Short answer: the Soundcore Motion X500. It ranks #24 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $99.99; the Marshall Kilburn II ranks #36 and costs $294.73, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Soundcore Motion X500 side: 40W stereo with 3-driver layout (two tweeters + woofer). Set against that: A little bright on top, a custom EQ can flatten things out a bit.
What the Marshall Kilburn II offers: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. Watch for: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
Buy the Soundcore Motion X500. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Kilburn II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Kilburn II is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the Soundcore Motion X500.
If water resistance matters to you, the Soundcore Motion X500 at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Marshall Kilburn II at IPX2 (light drips).
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Motion X500 | Marshall Kilburn II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $294.73 |
| Ranked | #24 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX2 |
| Max Volume | 104dB | 102dB |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 8" x 3.2" (220 x 202 x 81 mm) | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 58mm (2.3") forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7") upward-firing driver | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 40W | 36W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Soundcore Motion X500: $99.99 Amazon
Pros: 40W stereo with 3-driver layout (two tweeters + woofer). IPX7 weatherproof rating. Compact and very portable. Fine build quality at this price. Spatial Dynamic mode provides immersive sound. Gets close to 12 hour battery claim.
Cons: A little bright on top, a custom EQ can flatten things out a bit. Peaks at 250hz and dip at 1khz
Full Soundcore Motion X500 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 8" x 3.2" (220 x 202 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 58mm (2.3") forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7") upward-firing driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 104dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Sonos Move 2
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Sonos Move
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Marshall Middleton II
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Soundcore Motion X500 vs LG Xboom Bounce
- See all 17 comparisons
Marshall Kilburn II: $294.73 Amazon
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.
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 →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 36W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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