Short answer: the Marshall Willen for better sound quality, the JBL Go 5 for the lower price. The Marshall Willen ranks #14 of 47 small speakers at $120. The JBL Go 5 ranks #24 at $44.95, $75.05 cheaper.
On the Marshall Willen side: Exceptionally clear vocals for a mono speaker. Set against that: Not that deep of bass.
What the JBL Go 5 offers: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. Watch for: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
Buy the Marshall Willen 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 is rated for 15 hours versus 8 hours for the JBL Go 5.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $120 Discontinued | $44.95 |
| Ranked | #14 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 75Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 15 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 | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 309 g | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 6.0 |
| Drivers | 2" (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 45mm |
| Dimensions | 4" x 1.5" x 4" (101 x 39 x 101 mm) | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Output Power | 10W | 4.8W |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Max Volume | 88dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Frequency Response | - | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Willen II vs Klipsch Austin
- Klipsch Austin vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- Klipsch Austin vs Soundcore Motion 300
- Soundcore Mini 3 vs Marshall Willen
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 vs Marshall Willen
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 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| 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
- Marshall Willen vs Klipsch Austin
- Marshall Willen vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- Marshall Willen vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Marshall Willen vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Marshall Willen vs Mifa Tango
- Marshall Willen vs Marshall Willen II
- Marshall Willen vs Bose Soundlink Micro 2
- Marshall Willen vs Bose Soundlink Micro
- See all 23 comparisons
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 | No |
| 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