Short answer: the Willen for sound, the JBL Go 5 only for its IP68 rating. The Willen offers exceptionally clear vocals for a mono speaker, though its bass is not that deep. The Go 5 steps up to IP68 from the Go 4’s IP67 and adds lights, but it is still overpriced and not very different from the Go 4 otherwise.
Buy the JBL Go 5, since the Marshall Willen is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Willen | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 Discontinued | $39.95 |
| Ranked | #14 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #26 of 49 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 | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (309 g) | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| 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) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | 4.8W |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Frequency Response | - | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Willen:
- Marshall Willen vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Marshall Willen
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Marshall Willen
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 vs Marshall Willen
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Marshall Willen
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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: $89.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Willen II, ranked higher, rated 4/5.
Pros: Exceptionally clear vocals for a mono speaker. Solid, durable build with IP67 water/dust resistance. Extremely compact: fits in a back pocket. Measured bass extension of 75Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not that deep of bass. A bit of a sharp treble. Discontinued.
Full Marshall Willen review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 75Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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) |
| Drivers | 2” (51mm) full-range with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (309 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Danny Pops: Does it surpass the first Willen? My Marshall Willen II Review More from DannyPops →
- 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 More from storytripperhd →
- 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
- 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 29 comparisons
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