Short answer: the Sonos Move 2 for better sound quality, the Marshall Middleton II for the lower price. The Sonos Move 2 ranks #25 of 77 large speakers at $399. The Marshall Middleton II ranks #28 at $330, $69 cheaper.
What stands out about the Sonos Move 2: It’s warm sounding with a somewhat rolled off treble, and has slightly better midrange clarity than the original Move. The compromise: it isn’t very loud, and may share some of the same issues at full volume that the original Move had, though more sound samples at full volume are needed to confirm.
Where the Marshall Middleton II shines: It has very deep bass for its size and weight. The flip side: its bass is boosted enough to drown out the midrange, with a dip around 200Hz, a peak at 1kHz, and another dip at 1.6kHz creating a strange frequency response through the mids.
Buy the Sonos Move 2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Marshall Middleton II if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Move 2 | Marshall Middleton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $330 |
| Ranked | #25 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #28 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP56 | IP67 |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Wifi | Yes | - |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (5 band) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 6.3" x 5" (242 x 160 x 126 mm) | 9.1" x 3.9" x 4.3" (230 x 98 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 38Hz |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
The Two Speakers In Full
Sonos Move 2: $399.00 Amazon
Pros: Warm sounding with somewhat rolled off treble. Slightly better midrange clarity than the Move 1.
Cons: Not very loud. This may have some of the same issues at full volume that the Move 1 had too, but I’ll need more sound samples at full volume to verify.
Full Sonos Move 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 6.3" x 5" (242 x 160 x 126 mm) |
| Drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP56 |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
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Marshall Middleton II: $330 Amazon
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight.
Cons: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange. Dip around 200hz, peak at 1khz, dipped at 1.6khz. Strange frequency response through the mids.
Full Marshall Middleton II review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 4.3" (230 x 98 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Output Power | 80W |
| 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.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons