Marshall - Woburn II Bluetooth Speaker - Black

The name, Marshall, has conjured up so many fond memories of the early 60's. In the late 1950's I was fascinated by stereo and sound channel separation. The late '50s' also just happened to be the 'Golden-Age' of Rock and Roll, which begged for bigger, more robust amplifiers and sound equipment to deliver two-channel stereo separation and deep, pounding bass at volume levels to fill large venues. Drummer, Jim Marshall, the 'Father-Of-Loud', founded Marshall Amplifiers in 1962 in Bletchley, England. After Pete Townshend appealed to Marshall to make an amplifier that would bring out 'live' sound with depth and volume, Marshall guitar amplifiers became the accepted 'standard' worldwide. Guitarists have been using his amplification equipment for the last 50 plus years. WoW! At the same time I started building stereo systems for family and friends from the finest audio and speaker components I could find and afford to buy. I considered myself an audiophile back then, and still do today because I love the superior, stereo sounds, which invoke feelings of joy, sorrow, and happiness that only true audio reproduction and amplification can convey. When I had an opportunity to do a comprehensive review of a Marshall Woburn II Dual 5.25", 110W, Wireless 2-Way Speaker in exchange for the product, I did not hesitate. Marshall, for you younger folks, is the 'gold-standard' of sound amplification and quality. Next time you and your favorite gal go out dancing – take notice of the band's equipment. It is probably Marshall's amplification and sound equipment. It is still the preferred choice of professionals. I was thrilled to evaluate and review this speaker set. Why do I think the Marshall Woburn II is the best speaker at this price range on the market? ** Sound Quality – The most important reason for buying a speaker in the first place. Here is where Marshall is clearly ahead of the rest, especially with its delivery of pulsating bass. * Without Bluetooth this speaker delivers phenomenal, dynamic sound through its analogue control panel. I can connect my auxiliary devices through the 3.5mm in the Control Panel or L/R, RCA Input Jacks on the back of the speaker. Through my amp-receiver l can channel a variety of other kinds of music into this fabulous speaker; FM Radio, my Retro-Turntable, CD and DVD Player, and the sound stream from my Smart TV. Additionally, I have an Equalizer with 18 frequency bands, which can further enhance the sound qualities of this Woburn II. But, this Marshall has its own Control Panel, which is more then adequate. On top of my speaker panel are three analogue control knobs, Volume, Bass, and Treble. Two 1 inch tweeters and dual 5.25 inch subwoofers are individually powered by class D amps for a total of 110 watts of power. This speaker cabinet renders a lively, earthy sound and the bass reflex system includes a rectangular port for each subwoofer, which works to extend the frequency response. Even at high sound levels as the air escapes each bass reflex port it does not get noisy or distorted because the inside of the ports are at a 90 degree angle facing down in the cabinet. The three control panel knobs are lighted and graduated in increments from 0 to 10, which allow me to fine tune the exact acoustical sound I want. Woburn II projects medium and high trebles flawlessly, and commands low resonating bass with beefy richness at any volume setting. It has a broad, realistic mid range. I love it. YooHoo! * With Bluetooth 5.0 – Here is where the Marshall Woburn II elevates its sound delivery through the latest, greatest technology. One of the most unique attributes of this Marshall speaker is that is has the Qualcom codec aptX chipset. It is an advanced codec specifically designed for high resolution sound delivery over Bluetooth devices. It allows CD and DVD quality sound to be transmitted over Bluetooth, and updates this retro-classic, Marshall Woburn II into the 21st century. It is absolutely astounding sound quality. However, you must have a phone or portable device, which has the aptX chipset installed to take advantage of this high-performance sound. Check the specs on the model of your phone, tablet, or other mobile device. There are many phones and devices out there that support aptX. However, if aptX is not installed in your phone or device - you won't be able to experience the higher resolution sound. Because there is no software upgrade option without the installed chipset. At present only Android devices, which use Oreo (8.0 or 8.1) or PIE (9.0) OS system, support aptX. IOS phones do not support aptX, they use ACC as their optional Bluetooth codec. However, Apple Macs do support aptX. My wife has a Samsung Phone with the aptX chipset and I have an Apple with ACC. Just after a couple of minutes of listening to her Android phone playing music from an Internet Music Service over BT to this Marshall Woburn II – I am a believer the aptX codec is superior in higher resolution sound. This Marshall Woburn II over BT delivers crisp, clear voice highs and well-defined bass with the subtle nuance background sounds only prevalent while listening to CDs and DVDs. WooHoo! ** Marshall BT App – The Marshall App is available at both the Google Play and the Apple Store. After setting up an account It directed me to pair my phones to the Marshall Woburn II Speaker. It is easy and it allows me to download the App on any of my devices under my e-mail account. The App also provides for coupling with Woburn Multi-Room Speakers (Woburn II is not a Multi-Room speaker). However, through my amp-receiver I can input several speakers together including this Woburn II. The App lets me use anyone of the seven equalizer presets, Flat, Rock, Metal, Pop, Hip-Hop, Electronic, Jazz, and, or Customize the EQ to my own listening tastes. How cool is that? ** Marshall's Classic Look & Build – Styling and design has remained basically the same for over 60 years. They still enclose their speakers in strong, birch plywood covered in textured vinyl covering with the Marshall name in script over the front of the speaker and the iconic brass plate at the bottom front, which has engraved, “Est. 1962”. The topside Control Panel is copper-colored, brushed aluminum with a momentary ON/OFF Power Lever, Source button, Play/Pause button, Volume, Bass, and Treble knobs. ** Marshall Speaker Placement - Because this is an excellent speaker designed for volume and bass it deserves to be placed where you can get the most out of it. As an audiophile I cannot emphasize enough how important is to place your speaker in a place to match the acoustics of your particular room. Speakers are designed to deliver optimum sound to you when they are level with your ears while you are listening to them. So, placement height should be approximately 36 to 42 inches above the floor, which is the approximate level of your ears while sitting. If at all possible this speaker should be placed at, or near, the middle of your listening area with no obstructions in front of it. It can sit on any stable surface, but, it is best to place this speaker on a layer of foam or a similarly absorptive material. The sponge-like material prevents reverberation and helps isolate the sounds from vibrations you don’t want to hear. If you have to place this speaker near a wall try to keep a space as far from the wall as practicable. Keeping a distance away from the wall reduces any possible distortions from bass and the mid-ranges. Because of your rooms wall make-up, ceilings, length/shape, furnishings, number of people, etc. all have influence on sound delivery. Don't be afraid to experiment. You will discover the best speaker placement for your listening pleasure. ** Sound Volume – Keep in mind this Woburn II is designed for bass and volume. It can make you taste your morning's toothpaste, once again, if you turn the volume way up. It is a booming sound machine. When I first set up my Woburn II speaker I had the volume at five, treble at two and bass at three. It is better to cut the highs first before powering up the bass and making any other adjustments. I was pleasantly surprised. However, this speaker can be a beast with the bass and volume turned up. ** Conclusion – This is a unique speaker backed by 60 years of Marshall excellence and tradition. It is quality made and built, and, is priced accordingly. I highly recommend this Marshall Woburn II as the centerpiece of your audio equipment. It is a retro-classic with updated technology. It would make a great gift for yourself, the music lover on your list, family member or special friend.

If you are reading this than you’ve maybe past the price point for considerations. Yeah, it’s going to put you back some coin for a plug in Bluetooth speaker. But, is it worth it? I can say that with a smile on my face… I spent some time looking at the Marshall Woodburn II and am familiar with the consumer market for available devices and their respective options in this category of cost, style and functionality. I have to admit that some of the marketing got to me as I can relate to toting around Marshall and other similar gear back in the days.. So, the Marshall signature and look does have an impact. But is it a Marshall? Does it perform like a quality musician amp? For me, this box is for one purpose; Rock out, period. It cranks with authority and clarity. Bass is tight, mids are clear and highs are as high as you want them to be. Pair it and play. That’s it. I am not hooking this up to a TV/entertainment system. I don’t need the optical in as it’s prior iteration. I am familiar that there may be lag when streaming TV to device – Non-Applicable to me. This speaker has one function for me; to pair with a phone or tablet and play jams and that is it. The TV has entertainment system with surround sound, sub, etc. I don’t feel the design intent was to be an all-in-one home entertainment sound system, though, I guess it could be Quality is beyond my expectations. I have zero issues or hiccups. After downloading the app and firmware update, all is good. With that there are some obvious or not so obvious nuances that may or may not be a check on everyone’s bucket list of what a speaker in this category should be. Form and function: The speaker is sexy and is meant more for good looks and sitting static vs. going for a waterproof rating, carry handle, etc. There isn’t much function to the box than looking good, controls interactions and housing the speaker with it’s ports in the back. The soft material with padding underneath is a nice touch. There is a lot of emphasis on trim and it’s looks. It is a piece of art that is going to need to blend in with your decorum. It’s not the outdoor rough rider that you want to take to the beach, leave outside in the rain or to be left in the back of a car to get bumped around in transport. I’m not saying it can take a few bumps but I am saying I am unwilling to find out. It’s not delicate, its static and not designed for portability. So if unplugging it and picking it up with both hands and arms is going to bother you, you may needs something more rugged with handles and such. Personally, I like the looks and absence of the hardening, IP ratings and handles. I wanted a plugin Bluetooth speaker with emphasis on function and this does all that beautifully. Controls: Perfect mix for what this is. Again, sexy. The gold tone, smooth rotation and even push feel of power switch are all aesthetically pleasing on the eyes and tactile. You’ve got Volume, Bass, Treble, Pause/Play, Power and input select. Simple and straight forward. You don’t have a 5 band high pass EQ, no fancy control on the app, etc. And really, it doesn’t need anything else. The Bass and Treble adjustments will get you everything you need. The Volume at max along with your device at max can lead to distortion at max level. And I think this was intent design. This is not a negative because the speaker is allowing you to find that max input without clipping its potential range. Many devices will clip the input level without achieving full power. There is plenty of power in this speaker way below anything close to max volume. Sound: Clear, tight and room filling bass. Everything works. Whatever wizardry is behind the mesh it all comes together. With the speaker positioned somewhere between waist to ear level you really can’t tell any negative directional characteristics of the highs. Mids are never muddied. In a cheaper amp when bass has high demands the mids suffer. This is not the case. At low volume to high volume, everything is clear. The hard working of the 20 – 600Hz range of the speaker is transparent to mids and highs – the overall sound quality. Music type: Anything. I listen to a lot of jazz, classical and old school 80’s rock, metal and rap. The only music that doesn't work on my Marshall is country and I can only imagine it would sound just as good, only much-much-much slower. I have thrown everything at it from Slayer to Grandmaster Flash and it just doesn’t disappoint. Portability: It’s not. It’s a box with a cord that has no handles and you really don’t want to drop it or bang it around. But I move it around the house, just using common sense and two hands. It has rubber feet and wants to sit on all four of them, too. I’d recommend this to someone who really enjoys their music and wants to have that dedicated speaker to jam to and doesn’t mind some gentle persuasion to take it from room to room and has a place to set it. I would not recommend this to someone who is looking for the all in one – everything. Yeah, you may get it to work as a center audio everything, but I wouldn’t say this would be it’s ultimate purpose.

