Short answer: the Marshall Tufton, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #77 of 91 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 2.4/5, at $369; the Turtlebox Gen 3 ranks #85, rated 2.1/5, and costs $430, so there is little reason to consider the other one. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 91 boombox speakers, and the Tribit Stormbox Blast, ranked #2 at $199.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Turtlebox Gen 3 is the tougher choice. Waterproof (IP67, and it floats) and crushproof, with stainless steel hardware and quality amplifier parts inside. It is rated IP67 against IPX2 for the Marshall Tufton. It links with other speakers (Turtlebox Party Mode), which the Marshall Tufton cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Marshall Tufton. Watch for: Sounds basically identical to the original and the Turtlebox Gen 2: each generation mainly added features, not sound quality.
The Marshall Tufton is the deeper-bass pick. 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. Its bass reaches about 42Hz before falling 10dB, against 65Hz for the Turtlebox Gen 3. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Turtlebox Gen 3 lacks. Watch for: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall.
Buy the Marshall Tufton. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Turtlebox Gen 3 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Turtlebox Gen 3 | Marshall Tufton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $430.00 | $369.00 |
| Ranked | #85 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #77 of 91 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~65Hz | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX2 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (15V/3A) | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 80W |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7” x 8.7” (305 x 178 x 222 mm) | 9” x 6.4” x 13.8” (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6x9” (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1” (25mm) tweeter | 1x 5.25” woofer + 2x 2” full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Microphone Input | Yes (3.5mm) | - |
| Battery Capacity | 85Wh | - |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Williston Audio Labs) | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Marshall Tufton:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Marshall Tufton
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Marshall Tufton
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Marshall Tufton
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Marshall Tufton
- JBL Partybox Encore vs Marshall Tufton
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Turtlebox Gen 3: $430.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Turtlebox Gen 2 (ranked lower, rated 2.1/5) and the Turtlebox (ranked lower, rated 2.1/5). See every Turtlebox generation.
Same family: the Turtlebox Cub (smaller model, rated 3/5), the Turtlebox Ranger (smaller model, rated 3.5/5) and the Turtlebox Grande (larger model, ranked higher, rated 2.6/5).
Pros: Waterproof (IP67, and it floats) and crushproof, with stainless steel hardware and quality amplifier parts inside. Loud for its class: Williston Audio Labs measured 102 dB at max volume, well above a Kicker Bullfrog BF400’s 96 dB. A big 85Wh battery rated for 25+ hours, a USB-C output that charges other devices, aux and microphone inputs, and true multi-speaker Party Mode on top of stereo pairing, plus Bluetooth 5.4. Measured bass extension of ~65Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Sounds basically identical to the original and the Turtlebox Gen 2: each generation mainly added features, not sound quality. The amp is tuned to a V shape, with boosted lows and highs and a dip in the mids, but the boost can’t make up for shallow extension: the bass is only down 10dB at about 65Hz, so there’s little real low end despite the boomy upper bass. The amp delivers only about 12W RMS at 1% distortion. In Williston Audio Labs’ side by side test most listeners preferred the much smaller Kicker Bullfrog BF400 for its cleaner sound, and a Pioneer PBM5 played louder at 105 dB. Nowhere near its claimed 120dB at a reasonable measuring distance. Rattles at high volume. It charges only from its own 15V barrel plug brick, not USB-C, and has no app or EQ. Inside is essentially a car audio 6x9 two way speaker in a plastic box.
Full Turtlebox Gen 3 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~65Hz |
| Battery Capacity | 85Wh |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7” x 8.7” (305 x 178 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6x9” (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1” (25mm) tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Williston Audio Labs) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (15V/3A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs Turtlebox Gen 2
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs Monster Rockin’ Roller 270
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs Turtlebox
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs ION Pathfinder 280
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs ION Pathfinder 320
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs Braven XXL 2
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs Zealot S78
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs W-King X10
- See all 98 comparisons
Marshall Tufton: $369.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. 3-way speaker design covers full frequency range in 360°. Sturdy construction with IPX2 rating. Measured bass extension of 42Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall. Not as loud as others in the class. Very low water rating
Full Marshall Tufton review and specifications →
| Released | May 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz |
| 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” x 6.4” x 13.8” (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.25” woofer + 2x 2” full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons