Short answer: the Marshall Willen II for better sound quality, the JBL Go 5 for the lower price. The Marshall Willen II ranks #11 of 47 small speakers at $89.99. The JBL Go 5 ranks #24 at $44.95, $45.04 cheaper.
What the Marshall Willen II offers: More balanced than the first Willen, no sharp treble. The catch: Not that deep of bass. Fairly low max output vs pricier speakers; midrange can sound a bit congested at volume.
On the JBL Go 5 side: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. The tradeoff: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
Buy the Marshall Willen II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Willen II is rated for 17 hours versus 8 hours for the JBL Go 5.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 | $44.95 |
| Ranked | #11 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 360 g | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 45mm |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 1.7" x 3.9" (99 x 43 x 99 mm) | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Output Power | 10W | 4.8W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Soundcore Mini 3 Pro vs Vifa City
- JBL Go 4 vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- Marshall Willen vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Bose Soundlink Micro vs JBL Go 5
- Marshall Willen II vs Soundcore Mini 3
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 | Pointing up |
| 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.
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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JBL Go 5: $44.95 Amazon
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 4.8W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons