These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Marshall Willen II ranks #11 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $129.99; the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen ranks #35 of 144 medium speakers by sound quality at $159.
What the Marshall Willen II does well: More balanced than the first Willen, no sharp treble. The tradeoff: Not that deep of bass.
Why pick the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: A very portable 586g, IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. The tradeoff: One Flex remains mono and cannot deliver genuine low-bass rumble; RTINGS also found the elevated treble can turn hi-hats and other high-frequency detail piercing.
Buy the Marshall Willen II at $129.99 for a small speaker, or the Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen at $159 for a medium speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $159.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #35 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 g) | 1.3 lbs (586 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2” (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 1.7” x 3.9” (99 x 43 x 99 mm) | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Marshall Willen II:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Marshall Willen II
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- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Marshall Willen II
- Marshall Willen II vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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 Willen II: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Willen (rated 3.8/5).
Pros: More balanced than the first Willen, no sharp treble. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not that deep of bass. Fairly low max output vs pricier speakers; midrange can sound a bit congested at volume. No aux input.
Full Marshall Willen II review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 1.7” x 3.9” (99 x 43 x 99 mm) |
| Drivers | 2” (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 g) |
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Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen: $159.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Bose Soundlink Flex (rated 3.8/5).
Pros: A very portable 586g, IP67-rated speaker with a clear, well-balanced midrange that keeps voices and instruments intelligible. The second generation adds a Bose app with 3-band EQ, better-placed controls and stereo pairing with another Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen. It supports AAC and aptX Adaptive in addition to SBC, making it a stronger wireless option than most small rivals.
Cons: One Flex remains mono and cannot deliver genuine low-bass rumble; RTINGS also found the elevated treble can turn hi-hats and other high-frequency detail piercing. The claimed battery life is only 12 hours, and some owners report accelerated standby drain after firmware updates. It is expensive for its size, so the added app and codec support, not a transformational sound upgrade over the original, are the main reasons to choose it.
Full Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) |
| Drivers | 60mm full-range driver with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (586 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen vs Flex More from Oluv’Sone →
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- Alan Ross: Hall of Fame classic vs latest Bose tech! More from alanrossreviews →
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- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: Small speaker, mighty sound, The Flex gen 2 shatters physics!
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