Short answer: the Marshall Willen II. It ranks #11 of 62 small speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $129.99 and is still sold new; the JBL Clip 3 ranks #47 (rated 2.7/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Clip 3’s replacement, the JBL Clip 5, is rated 3.4/5 at $49.95.
The Marshall Willen II is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. More balanced than the first Marshall Willen, no sharp treble. Its bass reaches about 70Hz before falling 10dB, against 100Hz for the JBL Clip 3. It is rated for 17 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Clip 3. It is rated IP67, while the JBL Clip 3 has no water resistance. The tradeoff: Not that deep of bass.
The JBL Clip 3 is the lighter option. Very portable with a built-in carabiner; genuinely waterproof. At 0.5 lbs (227 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Marshall Willen II at 0.8 lbs (360 g). Watch for: Less bass than the JBL Clip.
Buy the Marshall Willen II. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the JBL Clip 3 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | JBL Clip 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $49.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz | ~100Hz |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (360 g) | 0.5 lbs (227 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 2” (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 1.57” (40mm) driver |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 1.7” x 3.9” (99 x 43 x 99 mm) | 3.8” x 5.4” x 1.8” (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | 3.3W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in carabiner) |
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 October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 $129.99 eBay
Older model: the Marshall Willen (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Same family: the Marshall Emberton III (larger model, rated 2.7/5), the Marshall Middleton II (larger model, rated 4.1/5), the Marshall Stockwell III (larger model, rated 3/5) and the Marshall Kilburn III (larger model, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: More balanced than the first Marshall 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 →
| Released | Aug 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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JBL Clip 3: $49.99 Discontinued Amazon $49.99 eBay
Newer model: the JBL Clip 5, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Mar 2024.
Older models: the JBL Clip 2 (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5) and the JBL Clip (ranked higher, rated 2.7/5). See every JBL Clip generation.
Pros: Aux in. Very portable with a built-in carabiner; genuinely waterproof. Real-world battery often beats the 10-hour rating, sometimes lasting close to 18 hours. Measured bass extension of ~100Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Less bass than the JBL Clip. Quite a lack of bass. Discontinued.
Full JBL Clip 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 3.3W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~100Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.8” x 5.4” x 1.8” (97 x 137 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.57” (40mm) driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 120Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in carabiner) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (227 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons