Short answer: the Marshall Middleton. It ranks #34 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $215.80. The W-King D9 ranks #91, rated 2.5/5, at $71.24, $144.56 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Marshall Middleton is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Very deep bass for the size/weight. Its bass reaches about 39Hz before falling 10dB, against 47Hz for the W-King D9. It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the W-King D9 cannot. The catch: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
The W-King D9 is the louder, longer-running choice. A compact 4.4 lbs (2 kg) boombox with 60W RMS output, a claimed 106dB maximum level, a measured 47Hz -10dB bass point, IPX6 protection, power-bank output, USB-C charging, aux and microSD playback. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 106dB at full volume, against 99dB for the Marshall Middleton. It is rated for 40 hours of battery against 20 for the Marshall Middleton. The catch: Treble rolls off early, limiting air and fine detail, while owner reports note Bluetooth interference and some noise at maximum speaker volume.
Buy the Marshall Middleton. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $144.56 you would save on the W-King D9 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton | W-King D9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $215.80 | $71.24 |
| Ranked | #34 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #91 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 4.4 lbs (2.0 kg) |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) | 4.7” x 12.4” x 4.7” (120 x 315 x 120 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm drivers + passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 60W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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: $215.80 Amazon $215.80 eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Middleton II, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5, released Jul 2025. It adds app control and adjustable EQ. Battery life goes from 20 to 30 hours. See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
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 →
| Released | Jan 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton - first impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
- 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 🎶📢
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 vs Marshall Middleton
- 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 →
- Smart Home Sounds: Best Premium Bluetooth Speakers: Sonos Move, JBL Xtreme 3, Marshall Middleton & More… More from Smart Home Sounds →
- Danny Pops: Is it Any Good? - Marshall Middleton Review More from DannyPops →
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Middleton vs Klipsch Detroit More from storytripperhd →
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W-King D9: $71.24 Amazon $71.24 eBay
Pros: A compact 2kg boombox with 60W RMS output, a claimed 106dB maximum level, a measured 47Hz -10dB bass point, IPX6 protection, power-bank output, USB-C charging, aux and microSD playback. Long-term owners praise its loud, punchy character and useful indoor/outdoor voicing for casual outdoor listening. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Treble rolls off early, limiting air and fine detail, while owner reports note Bluetooth interference and some noise at maximum speaker volume. There is no app or adjustable EQ, and its bass does not reach as deep as larger rivals, so it is better suited to energetic background music than neutral listening.
Full W-King D9 review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2020 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W RMS |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.7” x 12.4” x 4.7” (120 x 315 x 120 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs (2.0 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons