Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Middleton II

Which Speaker Is Better?

Products

Bose SoundLink Max
Marshall Middleton II

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Feb 05, 2026 05:52 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Oct 23, 2025 03:20 PM

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  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
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Our Verdict

Bose SoundLink Max

Marshall Middleton II

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.

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Variants

  • SoundLink Max (Black)
  • SoundLink Max (Blue Dusk)
  • Middleton II (Black/Brass)
  • Middleton II (Cream)

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Black
SoundLink Max
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Amazon.com
Black/Brass
Middleton II
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Amazon.com
Blue Dusk
SoundLink Max
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Amazon.com
Cream
Middleton II
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Amazon.com
Citrus Yellow
SoundLink Max
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Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 
 

0.0
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo 
 

Bose SoundLink Max Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II Style Photo Sample

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RGB Lights  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Dimensions Photo 
 

Bose SoundLink Max Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Volume 
 

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Power Source 
 

Locked
Locked

One-Hand Carry 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Photo 
 

Bose SoundLink Max Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II Build Quality Photo Sample

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Material Quality 
 

Locked
Locked

Water Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Dust Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Impact Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Floats In Water 
 

Locked
Locked
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Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Photo 
 

Bose SoundLink Max Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II Controls Photo Sample

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Controls Photo 2 
 

Bose SoundLink Max Controls Photo 2 Sample

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Marshall Middleton II Controls Photo 2 Sample

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Ease Of Use 
 

Locked
Locked

Feedback 
 

Locked
Locked

Music Play/Pause 
 

Locked
Locked

Call Answer/End 
 

Locked
Locked

Volume Up/Down 
 

Locked
Locked

Track Next/Previous 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone On/Off 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls 
 

Locked
Locked
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In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo 
 

Bose SoundLink Max In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II In The Box Photo Sample

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Show Text 
Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Graph  

Bose SoundLink Max Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II Frequency Response Graph Sample

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Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

Bose SoundLink Max Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

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Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Directivity Graph  

Bose SoundLink Max Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II Directivity Graph Sample

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Directivity Index 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Stereo 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Dynamics 
 

N/A
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

Bose SoundLink Max Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

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SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power Saving 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Powered 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Voice Assistant 
 

N/A
N/A

Alexa 
 

Locked
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Speakerphone 
 

Locked
Locked

Siri 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Activation 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

Locked
Locked

Far-Field Performance 
 

Locked
Locked

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

App 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture 
 

Bose SoundLink Max App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Marshall Middleton II App Picture Sample

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App Name 
 

Locked
Locked

iOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Android 
 

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

Stereo Pair Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Party Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Room 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired 
 

Aux Input 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Other Ports 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Range 
 

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wi-Fi 
 

N/A
N/A

Wi-Fi Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi Frequency Band 
 

Locked
N/A

Wi-Fi 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

Locked
Locked

AirPlay Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Google Chromecast 
 

Locked
Locked

Chromecast Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Check Price

Black
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black/Brass
Middleton II
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Blue Dusk
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Cream
Middleton II
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Citrus Yellow
SoundLink Max
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 

Bose SoundLink Max

Marshall Middleton II

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  1. Comparison

Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Middleton II: Main Discussion

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