The Marshall Middleton II is the 2025 update to the original Marshall Middleton speaker in a similar form factor, with the addition of a microphone to handle calls. Advertised to have a longer battery life while retaining the same stereophonic design as the first generation, it seems positioned to be your go-to Bluetooth speaker for a home office, kitchen, or a studio apartment.
Our Verdict
The Marshall Middleton II good for music. Its tuning is fairly neutral with a slightly pushed mid-range. The speaker has Bass and Treble buttons on the top for immediate changes to the sound, or you can choose EQ presets and create your own in the app. The speaker connects via Bluetooth or via the AUX input. It's a stereo speaker with a fantastically consistent sound across listening angles. However, due to its small size, it struggles with retaining dynamics at max volume, leading to bass frequencies getting compressed, so if you prefer a heavier bass tuning, it can sound a little weak at high volumes. You can also use Auracast to add additional supported speakers for Party mode.
Lots of tuning options like EQ and Bass/Treble buttons.
Remarkable soundstage performance.
Battery preservation features.
Bass compresses at max volume.
Not loud enough to fill large spaces with sound.
The Marshall Middleton 2 is okay for videos and movies. Its Bluetooth latency is slightly elevated, so you might notice voices out of sync, but it depends on the app and OS, which may compensate. That said, you can always connect via the AUX wired input to ensure A/V sync. At high volumes, there's some compression in the bass range, but the frequency response is decently well-tuned, so voices sound fairly natural, even if action flicks lack immersive, deep rumbling. The soundstage is remarkably consistent, though, across different listening angles.
Lots of tuning options like EQ and Bass/Treble buttons.
Remarkable soundstage performance.
Battery preservation features.
Bass compresses at max volume.
Somewhat elevated Bluetooth latency.
Not loud enough to fill large spaces with sound.
The Marshall Middleton 2 is very good for podcasts. Its tuning is well-suited to reproducing voices that sound clear. The soundstage ensures that your audio remains consistent across listening angles, so you can listen to your favorite hosts while moving around your room. That said, it's not an especially loud speaker, so if you crank it, it'll be harder to hear from down the hall in larger living spaces. Otherwise, the compact size makes it an easy podcast companion, and the 10.8 hours of battery life makes it worthy of binge listening.
Remarkable soundstage performance.
Battery preservation features.
Not loud enough to fill large spaces with sound.
Despite having a built-in microphone, the Marshall Middleton 2 isn't compatible with voice assistants, and the mic only works for phone calls.
The Marshall Middleton II is great for the outdoors. It's a compact, well-built speaker with an IP67 rating. Plus, the speaker floats. The small size limits how loud it gets, but for a picnic or a personal speaker while on a hike, it has sufficient headroom. It also has a superbly consistent sound from all listening angles, which means you don't need to worry about the ideal placement outside. The battery has preservation modes to extend its length, but we measured 10.8 hours of playback, which falls short of the 30-hour battery quoted by the brand. Still, that'll get you through most backyard and park hangs. You can use Auracast to enter party mode with multiple compatible speakers. Its sound is somewhat mid-rangey and neutral, so it suits a variety of genres. Still, if you want to change the tuning, you can choose from EQ and Bass/Treble buttons.
Speakerphone capability.
Remarkable soundstage performance.
IP67-rated and floats.
Battery preservation features.
Bass compresses at max volume.
Not loud enough to fill large spaces with sound.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Marshall Middleton 2 only comes in two colors, 'Cream' and (like our unit), 'Black and Brass.' You can see our unit's label.
If you encounter any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the comments, and we'll update the review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The original Marshall Middleton has a shorter battery life and lacks a microphone for handling phone calls, but the look and size are more or less identical to the Marshall Middleton II, which sounds a little more balanced with a slightly brighter top-end than its predecessor. You could also check out the Bose SoundLink Max, which has a higher max output, better dynamics, and a battery that lasts longer than the Marshall in our testing. Still, the Marshall's speaker configuration ensures that your audio sounds more consistent across listening angles, and the Bose lacks a mic. Another speaker with a similarly consistent soundstage is the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM. It gets louder at max with somewhat better dynamics, but it lacks the Marshall's intuitive physical controls and wired connectivity. Still, the Ultimate Ears' battery life outlasts the Marshall's, but again, there's no mic for calls.
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The Marshall Middleton II is an incremental upgrade to the Marshall Middleton. They share the same basic design and layout, but the 2nd generation has a longer battery life and adds a mic for handling phone calls. It also floats in water, while the first-generation model doesn't. The first generation has slightly lower Bluetooth latency and uses the brand's Stack feature for Party mode, so if you already own compatible speakers, you might prefer the original Middleton. The 2nd generation model uses Auracast for Party mode with newer Marshall speakers.
Whether you should choose the Marshall Kilburn III or Marshall Middleton II depends on your primary usage. The Kilburn III has a longer battery life with a warmer and fuller bass range. It also offers a higher output level and less compression. It offers room correction in addition to EQ tools. Although well built, it's not as portable as the Middleton II, which is smaller with a higher IP67 rating. The Middleton II also has a mic for taking phone calls. It has decently flat tuning, but it's not as boomy. You can EQ it to taste, but keep in mind that its lower max output means that bass frequencies tend to compress a bit more compared to the Kilburn III as you raise the volume. Still, its small size doesn't compromise the soundstage, and it fits more easily into a backpack for on-the-go.
Depending on your core usage, you might prefer the JBL Charge 6 or Marshall Middleton II. The JBL has a slightly longer battery life and supports USB-C audio. Its app is a little more complete with a seven-band EQ, but its physical controls are more limited. As far as portability, it weighs nearly half of the Marshall and has a little better IP68 rating (though both float). That said, the Marshall has nicer physical controls and sounds much more consistent from all angles. It also offers a 3.5mm AUX port and has slightly lower Bluetooth latency, as well as a frequency response that matches our target slightly better. You can EQ it too.
The Bose SoundLink Max is slightly better for most people than the Marshall Middleton II. The Bose has a longer continuous battery life, and it can get considerably louder at max than the Marshall, with better dynamics performance. Many of the features are matched or bested by the Bose, such as build quality (though it's a bit susceptible to scratches), and wired and Bluetooth connectivity. Plus, you can add a second for a stereo pair, which the Marshall can't do. That said, the Bose can sound a bit boomy by default, but you can EQ it to taste. The Marshall might be preferable for its consistent sound at different listening angles, and it weighs about one pound less with a more compact frame. Like the Bose, you can EQ it and use it for phone calls, but it compromises on headroom and battery life.
Test Results
Inspired by the legacy guitar amp brand, the Marshall Middleton 2 speaker takes cues from the amp stacks backing many of your favorite bands. The 'Black and Brass' colorway gets the spirit of the look right: faux leather covers the blocky housing with a texture similar to the tolex that covers guitar amps. The front has a metal grille with a large brass-colored Marshall logo, and the top of the speaker has tactile controls. The 'Cream' colorway replaces the black accents with a warm off-white. Besides a slight change to the shape of the controls and a revised carrying strap, it looks the same as the original Marshall Middleton.
The speaker is pretty portable with a removable fabric strap. It's also small enough to fit into nearly any tote or backpack. You can use it on battery power, allowing it to go where you go. It's also lighter than the physically larger Marshall Kilburn III.
The Marshall Middleton 2 has great build quality. Like its predecessor, it's rated IP67 against dust and water. Despite its old-school look and unsealed ports, the speaker can handle 30 minutes in a meter of water, and it'll float. The plastic enclosure with faux leather seems solid, and the metal grille protects the drivers. Plus, the rubber feet keep the speaker planted in place and mitigate surface nicks along the underside. The physical controls located on the top of the speaker are of good quality and not loose. Its removable nylon carrying strap seems like a wise revision to the previous model's vinyl strap, given that nylon tends to be more resistant to stretching out from weight. That said, the speaker doesn't have an impact rating, so it's not as rough-and-tumble as the LG xboom Grab, for example.
The Marshall Middleton II has great controls. It uses tactile buttons and a brass joystick on the top to handle playback and phone calls. There are also dedicated controls for Bluetooth pairing, power, Bass and Treble, and battery monitoring. You can see the brand's video to explain the controls. Overall, feedback is immediate either because you can feel the buttons click, or in the case of the battery and Bass/Treble controls, a 10-segment light array shows you the settings. For Bluetooth pairing, lights indicate your status, and the speaker chimes to alert you of your connection. Amusingly, the speaker emits a guitar riff when you power it on or off.
