Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II for better sound quality, the W-King D8 for the lower price. The Marshall Middleton II ranks #31 of 105 large speakers, rated 4.1/5, at $329.99. The W-King D8 ranks #57, rated 3.5/5, at $69.99, $260 cheaper.
The Marshall Middleton II is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Very deep bass for the size/weight. Its bass reaches about 38Hz before falling 10dB, against 49Hz for the W-King D8. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the W-King D8 at 5.4 lbs (2.43 kg). It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the W-King D8 cannot. Watch for: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
What the W-King D8 does well: At 5.4 lbs (2.43 kg), W-King D8 combines 2x 70mm woofers + 2x 31mm tweeters + passive radiators with Bluetooth and aux. The tradeoff: Bass is limited by its 49Hz specification.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the W-King D8 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | W-King D8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.99 | $69.99 |
| Ranked | #31 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #57 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | 49Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 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) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 5.4 lbs (2.43 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) | 12.6” x 4.8” x 4.7” (320 x 121.9 x 119.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 70mm woofers + 2x 31mm tweeters + passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 90W max / 50W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| Maximum SPL | - | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Middleton II:
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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 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.
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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 →
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W-King D8: $69.99 Amazon $69.99 eBay
Pros: At 2.43 kg, W-King D8 combines 2x 70mm woofers + 2x 31mm tweeters + passive radiators with Bluetooth and aux. Claimed 24 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life, ipx7 protection, up to 101db and stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of 49Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 49Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment.
Full W-King D8 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 90W max / 50W RMS |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 4.8” x 4.7” (320 x 121.9 x 119.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers + 2x 31mm tweeters + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 5.4 lbs (2.43 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: W King D8 vs W-King D9 - budget boombox battle! More from alanrossreviews →
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