Short answer: the Soundcore Boom 2. It ranks #10 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $99.99; the Marshall Kilburn II ranks #43, rated 3.8/5, and costs $279, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Soundcore Boom 2 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Pretty deep bass for the size. Its bass reaches about 47Hz before falling 10dB, against 58Hz for the Marshall Kilburn II. At 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Marshall Kilburn II at 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg). It is rated IPX7 against IPX2 for the Marshall Kilburn II. The catch: Only a single midrange driver, so you only get stereo for the tweeters.
Why pick the Marshall Kilburn II: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Soundcore Boom 2 lacks. The tradeoff: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Kilburn II and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Boom 2 | Marshall Kilburn II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $279.00 |
| Ranked | #10 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #43 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX2 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 105dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0 up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 7.3” x 4” (297 x 185 x 102 mm) | 9.6” x 6.4” x 5.5” (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm x 90mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters | 1x 4” (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 36W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Soundcore Boom 2 compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Brane X vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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
Soundcore Boom 2: $99.99 Amazon $99.99 B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the Soundcore Motion Boom (ranked lower, rated 4.5/5). See every Soundcore Boom generation.
Same family: the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus (larger model, rated 3.6/5).
Pros: Pretty deep bass for the size. Cool lights in the side passive radiators. For the best sound quality use Oluv’s EQ or Alan Ross’s EQ. With the stock tuning, this speaker would rank around #24, due to the boosted bass and rising treble. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Only a single midrange driver, so you only get stereo for the tweeters. Sound processing issues with inconsistent bass notes that disappear at low levels like the Soundcore Boom and Soundcore Boost, not great for listening at low levels. Quite bass heavy with BassUp turned on, which is best left off. A little bit of a bright tuning in the treble, about +5db.
Full Soundcore Boom 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 7.3” x 4” (297 x 185 x 102 mm) |
| Drivers | 120mm x 90mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 105dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0 up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 3D Audio Show: Tribit StormBox Lava vs SoundCore Boom 2 - sound quality demo More from Oluv’Sone →
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs SoundCore Boom 2 - David vs Goliath
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - indoor soundtest
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Bose SoundLink Max & SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor soundtest
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Sony ULT Field 5 vs Anker SoundCore Boom 2 - listening test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Klipsch Detroid vs SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Best portable speakers 2025 - get the best bang for your buck $$$
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Xiaomi Sound Party - Best Bluetooth Speaker 2026 award
- Joy & Oluv’Sone🔈3DAudio🎧& Music: JBL Xtreme 5 - Best Bluetooth Speaker 2026 award
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Oluv Patreon: Anker Soundcore Boom 2 - first impressions
- Oluv Patreon: Xiaomi Sound Party vs Boom 2 & Helsinki
- Oluv Patreon: SoundCore Boom 3i - first impressions & EQs
- Alan Ross Reviews: Ultimate Soundcore Boom 2 Review - Is It Worth The Hype? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross: Xiaomi Sound Party or Soundcore Boom 2 - 4 db louder?!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Review - worst boombox speaker under $400?
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs Soundcore BOOM 2 - LETS BOOM! - Sound Test More from Dominik Reviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Bugani Brief Pro vs Soundcore Boom 2 - Soundcore still holds up?
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Bang 2 vs Soundcore Boom 2 - Get the Boom throw the Bang!
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA vs Soundcore BOOM 2 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: New Release! Soundcore Boom 2 😯 Bluetooth Boombox Speaker 🔊 Unboxing, First Look & Sound Demo More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Soundcore Boom 2 💣vs Mifa Wildbox 🪇 Basement Battle of the Bluetooth Boombox Welterweights ⚖️
- Jagist reviews: Tronsmart Bang 2 Firmware updated Vs Soundcore Boom 2!!! More from Jagistreviews →
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- CEONTHEMAKING: Soundcore Boom 2 - HANDS DOWN The Best Speaker Under $150! More from CEONTHEMAKING →
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- TElcoPApi: Raymate VS Zealot P12 VS Zealot P11 VS Soundcore Boom 2SE SoundTest
- Santiago Lotino: ZEALOT S85, ZEALOT S79, SOUNDCORE BOOM2, JBL EXTREME 3 SOUND COMPARISON.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Mifa Wildbox
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Marshall Stockwell II
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs B&O Beosound A5
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Vifa Oslo
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- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
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- See all 97 comparisons
Marshall Kilburn II: $279.00 Amazon $279.00 eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Kilburn III, ranked higher, rated 3.8/5, released May 2025. It adds power bank charging, app control, adjustable EQ and party mode, but drops the built-in mic. Battery life goes from 20 to 50 hours. Water resistance goes from IPX2 to IP54. See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Pros: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. 20+ hour battery with quick-charge (20 min charges 3 hours of play). Rugged design with leather handle and reinforced corners, IPX2 rated. Thrives with rock music. Bluetooth 5.0 with 30ft range. Measured bass extension of ~58Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak. Very low IPX2 water rating. AC charging
Full Marshall Kilburn II review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 36W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.6” x 6.4” x 5.5” (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 vs Marshall Kilburn 2 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: New 2025😎 Marshall Kilburn 3 UNBOXING 📦Audio TEST vs Kilburn 2
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 DEEP BASS👌💪💖🆚 Marshall Kilburn 2 Outside
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Acton 2 vs Marshall Kilburn 2 More from storytripperhd →
- PORTATIV: Laney F67 vs Marshall Kilburn 2 Ищем лучшую олдскульную колонку Обзор и ТЕСТ ЗВУКА
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