Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II. It ranks #31 of 120 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $279.99; the Orange Box ranks #99, rated 2.5/5, and costs $359, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Marshall Middleton II is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and an app EQ. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 15 for the Orange Box. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs much less than the Orange Box at 6.6 lbs (3 kg). It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the Orange Box cannot. The catch: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
What the Orange Box does well: A guitar amp styled speaker with a solid wood cabinet, waterproofing, and stereo pairing for a striking retro look. The tradeoff: Pathetic bass extension, port noise, hollow sounding.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Orange Box 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | Orange Box | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.99 | $359.00 |
| Ranked | #31 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #99 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) | 11” x 6.9” x 6.7” (280 x 175 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 102mm woofer, 2x 51mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 35Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 50W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
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