Short answer: the Marshall Middleton. It ranks #34 of 82 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $210.69; the Turtlebox Cub ranks #60, rated 3.0/5, and costs $330, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Middleton has very deep bass for its size, to about 39Hz, but forced DSP echo that cannot be turned off, a rolled off treble and flabby bass. The Cub has only listening impressions so far: loud for its size, warm and bass-forward, with some bass loss at high volume.
Toughness: IPX7 for the Middleton, IP67 plus crush resistance for the Cub.
Features: the Middleton has stereo from one unit, an aux input and a built-in microphone. Both have a USB-C power bank.
Battery and weight: 20 hours and 1.8 kg for the Middleton, 14+ hours and 2.4 kg for the Cub.
Buy the Marshall Middleton. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Turtlebox Cub 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 | Turtlebox Cub | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $210.69 | $330.00 |
| Ranked | #34 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | - |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) | 8.6”H x 7.2”W x 5.7”D (218 x 183 x 146 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 4.5” (114mm) woofer + 1x 1.3” (33mm) titanium tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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: $210.69 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Middleton II, 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 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 Middleton vs Marshall Middleton II
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Turtlebox Cub: $330.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A compact, cube-shaped Turtlebox at 2.4 kg with a real two-way layout: a 4.5 inch woofer and a 1.3 inch titanium tweeter. Reviewers found it very loud for its size, with warm, bass-forward tuning and a bit more bass than the Turtlebox Ranger. IP67 waterproof and dustproof, crush and drop resistant, stainless steel tie-downs, a claimed 14+ hours from a 49.95Wh battery, USB-C charging with a power bank output, stereo pairing and Party Mode.
Cons: The evidence so far is listening impressions from two reviews, with no measurements or side by side tests against other brands. One reviewer found it loses bass at high volume, and it is not as loud as the full-size Turtlebox. Turtlebox’s claimed 118dB is a figure the brand’s larger speakers have not come close to at a standard one meter distance. It is also mono from one unit, and its recessed USB-C port only fits slim cable plugs.
Full Turtlebox Cub review and specifications →
| Battery Life | 14+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 7.2”W x 5.7”D (218 x 183 x 146 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4.5” (114mm) woofer + 1x 1.3” (33mm) titanium tweeter |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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