Short answer: the Marshall Middleton. It ranks #33 of 120 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $257.52. The DOSS Soundbox XL ranks #80, rated 3.1/5, at $79.99, $177.53 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Marshall Middleton is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. A waterproof stereo speaker with very deep bass for its size, a long battery, a power bank and a detachable strap. Its bass reaches about 39Hz before falling 10dB, against 55Hz for the DOSS Soundbox XL. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 10 for the DOSS Soundbox XL. It is rated IPX7 against IPX4 for the DOSS Soundbox XL. The catch: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
The DOSS Soundbox XL is the lighter pick. A light, affordable speaker with a built in subwoofer, splash resistance, microSD playback, and stereo pairing. At 1.2 lbs (557 g) it weighs much less than the Marshall Middleton at 4 lbs (1.8 kg). Watch for: A little hollow sounding.
Buy the Marshall Middleton. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $177.53 with the DOSS Soundbox XL does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton | DOSS Soundbox XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $257.52 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #33 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 1.2 lbs (557 g) |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX4 |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.0 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) | 11.8” x 2.6” x 5.2” (300 x 66 x 132 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 76mm subwoofer, 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 32W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Middleton: