Short answer: the Minirig 4 with subwoofer for better sound quality, the Marshall Middleton for the lower price. The Minirig 4 with subwoofer ranks #5 of 77 large speakers at $290. The Marshall Middleton ranks #31 at $220.99, $69.01 cheaper.
What the Minirig 4 with subwoofer offers: Very balanced sound. Watch for: Not stereo, app is buggy.
What the Marshall Middleton offers: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Watch for: 5db dip at 1.7khz and 6.3khz. 9khz treble peak.
Buy the Minirig 4 with subwoofer if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Marshall Middleton if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Minirig 4 with subwoofer is rated for 30 hours versus 20 hours for the Marshall Middleton.
If water resistance matters to you, the Marshall Middleton at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Minirig 4 with subwoofer at Splash resistant (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 4 with subwoofer | Marshall Middleton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $290 | $220.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #31 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) | Yes |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs / 1.44 kg | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 4" x 2.9" (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) | 9.1" x 3.7" x 4.3" (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 50W | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Minirig 4 with subwoofer: $290 Minirigs
Pros: Very balanced sound. Finally USB-C charging. Deeper, more impactful bass than the old Sub 3. Subwoofer pairs wirelessly and can be placed anywhere in the room for extra bass. Fine-grained tuning via the app - 5-band EQ plus separate bass/treble and subwoofer controls. Sounded more accurate than the JBL Xtreme 5 in a side-by-side comparison, and the whole 2.1 setup is smaller and lighter than it.
Cons: Not stereo, app is buggy. Not easy to carry on the go, no handle and there’s 2 pieces. Calls itself splash resistant but has no official water rating. A bit expensive. Has reliability issues more often than any other speaker. Default out-of-the-box tuning sounds off and needs a custom EQ to sound its best.
Full Minirig 4 with subwoofer review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 2.9" (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs / 1.44 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Minirigs 4 with Sub 4 vs JBL Xtreme 5 - 1st impressions
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Game changer! Minirig wireless portable subwoofer mk4 goes boom!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 4 vs Minirig 3, stuff they tell you, stuff they don’t! 😂
- Beautiful Zar DJ: MINIRIG 4 Vs MINIRIG 3 (50-100%Volume Audio Test)
- Alan Ross Reviews: A true story: Minirigs 4 with Sub 4 vs JBL Xtreme 5 - 1st impressions
- Reddit Search for Minirig 4 with subwoofer Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Marshall Middleton: $220.99 Amazon
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight.
Cons: 5db dip at 1.7khz and 6.3khz. 9khz treble peak. Not a very smooth frequency response. A lot of Marshall’s added dsp echo which cannot be turned off, very distracting and annoying. It’s like forcing you to listen to your music in an echo chamber. Bass is reasonably deep but artificial sounding and flabby, with no attack and no dynamics. Treble is rolled off.
Full Marshall Middleton review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.7" x 4.3" (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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- Storytripper HD: Marshall Middleton vs Klipsch Detroit
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bass Check 💣 Treblab HD-360, Ultimate Ears EpicBoom, Marshall Middleton & JBL Pulse 5. Boom or Bust?
- Reddit Search for Marshall Middleton Review
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