Short answer: the Marshall Middleton if sound quality matters most, the Xdobo X8 Max if price matters most. The Marshall Middleton ranks #31 of 78 large speakers at $225.18. The Xdobo X8 Max ranks #57 at $73, $152.18 cheaper.
What the Marshall Middleton offers: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Watch for: 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.
What the Xdobo X8 Max offers: A 2.86kg, feature-packed boombox with claimed 100W output, a 20,000mAh battery, USB-C charging, power-bank output, IPX7 protection, aux and microSD playback, speakerphone capability and TWS. Dual woofers and tweeters provide enough output for outdoor background music, with a roughly 52Hz -10dB bass point. Watch for: The voicing is bass-heavy with thin, boosted highs that can turn harsh, and reviews report distortion rather than clean dynamics when pushed hard. There is no app or user EQ to correct it; the limited tested water resistance and less-refined tuning make it a poor pick for critical listening.
Buy the Marshall Middleton if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Xdobo X8 Max if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton | Xdobo X8 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $225.18 | $73 |
| Ranked | #31 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #57 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (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) | 6.3 lbs (2.86 kg) |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.7" x 4.3" (230 x 95 x 109 mm) | 11.8" x 4.3" x 5.3" (300 x 110 x 134 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 80mm woofers, 2x 52mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 100W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Marshall Middleton compares with other leading options:
- Marshall Middleton vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Marshall Middleton
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Marshall Middleton
- Marshall Middleton vs Brane X
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Marshall Middleton
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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: $225.18 Amazon eBay
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 |
| 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
- Marshall Middleton vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Middleton vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Marshall Middleton vs Marshall Middleton II
- Marshall Middleton vs Sonos Move
- Marshall Middleton vs Marshall Kilburn II
- Marshall Middleton vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Marshall Middleton vs Sonos Move 2
- Marshall Middleton vs Soundcore Motion X500
- See all 46 comparisons
Xdobo X8 Max: $73 eBay
Pros: A 2.86kg, feature-packed boombox with claimed 100W output, a 20,000mAh battery, USB-C charging, power-bank output, IPX7 protection, aux and microSD playback, speakerphone capability and TWS. Dual woofers and tweeters provide enough output for outdoor background music, with a roughly 52Hz -10dB bass point. Measured bass extension of ~52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: The voicing is bass-heavy with thin, boosted highs that can turn harsh, and reviews report distortion rather than clean dynamics when pushed hard. There is no app or user EQ to correct it; the limited tested water resistance and less-refined tuning make it a poor pick for critical listening.
Full Xdobo X8 Max review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8" x 4.3" x 5.3" (300 x 110 x 134 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 80mm woofers, 2x 52mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.86 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons