Short answer: the Marshall Willen II is the more naturally balanced mini speaker, while the JBL Go 5 has the stronger feature list. Marshall toned down the sharp treble of the original Willen. JBL answers with IP68 protection, AirTouch pairing, and a seven-band app EQ.
Neither delivers real deep bass, and the Willen II can congest in the midrange at louder levels. The Go 5 is also expensive for the modest change over the Go 4. For sound first, take the Marshall; for waterproofing and app control, take the JBL.
Buy the Marshall Willen II if the more balanced default voicing is your priority.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if IP68 protection, app EQ, and easy stereo linking matter more.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Marshall Willen II is rated for 17 hours, the JBL Go 5 only 8 hours.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $39.95 |
| Ranked | #11 of 50 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #26 of 50 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | 4.8W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Marshall Willen II:
- 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 3, 2026 at 10:26 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) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Marshall Willen II vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Marshall Willen II vs Soundcore Mini 3
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- Marshall Willen II vs Marshall Willen
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- Marshall Willen II vs Teufel Boomster Go
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JBL Go 5: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Go 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5) and the JBL Go 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons