Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II for bass depth, the Soundcore Motion X500 for clarity. The Middleton II has very deep bass for its size and weight, but the boost drowns out the midrange. The X500’s 40W stereo three-driver layout is a little bright on top, though a custom EQ can flatten things out.
Buy the Soundcore Motion X500. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $230.01 less than the Marshall Middleton II.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Middleton II is rated for 30 hours versus 12 hours for the Soundcore Motion X500.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Motion X500 | Marshall Middleton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $330 |
| Ranked | #27 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #31 of 93 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | 38Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (5 band) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 8” x 3.2” (220 x 202 x 81 mm) | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 58mm (2.3”) forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7”) upward-firing driver | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 80W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
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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
Soundcore Motion X500: $99.99 Amazon eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 48Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Marshall Middleton II: $330 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Middleton (ranked lower, rated 4/5).
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Measured bass extension of 38Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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