Short answer: the Marshall Willen II if sound quality matters most, the Sony SRS-XB12 if price matters most. The Marshall Willen II ranks #11 of 47 small speakers at $129.99. The Sony SRS-XB12 ranks #39 at $79, $50.99 cheaper.
What the Marshall Willen II offers: More balanced than the first Willen, no sharp treble Watch for: Not that deep of bass. Fairly low max output vs pricier speakers; midrange can sound a bit congested at volume. No aux input.
What the Sony SRS-XB12 offers: Aux in. 16 hour battery life. IP67 rated, palm-sized with a detachable strap for hanging on a bag or belt. Watch for: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble.
Buy the Marshall Willen II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony SRS-XB12 if the price matters more than sound quality.
The Sony SRS-XB12 is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 47 small speakers; there are better options higher up.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | Sony SRS-XB12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 360 g | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 46mm |
| Dimensions | 3.9" x 1.7" x 3.9" (99 x 43 x 99 mm) | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Output Power | 10W | 7W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 240ms |
| Max Volume | - | 93dB |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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
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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Willen II vs Vifa City
- Marshall Willen II vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Marshall Willen II vs Soundcore Mini 3
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Sony SRS-XB12: $79 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Aux in. 16 hour battery life. IP67 rated, palm-sized with a detachable strap for hanging on a bag or belt.
Cons: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB12 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 240ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 7W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB13 vs XB12 - review and full sound test - best small speaker? 🙄 More from alanrossreviews →
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample More from DLXWillington →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB12 vs Soundcore Mini 3 - size matters! bluetooth speakers test!
- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XB12 Review
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