Since the speaker supports Auracast, you can no longer use the last generation Marshall Middleton's Stack function to pair a second compatible Marshall speaker. Instead, you can add any compatible Auracast Bluetooth speaker.
- Quick Start guide and Safety pamphlets
- Removable carrying strap
- USB-C to USB-C charging cable (1 m / 3.2 ft)
- Marshall Middleton 2 speaker
The Marshall Middleton II has a frequency response that gets decently close to our target curve. We measured the speaker in its default settings, fresh from the box, so Treble and Bass were set to 5 (out of 10) and the EQ was untouched. It reproduces a somewhat flat sound without exaggerated bass or overly piercing treble. However, it's voiced brighter than the previous Marshall Middleton, with more airiness on the upper harmonics of cymbals.
Kick drums are rendered with decent depth and boom that doesn't overwhelm the rest of the mix, which works for laidback folk, early rock n' roll, and vocal-centric ballads. The mid-range is relatively emphasized in the mix to highlight lead guitars and melodies, though it's a little uneven due to a dip in the low-mids, which prevents muddiness. Lastly, the treble is clear and bright, reproducing detailed vocals without verging on shrill.
You can add more low-end oomph through the Bass control or brighten up the top-end with the Treble control. These controls apply on top of your EQ presets, lending you latitude for tailoring the tuning. The EQ presets mainly take the same curve and alter the tilt, emphasizing bass or treble.
The speaker's soundstage is remarkable. Its array of drivers includes two tweeters pointing from the enclosure's sides to widen the soundstage. Meanwhile, the two main drivers are placed with one facing the front and the other at the back of the speaker, creating a pleasingly consistent sound from all listening angles.
The speaker's dynamics are passable. It gets loud enough for average and smaller-sized rooms, but bass frequencies will compress at higher volume settings, which can cause them to sound relatively weak. Still, in a bedroom or within close proximity of you, it provides ample volume. But you may want to add a second speaker to fill out larger rooms or a speaker with a higher max output, such as the Bose SoundLink Max.
Despite being advertised as having a 30-hour battery life, the speaker's battery lasted just under 11 hours during our standard test. Even so, nearly 11 hours is certainly enough for most people's continuous playback listening habits. The battery fully recharged in 2.7 hours using a 100W cable and charger (which used an average of 33W). It's also advertised to fast charge in 20 minutes for five hours of playback, but considering that we measured it lasting roughly 1/3 as long as advertised, you might temper your expectations. That said, we don't know the conditions of the manufacturer's measurements, and real-world usage, like volume settings, can influence your results.
The speaker has a few battery-conserving features, such as automatic power off after 10 minutes of no audio, and you can change the timer within the app settings. There's also a Battery Preservation mode with four strengths (none, 'Standard,' 'Medium,' and 'Max') accessible in the app, so you can slow the inevitable degradation of the battery over time by limiting the max charge to 95%, and modifying the settings for the maximum charging speed.
The Marshall Middleton 2 has a microphone, but it's solely for phone calls.
The Marshall Middleton II's companion app provides you with some useful features, including EQ presets (or a custom five-band user EQ) and adjustable Battery Preservation parameters. You can set how long you want the Standby Timeout to stay idle before shutting down. Besides that, Stack mode (available on the last generation as a Party mode) was replaced by Auracast (more on that in Bluetooth), so you can add more compatible speakers for Party mode, but they seem limited to Auracast-enabled speakers by the brand. You also can't create a stereo pair.
The Marshall Middleton II has a 3.5mm / 1/8" AUX input for a wired connection if lossless audio or low-latency audio is essential to you. While there's a USB-C port as well, it's only for charging the speaker's battery or using the battery to charge another device in a pinch. The speaker doesn't accept USB-C audio.
The speaker's Bluetooth performance is impressive. It's somewhat low latency, though the previous model has a lower latency result (but some apps can compensate for this, so your results may vary). Plus, you can connect two different devices at a time to share the playlist, or if you have a phone call come in while it's connected to your laptop, you can switch over.
New to this generation is Auracast. While the previous Marshall Middleton supported Stack to connect to a second compatible speaker, this one uses Auracast, which is supposed to be brand-agnostic, but in practice, the implementation is limited to the brand. For example, we're able to connect the Marshall Middleton II to the Marshall Kilburn III (see the walkthrough video), but we can't connect it to all Auracast-enabled speakers, like the JBL Charge 6.