Short answer: the Marshall Middleton. It ranks #34 of 103 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $149.99; the Zealot S127 ranks #45, rated 3.8/5, at $148.85. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
The Marshall Middleton is the lighter choice. Very deep bass for the size/weight. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs much less than the Zealot S127 at 7.8 lbs (3.54 kg). The catch: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
What the Zealot S127 does well: The S127 pairs a claimed 100W amplifier with four drivers - two 92mm woofers plus two 42mm units - in a 33.6 cm cabinet, which points to real outdoor loudness rather than a small desktop box. The tradeoff: At 7.8 lbs (3.54 kg) this is a car-camping speaker, not a backpack one, and it recharges only from a 5V DC input, so refilling a 24000mAh pack takes hours; no charging time or battery-life hours are published.
Buy the Marshall Middleton. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1.14 you would save on the Zealot S127 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton | Zealot S127 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $148.85 |
| Ranked | #34 of 103 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #45 of 103 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 7.8 lbs (3.54 kg) |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX6 |
| Power Input | USB-C | DC 5V Type-C |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | BT 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) | 33.6 x 17 x 17.1 cm |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2 x 92mm woofers + 2 x 42mm drivers |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 100W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| Battery Capacity | - | 24000mAh |
| Features | - | TWS stereo pairing, power bank output, RGB lighting |
| Lights | - | RGB |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| USB Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Middleton:
- 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 October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Middleton: $149.99 Amazon 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
- 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 →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 vs Marshall Middleton
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Middleton vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Middleton vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Marshall Middleton vs Mee Audio PartySPKR
- Marshall Middleton vs Marshall Middleton II
- Marshall Middleton vs Sonos Move
- Marshall Middleton vs Sonos Move 2
- Marshall Middleton vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Marshall Middleton vs Onn Portable FM Boombox
- See all 75 comparisons
Zealot S127: $148.85 Amazon eBay
Pros: The S127 pairs a claimed 100W amplifier with four drivers - two 92mm woofers plus two 42mm units - in a 33.6 cm cabinet, which points to real outdoor loudness rather than a small desktop box. Zealot quotes 20Hz - 20kHz coverage, so it promises usable low bass. The 24000mAh battery doubles as a power bank for phones, while Bluetooth 5.3, roughly 10m range, TWS pairing, USB, microSD and AUX inputs cover most sources. IPX6 splash resistance and RGB lighting suit camping, beaches and evening parties, and reviewers rate it against far pricier JBL models. Jay’s Straight Up Reviews found it a capable performer that is not bass-heavy, and comparisons place it close to pricier JBL models.
Cons: At 3.54 kg this is a car-camping speaker, not a backpack one, and it recharges only from a 5V DC input, so refilling a 24000mAh pack takes hours; no charging time or battery-life hours are published. IPX6 survives splashes but not immersion, and Zealot lists no maximum SPL, sensitivity or impedance, so real output capability is unknown. There is no documented companion app or custom EQ, leaving tuning to on-board presets. No independent lab has measured its frequency response, distortion or loudness, so the 20Hz claim stays unverified.
Full Zealot S127 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 24000mAh |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | BT 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 33.6 x 17 x 17.1 cm |
| Drivers | 2 x 92mm woofers + 2 x 42mm drivers |
| Features | TWS stereo pairing, power bank output, RGB lighting |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Lights | RGB |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | DC 5V Type-C |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 7.8 lbs (3.54 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons