The Marshall Willen is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a smaller, more compact design than the manufacturer's other speakers like the Marshall Emberton. It features the manufacturer's signature amplifier-inspired retro design, with a built-in carrying strap and a durable build that's ideal for listening while on the go. There's even an app on hand to let you control some of its features, including some EQ presets to customize its sound and 'Stack Mode' to pair it with other Willen speakers for a more immersive sound.
Our Verdict
The Marshall Willen is disappointing for music. It boasts balanced mid and treble ranges, so most vocals and lead instruments are clear and present in the mix. However, there's a noticeable lack of rumble in the bass, even compared to other small, portable speakers. You don't feel much thump and punch, which is disappointing if you love bass-centric genres like EDM and hip-hop. There are EQ presets on hand to adjust its sound, but they can't make up for the lack of low-bass.
- EQ presets in the app.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Some compression at max volume.
The Marshall Willen is disappointing for videos and movies. You can pair it with your phone or tablet via Bluetooth to watch shows, and its low latency means that you don't notice any lip-synching issues, which is nice. However, the lack of low-bass is noticeable, and you don't feel the rumble in action-packed scenes. Its soundstage is pretty narrow and directional, too, so it doesn't feel like the action is happening around you.
- Low latency over iOS and Android.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Narrow, directional soundstage.
The Marshall Willen is good for podcasts. Voices are reproduced clearly and with detail, thanks to its balanced mids, and you don't notice the lack of bass as much since there usually isn't a lot of bass mixed into podcasts in the first place. Its portable design is handy, too, since you can bring it along from room-to-room as you binge the latest episodes of your favorite show. It gets loud enough to fill your room, but you notice some compression at its max volume.
- EQ presets in the app.
- Portable design.
- Some compression at max volume.
The Marshall Willen has a built-in microphone for phone calls, but unfortunately, it doesn't support voice assistant technology.
The Marshall Willen is satisfactory for outdoor use. Its compact, portable design makes it easy to bring with you on the go, and there's even a built-in strap on the back of the speaker. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so you don't have to worry about getting dirt and sand in the speaker, and you can drop it in water for up to thirty minutes without issue. Given its small design, it's not a big surprise that it doesn't get as loud as larger speakers on the market, but it's still suitable for smaller gatherings.
- Portable design.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Some compression at max volume.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 05, 2022: Corrected an error that previously listed the metal grilles as made of plastic in the Build Quality box.
- Updated Jul 18, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Jul 05, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Jun 30, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Marshall Willen is available in two color variants: 'Black' and 'Cream'. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see the label here.
If you come across another version of this speaker, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Marshall Willen is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a stylish, retro design that's typical of offerings from the manufacturer. While its durable build makes it ideal for use while on the go, its sound quality is lacking, especially for its price. The lack of bass is noticeable, and the EQ presets in the app can't make up for the lack of rumble. If you're looking for something simple, especially for content without a lot of bass mixed in, it's a fine choice, though.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best portable speakers.
The Marshall Emberton is better than the Marshall Willen for most uses. The Emberton is a slightly bigger speaker that reproduces more bass, so you feel more rumble in genres like hip-hop and EDM. It's a stereo speaker with a better soundstage, too. However, the Willen is more suited for outdoor use, thanks to its smaller, more portable design with a built-in carrying strap. It even boasts a longer battery life and an app with more customization tools.
The Marshall Emberton II is a better speaker than the Marshall Willen. The Emberton II offers a wider-sounding soundstage and can produce a significantly more extended low-bass than the Willen. Its sound profile is more balanced. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in a more immersive soundstage. However, the Willen has significantly less compression present at max volume, so audio sounds cleaner at louder volume levels. It's also a bit smaller in size, making it a bit more portable.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is better than the Marshall Willen. The Ultimate Ears is another small, portable Bluetooth speaker, but its build feels more durable than the Marshall. It reproduces more low-bass, too, and its 360-design provides a better soundstage.
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is better than the Marshall Willen. The Ultimate Ears is another small, portable Bluetooth speaker, but its build feels more durable than the Marshall, and it's larger. It reproduces more low-bass, too, and its app features a graphic EQ to give you more control over its sound. Its 360-design provides a better soundstage as well.
Test Results
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