Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox Lava. It ranks #3 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $119.99; the Marshall Middleton ranks #34, rated 4.0/5, and costs $215.80, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Tribit Stormbox Lava is the better-sounding, louder option. A powerful, IP67-rated portable speaker with a measured 44Hz -10dB bass point, 10-band app EQ, aux input and 24-hour claimed battery life. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 108dB at full volume, against 99dB for the Marshall Middleton. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Middleton lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Marshall Middleton lacks. Watch for: XBass can make the low end muddy and obscure vocals, while the deepest notes lose authority and clarity falls at maximum volume.
The Marshall Middleton is the deeper-bass, lighter pick. Very deep bass for the size/weight. Its bass reaches about 39Hz before falling 10dB, against 44Hz for the Tribit Stormbox Lava. At 4 lbs (1.8 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Tribit Stormbox Lava at 5.2 lbs (2.37 kg). It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the Tribit Stormbox Lava cannot. Watch for: 5db dip at 1.7kHz and 6.3kHz.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Lava. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Middleton and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tribit Stormbox Lava | Marshall Middleton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $215.80 |
| Ranked | #3 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #34 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 20ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 128ms AAC, 144ms SBC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 5.2 lbs (2.37 kg) | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 12.2” x 5.8” x 6” (310 x 147 x 152 mm) | 9.1” x 3.7” x 4.3” (230 x 95 x 109 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 30mm tweeters | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | Yes (detachable strap) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Tribit Stormbox Lava:
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Brane X vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Minirig 3 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
Tribit Stormbox Lava: $119.99 Amazon $119.99 Lowest AliExpress $180.61 eBay
Pros: A powerful, IP67-rated portable speaker with a measured 44Hz -10dB bass point, 10-band app EQ, aux input and 24-hour claimed battery life. Independent reviews find that it gets loud with impactful bass, and careful EQ or current firmware can produce relatively clean sound through the mids and highs. Measured bass extension of 44Hz (-10dB).
Cons: XBass can make the low end muddy and obscure vocals, while the deepest notes lose authority and clarity falls at maximum volume. It is heavy for its size, its front-facing design has a narrow soundstage, and one review noted a brief sound interruption while changing volume.
Setup: Update the firmware to version 2 or later first, since version 2 was a big step up in sound quality. Then try out the Alan Ross EQ’s at this timestamp in his video. There’s also a max bass EQ from Oluv and you can turn down the lowest slider for it to be more neutral.
Full Tribit Stormbox Lava review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 20ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 128ms AAC, 144ms SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.2” x 5.8” x 6” (310 x 147 x 152 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 30mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.2 lbs (2.37 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 →
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox Lava - quick look
- Oluv Patreon: An evening with the “best portable speakers”?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Lava Latest Firmware Update Result! v2.0.3 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: From harsh to smooth with these EQ settings - Tribit StormBox Lava
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit StormBox Lava Just Got a MASSIVE Update… WOW! 🔥
- Alan Ross Reviews: Some people love the Tribit Stormbox Lava, highly professional review 😁
- Mateusz Cholewa: Tribit Stormbox Blast 🎶 🆚Deep BASS - Tribit Stormbox LAVA More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA vs EarFun UBOOM X
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA vs Soundcore BOOM 2
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA Deep BASS 🆚 JBL XTREME 4
- Mateusz Cholewa: 👌TRIBIT StormBox LAVA Deep Bass 🆚 Bogasing S8 Pro MAX - HiFi?
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 Deep Bass vs Tribit Stormbox Lava Deep Bass
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA - Unboxing.📦 Short Test vs Xtreme 4
- Jagist reviews: Tronsmart Bang 2 Firmware Updated Vs Updated Tribit Stormbox Lava!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Jagist reviews: Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Tronsmart Bang 2!!!
- Jagist reviews: W-king H330 Vs Tribit Stormbox Lava!!!
- BT Sound Lab: Tribit StormBox Lava vs Tronsmart Bang 2
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs JBL Xtreme 5
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Brane X
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Vifa Helsinki
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Vifa Oslo
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Marshall Stockwell II
- See all 86 comparisons
Marshall Middleton: $215.80 Amazon $215.80 eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Middleton II, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5, released Jul 2025. It adds app control and adjustable EQ. Battery life goes from 20 to 30 hours. See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Measured bass extension of 39Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Released | Jan 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| 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
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton - first impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: 3 minutes ago….. Marshall Middleton Review, true stereophonic, no honestly 😊 More from alanrossreviews →
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro MAX HiFi ?🆚 MARSHALL🎸MIDDELTON More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Middleton👌🎶 🆚 JBL Xtreme 4 🎶📢
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 vs Marshall Middleton
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bass Check 💣 Treblab HD-360, Ultimate Ears EpicBoom, Marshall Middleton & JBL Pulse 5. Boom or Bust? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Smart Home Sounds: Best Premium Bluetooth Speakers: Sonos Move, JBL Xtreme 3, Marshall Middleton & More… More from Smart Home Sounds →
- Danny Pops: Is it Any Good? - Marshall Middleton Review More from DannyPops →
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Middleton vs Klipsch Detroit More from storytripperhd →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Middleton vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
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