The first thing I noticed about this speaker is how big and heavy it is. Honestly, I wasn't prepared for it. The second thing I noticed about it was how great it feels and looks. This thing is meant to be seen and shown off to people. The third thing I noticed was how great it sounds. Now, after moving it, and feeling it's weight and finish, I was expecting the sound, and it did not disappoint one bit. If you're looking for a small speaker you tuck away in a corner and pull out for an occasional use, or something you toss in the car to bring to the beach, this is definitely not what you're looking for. However, if you have an office, media room, or living room that has an end table, sofa table, or hutch that seems to be missing something on top, and you are looking for a great audio experience to fill that space, this is what you want. That is, unless you need optical audio, as that's the one key miss I found. From a design standpoint, this thing is stellar. As I mentioned, it's designed to be shown off. It's got a great classic Marshall Amp look to it, from the cover to the surround, to the knobs: it looks like it should. Even better, when you touch it - run your fingers over it, turn a knob, feel the cover - it feels complete and high end. I have several friends that are musicians and when I showed them this, they loved the look and couldn't walk away from it. And that's how this thing is designed. If you're not playing music through it, it still wants to be seen and talked about. The back is kept simple with just the power input, RCA input, and 2 bass ports. It supports playback through various connections, with an AUX input on top, RCA (red and white) on the back, and of course, Bluetooth; it supports 2 devices at once. All the controls are on the top, with volume, bass, and treble controlled via knobs, a power toggle lever, and source and play/pause as small buttons. Playback through RCA and AUX is as simple as plugging in through the appropriate connection and pressing the source button. An LED will indicate which input is selected and the volume, bass, and treble LEDs will adjust to the last settings for that input. One of the features I liked about switching inputs was the fact that the the volume, and EQ settings are per input, which was important because I found different volume and EQ settings were needed for AUX vs RCA vs Bluetooth for the best sound. This keeps you from blasting your ears when switching inputs because one required higher volume settings than another. Connecting via Bluetooth requires holding the source button to activate pairing mode, or utilizing the mobile app to configure the connection. It's pretty quick, and very straight forward. I tested the multi-device support, and toggling devices was as simple as playing audio from the device that wasn't already playing. The speaker automatically pauses playback on the current device, and starts playing audio from the new one; no additional toggle is necessary. I had no issues with Bluetooth cutting out on me, and I found it to provide great range indoors, supporting me rounding a corner, downstairs, and into a kitchen that was about 33 feet away. Interestingly, I tested my phone via AUX, RCA, and Bluetooth, and found the best sound quality came via the Bluetooth connection, with AUX being second. Audio out of the box is very clear, all the way to the high points of the volume range, and I found the speaker more than capable of filling a large room with clear audio. I first tested it in a 13x15 room, which it filled at a medium volume range, and then in a 20x20 media room, which it still filled at a medium to high range. I didn't experience any distortion either. The mobile app gives you some optional EQ presets you can toggle between, and I found myself selecting one, dialing the bass back a bit, and settling on a comfortable balance. Unlike some speakers and EQ settings that tend to distort or muffle the sound as you increase bass, this speaker still delivered clear highs and lows through the range. Also, I really enjoyed watching the LEDs around the bass and treble knobs adjust based on the settings toggled in the app. It seems silly, but it was fun to watch. One thing I did find when testing various rooms and placements of the speaker is that it fills the room and sounds the cleanest when set up between 3 - 5 feet high. I found that placing it too low to the ground prevented it from sounding as full and clean as it can, and the sweet spot seemed to be in the 3-5 foot range. I only really have two complaints with this speaker. The first is pretty minor, and isn't really anything wrong with the speaker, but I wish the power button were a toggle lever, clicking into place to power on, and then clicking back to the off position. To power on this speaker you hold the power button forward, and it powers on. Then the lever moves back to it's standard position. To power off, you hold the button forward again. As it is, it feels a bit spongy to me, but it works fine. I just think a toggle lever would be a little more fun. The second complaint is the one that I could see holding people back from buying this speaker and getting the most use out of it. It's also the thing I am wishing for the most on it: optical audio input. I would love to use this speaker in my living room, connected to my TV mounted above my fireplace. I have an inexpensive soundbar there now, and this thing actually sounds better than the soundbar + sub combination I have for music playback from my connected devices. However, my TV only has optical output, and this speaker doesn't support optical input. I feel like that is a huge miss for Marshall, and possibly the one thing keeping this speaker from being a complete and perfect package. That said, if you don't need the optical input, and are looking for a great sounding speaker that is also a great center piece and conversation starter, look no further. It's big, bold, and beautiful, and it sounds amazing.

