Short answer: the Marshall Middleton. It ranks #34 of 97 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $211.83; the Marshall Kilburn III ranks #41, rated 3.8/5, and costs $379.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Marshall Middleton is the deeper-bass, lighter pick. Very deep bass for the size/weight. Its bass reaches about 39Hz before falling 10dB, against 45Hz for the Marshall Kilburn III. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Marshall Kilburn III at 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg). It is rated IPX7 against IP54 for the Marshall Kilburn III. The catch: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
The Marshall Kilburn III is the longer-running choice. Spacious soundstage with broad stereo dispersion from Marshall’s True Stereophonic multi-driver layout, delivering warm, room-filling sound with 45Hz bass extension. It is rated for 50 hours of battery against 20 for the Marshall Middleton. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Marshall Middleton lacks. Watch for: Noticeable dips in the midrange compromise frequency response neutrality, making vocals and acoustic instruments sound somewhat recessed or muffled compared to more linear competitors like the JBL Xtreme 4 unless the bass dial is dialed back.
Buy the Marshall Middleton. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Kilburn III and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton | Marshall Kilburn III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $211.83 | $379.99 |
| Ranked | #34 of 97 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #41 of 97 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 91dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP54 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) | 10.7” x 5.9” x 6.7” (272 x 150 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 4” woofer + 2x 2” full-range drivers |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (built-in strap) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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: $211.83 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Middleton II, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Measured bass extension of 39Hz (-10dB).
Cons: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz. 9kHz treble peak. Not a very smooth frequency response. A lot of Marshall’s added dsp echo which cannot be turned off, very distracting and annoying. It’s like forcing you to listen to your music in an echo chamber. Bass is reasonably deep but artificial sounding and flabby, with no attack and no dynamics. Treble is rolled off.
Full Marshall Middleton review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| 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
- Alan Ross Reviews: 3 minutes ago….. Marshall Middleton Review, true stereophonic, no honestly 😊 More from alanrossreviews →
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro MAX HiFi ?🆚 MARSHALL🎸MIDDELTON More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Middleton👌🎶 🆚 JBL Xtreme 4 🎶📢
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton - first impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
- Danny Pops: Is it Any Good? - Marshall Middleton Review More from DannyPops →
- Smart Home Sounds: Best Premium Bluetooth Speakers: Sonos Move, JBL Xtreme 3, Marshall Middleton & More… More from Smart Home Sounds →
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Middleton vs Klipsch Detroit More from storytripperhd →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bass Check 💣 Treblab HD-360, Ultimate Ears EpicBoom, Marshall Middleton & JBL Pulse 5. Boom or Bust? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Marshall Kilburn III: $379.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Kilburn II (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: Spacious soundstage with broad stereo dispersion from Marshall’s True Stereophonic multi-driver layout, delivering warm, room-filling sound with 45Hz bass extension. Independent physical bass and treble dials allow quick tonal adjustments on the fly, backed by app-based EQ and placement compensation. Battery life is outstanding at up to 50+ hours with USB-C power-bank charging, IP54 splash resistance, 3.5mm aux input, and Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast broadcast support. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Noticeable dips in the midrange compromise frequency response neutrality, making vocals and acoustic instruments sound somewhat recessed or muffled compared to more linear competitors like the JBL Xtreme 4 unless the bass dial is dialed back. Kilburn II retains slightly punchier perceived loudness at maximum volume due to a more aggressive V-shaped contour. At 2.85 kg with only IP54 splash resistance, it is heavy and cannot withstand water immersion. Lacks a built-in microphone and LDAC codec support.
Full Marshall Kilburn III review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.7” x 5.9” x 6.7” (272 x 150 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” woofer + 2x 2” full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Marshall Kilburn II
- Marshall Kilburn III vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Kilburn III vs W-King T9
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Devialet Mania
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Marshall Middleton II
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Marshall Kilburn III vs Sonos Move 2
- See all 31 comparisons