Short answer: the Marshall Willen II for better sound quality, the JBL Clip 5 for the lower price. The Marshall Willen II ranks #11 of 47 small speakers at $89.99. The JBL Clip 5 ranks #21 at $69.95, $20.04 cheaper.
What the Marshall Willen II gets right: More balanced than the first Willen, no sharp treble. The catch: Not that deep of bass.
What the JBL Clip 5 offers: JBL Portable app adds custom EQ. Watch for: Generally more of the same from the Clip series in terms of sound but with more features.
Buy the Marshall Willen II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Clip 5 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | JBL Clip 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 | $69.95 |
| Ranked | #11 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #21 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 | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 360 g | 0.6 lbs / 285 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 95Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 1x ~50mm (2") full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 1.7" x 3.9" (99 x 43 x 99 mm) | 3.4" x 5.3" x 1.8" (86 x 134.5 x 46 mm) |
| Output Power | 10W | 7W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
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- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs JBL Clip 5
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 |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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JBL Clip 5: $69.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: JBL Portable app adds custom EQ. Wider carabiner and thicker back padding than the Clip 4. IP67 rated. Auracast support for pairing multiple JBL speakers.
Cons: Generally more of the same from the Clip series in terms of sound but with more features. Basically about the same as the Clip 4
Full JBL Clip 5 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 5.3" x 1.8" (86 x 134.5 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x ~50mm (2") full-range driver + 1x passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 95Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 7W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 285 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons