Short answer: the Brane X. It ranks #4 of 115 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $549. The Marshall Middleton ranks #34, rated 4.0/5, at $279.99, $269.01 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Marshall Middleton is the longer-running, lighter choice. A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and a detachable strap. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 12 for the Brane X. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs much less than the Brane X at 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg). Watch for: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
The Brane X is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input. Its bass reaches about 31Hz before falling 10dB, against 39Hz for the Marshall Middleton. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 106dB at full volume, against 99dB for the Marshall Middleton. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton lacks. Watch for: The front-facing design has only moderate dispersion, so sound changes noticeably off to the sides or behind it.
Buy the Brane X. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $269.01 saving on the Marshall Middleton is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and a detachable strap.
A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton | Brane X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.99 | $549.00 |
| Ranked | #34 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | 31Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| App | No | Yes (Brane app) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (5 band) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP57 |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) | 9.3” x 7” x 6.1” (236 x 178 x 155 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 2.5” midrange, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 6.5”x9” subwoofer |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 200W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa |
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