Short answer: the Marshall Stockwell 2. It ranks #11 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $200; the Bose SoundLink Max ranks #17 and costs $309.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Marshall Stockwell 2 gets right: Possibly the most natural sounding Marshall speaker. The catch: Not stereo.
The case for the Bose SoundLink Max: IP67 rated - dustproof and waterproof to 1m. The tradeoff: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange.
Buy the Marshall Stockwell 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose SoundLink Max and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the Bose SoundLink Max at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Marshall Stockwell 2 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stockwell 2 | Bose SoundLink Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $309.99 |
| Ranked | #11 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #17 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms | 116ms |
| Max Volume | 96dB | - |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Partially (1 tweeter) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg | 4.9 lbs / 2.2 kg |
| App | No | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 6.3" x 2.8" (180 x 161 x 70 mm) | 10.4" x 4.7" x 4.1" (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 2x 2" fullrange tweeters | 2x 2.5" (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79" (20mm) tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 20W | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 33ms |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Stockwell 2: $200 Amazon
Pros: Possibly the most natural sounding Marshall speaker. Excellent off-axis.
Cons: Not stereo. Not very loud. Uses added DSP reverb which audio purists may find annoying.
Full Marshall Stockwell 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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Bose SoundLink Max: $309.99 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated - dustproof and waterproof to 1m. Up to 20 hour battery; real-world testing found 43+ hours. Deep, rich bass with neutral tuning, app EQ. USB-C doubles as device charger. Sturdy carry handle.
Cons: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange. Bass not as deep as a Boom 2. Gets distorted above 80%. Self drains the battery about 20% a week.
Full Bose SoundLink Max review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 33ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.4" x 4.7" x 4.1" (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5" (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79" (20mm) tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs / 2.2 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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