Short answer: the Marshall Willen II if sound quality matters most, the Bose Soundlink Micro if price and ruggedness matter most. The Willen II ranks #11 of 49 small speakers at $129.99. The Soundlink Micro ranks #19 at $82, $47.99 cheaper.
The Willen II is the more balanced-sounding speaker. Its own review notes it as more balanced than the original Willen with no sharp treble, while the Soundlink Micro’s cons call out a lack of clarity and overly boosted bass. The tradeoff is battery life running the other way for the Micro’s toughness: the Willen II is rated for 17 hours against 6 hours for the Soundlink Micro, and it charges faster too.
The Soundlink Micro wins on toughness and portability. Both speakers carry an IP67 rating, but the Micro’s pros text specifically calls out its rugged rubberized coating (rated for 1m submersion for 30 minutes) and very compact, pocketable build, and at 0.6 lbs (289 g) it is noticeably lighter than the Willen II’s 0.8 lbs (360 g).
Everything else lines up closely: both use USB-C-adjacent charging (Micro USB on the Bose), both fire upward rather than to the side, and neither offers true stereo separation.
Buy the Marshall Willen II when sound quality outweighs the price for you, since it is the more balanced-sounding speaker with dramatically longer battery life.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Micro when the price and rugged, pocketable size outweigh sound quality instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | Bose Soundlink Micro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $82.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #19 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 g) | 0.6 lbs (289 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 2” (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 40mm with dual passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 1.7” x 3.9” (99 x 43 x 99 mm) | 3.9” x 3.9” x 1.4” (98 x 98 x 35 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | 5W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 50ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 90dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Marshall Willen II compares with other leading options:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Marshall Willen II
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Marshall Willen II
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Marshall Willen II
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Marshall Willen II
- Marshall Willen II vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
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 Willen II: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Willen (ranked lower, 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 | Yes |
| 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 Micro: $82.00 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Bose Soundlink Micro 2, ranked higher, rated 3.6/5.
Pros: Bose Soundlink Micro uses 40mm with dual passive radiators. Its 289 g, claimed 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection, up to 90dB and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. A rugged rubberized coating, a strap and Bose Party mode for pairing multiple speakers. Measured bass extension of 66Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 66Hz specification. No EQ adjustment.
Full Bose Soundlink Micro review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 5W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 1.4” (98 x 98 x 35 mm) |
| Drivers | 40mm with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 90dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (289 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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