Short answer: the Marshall Willen for better sound quality, the Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 for the lower price. The Marshall Willen ranks #14 of 47 small speakers at $120. The Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 ranks #42 at $100, $20 cheaper.
What the Marshall Willen offers: Exceptionally clear vocals for a mono speaker. Watch for: Not that deep of bass.
What the Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 offers: Doubles as a hands-free speakerphone and USB power bank. Watch for: Huge lack of bass.
Buy the Marshall Willen if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Willen is rated for 15 hours versus 10 hours for the Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2.
If water resistance matters to you, the Marshall Willen at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen | Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $120 Discontinued | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #14 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 75Hz | ~120Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 309 g | 0.6 lbs / 250 g |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 2x 44.5mm (~1.75") full-range drivers |
| Dimensions | 4" x 1.5" x 4" (101 x 39 x 101 mm) | 5.5" x 3" x 1" (140 x 75.2 x 26.1 mm) |
| Output Power | 10W | 8W |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Max Volume | 88dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 130Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Harman Kardon Neo vs Lenovo 700 Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker
- Muzen Wild Mini vs Harman Kardon Neo
- Klipsch Austin vs Soundcore Motion 300
- Marshall Willen vs Mifa Tango
- Marshall Willen vs Lenovo 700 Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Willen: $120 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Exceptionally clear vocals for a mono speaker. Solid, durable build with IP67 water/dust resistance. Extremely compact - fits in a back pocket.
Cons: Not that deep of bass. A bit of a sharp treble. Discontinued.
Full Marshall Willen review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 75Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 1.5" x 4" (101 x 39 x 101 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Output Power | 10W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 309 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Danny Pops: Does it surpass the first Willen? My Marshall Willen II Review
- Danny Pops: I WAS BLOWN AWAY - Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 VS Marshall Willen
- Danny Pops: Marshall Willen VS Bose, Sony, and Tribit Micro Speakers
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Willen vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- Alkar Audio: Speaker Bluetooth Marshall Willen Review VS Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- MyTechAudio: MARSHALL WILLEN Detail Review Indonesia Vs TRIBIT Micro 1 & Micro 2
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Willen vs Tribit StormBox Micro 2 vs Klipsch Austin
- Reddit Search for Marshall Willen Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2: $100 Discontinued
Pros: Doubles as a hands-free speakerphone and USB power bank. Metal grille with a faux-leather back and a small kickstand. 8-10 hour battery life.
Cons: Huge lack of bass. Sounds very thin and tinny at high volume. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~120Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.5" x 3" x 1" (140 x 75.2 x 26.1 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 44.5mm (~1.75") full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 130Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Output Power | 8W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 250 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons