Short answer: the Marshall Middleton, if you are buying new. The Vifa Helsinki ranks higher than it (#1 vs #34 of 115 large speakers, 4.8/5 vs 4.0/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Marshall Middleton is still sold new at $279.99.
The Marshall Middleton is the deeper-bass, longer-running pick. 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 48Hz for the Vifa Helsinki. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 8 for the Vifa Helsinki. It is rated IPX7, while the Vifa Helsinki has no water resistance. Watch for: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
The Vifa Helsinki is the better-sounding, lighter option. A superb sounding battery powered speaker, with exceptionally clean mids and treble, now discontinued but worth buying used. At 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Marshall Middleton at 4 lbs (1.8 kg). It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton lacks. The tradeoff: No TWS pairing, looks like a purse, requires a hacked Vifa app (Android only post #48) to enable night mode to sound good.
Buy the Marshall Middleton if you want one new; the Vifa Helsinki is discontinued, so only look for it used.
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 superb sounding battery powered speaker, with exceptionally clean mids and treble, now discontinued but worth buying used.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton | Vifa Helsinki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.99 | $449.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #34 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #1 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) |
| App | No | No (official app is broken, 3rd party android app only) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX, SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | None |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (shared woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) | 6.1” x 8.3” x 2.8” (156 x 210 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange, 2x 66mm woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (built-in strap) |
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