Short answer: the Marshall Stockwell II for natural tonality, though neither is stereo. The Stockwell II may be the most natural sounding Marshall speaker, but it is not stereo. The B&O Beoplay A2 active counters with B&O’s True360 sound from both sides, and it is not stereo either.
Buy the Marshall Stockwell II. It is rated higher for sound quality; the B&O Beoplay A2 active is no longer sold new.
If water resistance matters to you, the Marshall Stockwell II at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the B&O Beoplay A2 active at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stockwell II | B&O Beoplay A2 active | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.99 | $400 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #16 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) |
| App | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 6.3” x 2.8” (180 x 161 x 70 mm) | 10.1” x 5.6” x 1.7” (256 x 142 x 44 mm) |
| Drivers | 3” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange tweeters | 2x 3” fullrange woofers, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 2x 3” passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 60W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (carry strap) |
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- Marshall Stockwell II vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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 Stockwell II: $229.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Stockwell III, ranked lower, rated 3/5.
Pros: Marshall Stockwell II uses 3” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange tweeters. Its 1.4 kg, claimed 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IPX4 protection, aux input, up to 96dB and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. Possibly the most natural sounding Marshall speaker, with excellent off-axis sound. Measured bass extension of 44Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 44Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Not very loud, and the added DSP reverb may annoy purists.
Full Marshall Stockwell II review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 6.3” x 2.8” (180 x 161 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 3” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Soundcore Motion Boom and Motion Plus! expensive is better? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Denon 250bt - little and large? 🙈
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 Review and huge sound test! - vs JBL Charge 5! 💯
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs Marshall Stockwell 2 - little guy goes louder?? 🤓
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Stockwell III vs Stockwell II More from Oluv’Sone →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Marshall Stockwell III vs II - sound test
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Stockwell II vs B&O Beosound A5
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Mifa Wildbox
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Harman Kardon Citation 200
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Bose SoundLink Max
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
- See all 68 comparisons
B&O Beoplay A2 active: $400 Discontinued eBay
Pros: B&O’s True360 sound from both sides. Customizable sound via Beoplay app. 22 hour battery (improved from original A2). Stereo pairing with a second A2 Active. Splash/dustproof, USB-C charging. ~1.1 kg with carry strap.
Cons: Not stereo. Discontinued and no longer sold new.
Full B&O Beoplay A2 active review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1” x 5.6” x 1.7” (256 x 142 x 44 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 3” fullrange woofers, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 2x 3” passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (carry strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Select Pro
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Bose SoundLink Max
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs JBL Xtreme 3
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Motion X600
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Harman Kardon Citation 200
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- B&O Beoplay A2 active vs Soundcore Boom 2
- See all 24 comparisons