I’ve had a long history of respect for Marshall products. I first recognized them as a powerhouse when it came to electric amps and now, I have become a great fan of their Bluetooth speakers. Marshall takes the same care that they do with their amplifiers in designing their speakers and what comes out is a premium listening experience. The Woburn II speaker is quite large. It is actually larger than some portable amps I’ve had in my lifetime. It looks just like a classic amp and because of its size, it’s not really considered a ‘portable’ speaker. I would recommend that users find a good place for it to live and leave it there. It’s stylish enough to reside in a place where it can be viewed rather than be hidden like some speakers. Getting started with the speaker is a breeze. Marshall has an app available that walks you through the steps of connecting to a Bluetooth device but you can simply just select the Woburn II from your list of available Bluetooth devices once it’s in Bluetooth pairing mode. Once it’s paired to a Bluetooth device you can simply start playing music from your favorite source. For me, it’s Pandora. I like being able between genres on a whim. I happened to start this musical journey with a hard rock/metal station I had set up. I listened to Metallica, Rob Zombie, and Outkast using that station. After listening to a few songs on that station, I switched over to a 90s hip-hop playlist I had set up — also through Pandora — and at this point, decided to see what the app allowed me to do remotely. As it turned out, there was a firmware update available so I paused my listening experience to complete the update. The warning on the screen stated that it might take up to 10 minutes to complete and it wasn’t too far off. The app does provide you with the option of adjusting the speaker settings including the equalizer (presets), the brightness of the LEDs on the speaker, and turning the system sounds on and off. I found that the equalizer was helpful in bringing out the depth of a song depending on its genre. I like the availability of the app because I feel like it does add to the overall listening experience. It’s simple and easy to use so it doesn’t distract from the overall experience. Even though my primary mode of listening to music these days is via Bluetooth I do appreciate that the Marshall speaker also includes an aux input and RCA input ports. It’s really fun that the speaker also has inline controls on the top of the speaker. The volume control coincides with the volume control on the connected device. So, if you turn the volume up or down on your connected device, then it will change the volume level on the speaker’s volume knob LED. I was instantly impressed with the sound quality of the Marshall Woburn II speaker. I love that Marshall has included several options for adjusting your listening experience — bass/treble knobs on the speaker and the customizable equalizer in the app — so you always get the sound you want. The speaker won’t be for everyone as it’s quite large, but if you are looking for an awesome room-size speaker, I wouldn’t hesitate to invest in the Marshall Woburn II.

Excellent speaker, they so nice wherever you put it. The sounds is impressive. I replaced my Bose speaker and they were great too but this one are more versatile and the vintage looks is a plus. Never had this brand but now I have 2 of them.

Fantastic Speaker, highly reliable, easy to use with the most amazing power n bass

This speaker is well worth the price tag. Deep, bass, clear treble, and this thing can really put out some volume! Exactly what I was looking for to bring some new life to my vinyl collection.

I can easily say that i have been pleasantly surprised with with this item. My satisfaction comes from two areas of focus. Design and sound. At a glace I couldnt be happier with this blue tooth speaker. I own other blue tooth speakers but can honestly say that the design of this speaker combines both vintage looks with top tier technology. There are manual knobs to use to fine tune performance and both a bluetooth or hard-wired port which enables speaker to give sound from nearly any source. The manual knobs provide the flexibility to tune by any user, not specifically the one who's phone is connected. The guitar looking speaker really makes my room pop, as it has a very unique look to it. Lastly, the sound is superb. Deep base and crisp treble. This speaker really does do it all. I can say that i highly recommend this as it is a one stop shop for all things audio related. Its large build also give any the sound authority, opposed to smaller speakers. All in all worth the purchase.