Short answer: the Marshall Willen II. It ranks #11 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $89.99; the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 ranks #18 and costs $99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Marshall Willen II: More balanced than the first Willen, no sharp treble. The tradeoff: Not that deep of bass.
What the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 offers: IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. Watch for: Lack of clarity.
Buy the Marshall Willen II. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | Bose Soundlink Micro 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 | $99.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #18 of 47 in Small 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 | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 360 g | 0.7 lbs / 329 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 40mm full-range driver with passive radiator |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 1.7" x 3.9" (99 x 43 x 99 mm) | 4.1" x 4.1" x 1.7" (104 x 104 x 43 mm) |
| Output Power | 10W | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Willen II: $89.99 Amazon
Pros: More balanced than the first Willen, no sharp treble
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 →
| 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 | No |
| Output Power | 10W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 360 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Willen II vs Vifa City
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- Marshall Willen II vs Marshall Willen
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- Marshall Willen II vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
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Bose Soundlink Micro 2: $99.00 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. Compact fabric strap for clipping to bags/bikes - replaces the 1st-gen’s hook clip, which was prone to breaking. USB-C charging. Surprisingly good bass when mounted outdoors, like on a bike.
Cons: Lack of clarity. Overly boosted bass that causes some thudding, and can overdrive/distort at higher volumes - worse in this regard than the 1st-gen model. Overly boosted treble, turn down bass and treble in the EQ. Falls clearly behind the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 on bass depth, cleanliness, and loudness.
Full Bose Soundlink Micro 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 4.1" x 1.7" (104 x 104 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 40mm full-range driver with passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 329 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Bose Soundlink Micro
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