These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Marshall Willen II ranks #11 of 62 small speakers by sound quality at $129.99; the JBL Charge Essential 2 ranks #39 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $74.91.
The Marshall Willen II is the lighter option. A tiny waterproof strap on speaker with balanced sound, a long battery, and app EQ that clips easily onto a bag. At 0.8 lbs (360 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Charge Essential 2 at 2.1 lbs (930 g). It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Charge Essential 2 lacks. Watch for: Not that deep of bass.
The JBL Charge Essential 2 is the deeper-bass option. A simpler, tough waterproof speaker with punchy sound, long battery life and a phone charging port, great when found on sale. Its bass reaches about 55Hz before falling 10dB, against 70Hz for the Marshall Willen II. The catch: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option.
Buy the Marshall Willen II at $129.99 for a small speaker, or the JBL Charge Essential 2 at $74.91 for a medium speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | JBL Charge Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $74.91 |
| Ranked | #11 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 g) | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2” (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 1.7” x 3.9” (99 x 43 x 99 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Willen II: