frequency response neutrality, making vocals and acoustic instruments sound somewhat recessed or muffled compared to more linear competitors like the JBL Xtreme 4 unless the bass dial is dialed back.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Kilburn III and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | Marshall Kilburn III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $330 | $379.99 |
| Ranked | #31 of 97 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #41 of 97 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP54 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| 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) | 10.7” x 5.9” x 6.7” (272 x 150 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 4” woofer + 2x 2” full-range drivers |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 91dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Middleton II:
- Marshall Middleton II vs Vifa Helsinki
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- 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 2, 2026 at 10:18 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Middleton II: $330 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Middleton (ranked lower, rated 4/5).
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 →
| 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
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Marshall Kilburn III: $379.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Kilburn II (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: Spacious soundstage with broad stereo dispersion from Marshall’s True Stereophonic multi-driver layout, delivering warm, room-filling sound with 45Hz bass extension. Independent physical bass and treble dials allow quick tonal adjustments on the fly, backed by app-based EQ and placement compensation. Battery life is outstanding at up to 50+ hours with USB-C power-bank charging, IP54 splash resistance, 3.5mm aux input, and Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast broadcast support. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Noticeable dips in the midrange compromise frequency response neutrality, making vocals and acoustic instruments sound somewhat recessed or muffled compared to more linear competitors like the JBL Xtreme 4 unless the bass dial is dialed back. Kilburn II retains slightly punchier perceived loudness at maximum volume due to a more aggressive V-shaped contour. At 2.85 kg with only IP54 splash resistance, it is heavy and cannot withstand water immersion. Lacks a built-in microphone and LDAC codec support.
Full Marshall Kilburn III review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.7” x 5.9” x 6.7” (272 x 150 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” woofer + 2x 2” full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Marshall Kilburn II
- Marshall Kilburn III vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Kilburn III vs W-King T9
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Marshall Middleton
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- Marshall Kilburn III vs Sonos Move 2
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