Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II for better sound quality, the Xdobo X8 Max for the lower price. The Marshall Middleton II ranks #28 of 78 large speakers at $330. The Xdobo X8 Max ranks #57 at $73, $257 cheaper.
What the Marshall Middleton II offers: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Watch for: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange. Dip around 200hz, peak at 1khz, dipped at 1.6khz. Strange frequency response through the mids.
What the Xdobo X8 Max offers: A 2.86kg, feature-packed boombox with claimed 100W output, a 20,000mAh battery, USB-C charging, power-bank output, IPX7 protection, aux and microSD playback, speakerphone capability and TWS. Dual woofers and tweeters provide enough output for outdoor background music, with a roughly 52Hz -10dB bass point. Watch for: The voicing is bass-heavy with thin, boosted highs that can turn harsh, and reviews report distortion rather than clean dynamics when pushed hard. There is no app or user EQ to correct it; the limited tested water resistance and less-refined tuning make it a poor pick for critical listening.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Xdobo X8 Max when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Battery life favors the Marshall Middleton II: rated for 30 hours against 15 hours for the Xdobo X8 Max.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | Xdobo X8 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $330 | $73 |
| Ranked | #28 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #57 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | ~52Hz |
| 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) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 6.3 lbs (2.86 kg) |
| 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) | 11.8" x 4.3" x 5.3" (300 x 110 x 134 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 80mm woofers, 2x 52mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 100W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to 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 September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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: $330 Amazon eBay
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 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 |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
- 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 onn Portable FM Boombox
- Marshall Middleton II vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- See all 46 comparisons
Xdobo X8 Max: $73 eBay
Pros: A 2.86kg, feature-packed boombox with claimed 100W output, a 20,000mAh battery, USB-C charging, power-bank output, IPX7 protection, aux and microSD playback, speakerphone capability and TWS. Dual woofers and tweeters provide enough output for outdoor background music, with a roughly 52Hz -10dB bass point. Measured bass extension of ~52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: The voicing is bass-heavy with thin, boosted highs that can turn harsh, and reviews report distortion rather than clean dynamics when pushed hard. There is no app or user EQ to correct it; the limited tested water resistance and less-refined tuning make it a poor pick for critical listening.
Full Xdobo X8 Max review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 4.3" x 5.3" (300 x 110 x 134 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 80mm woofers, 2x 52mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.86 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons