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 Sony SRS-XB12 ranks #53 (rated 2.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Sony SRS-XB12’s replacement, the Sony SRS-XB100, is rated 2.9/5 at $44.
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 97Hz for the Sony SRS-XB12. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sony SRS-XB12 lacks. The catch: Not that deep of bass.
The Sony SRS-XB12 is the lighter pick. A detachable strap hangs it from a bag or belt. At 0.5 lbs (243 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Marshall Willen II at 0.8 lbs (360 g). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Willen II lacks. The catch: Muddy, with little bass and peaky treble.
Buy the Marshall Willen II. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Sony SRS-XB12 is no longer sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen II | Sony SRS-XB12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #53 of 62 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | 7W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 240ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Willen II:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Marshall Willen II
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- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Marshall Willen II
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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
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Sony SRS-XB12: $79 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony SRS-XB100, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5, released May 2023. See every Sony XB compact generation.
Pros: Sony SRS-XB12 uses 46mm. Its 243 g, claimed 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IP67 protection, up to 93dB and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. A detachable strap hangs it from a bag or belt. Measured bass extension of 97Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 97Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Muddy, with little bass and peaky treble. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB12 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 7W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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) |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (243 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB12 vs Soundcore Mini 3 - size matters! bluetooth speakers test! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB13 vs XB12 - review and full sound test - best small speaker? 🙄
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample More from DLXWillington →
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