Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Marshall Middleton II Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a nice speaker with a rugged waterproof and dustproof design. The speaker comes well packed with a quick start guide with instructions. The speaker is fairly easy to figure out without the manual. However, the manual has more details of the features the speaker provides. My only gripe is that the font is extremely small. I could barely read it because the font is way too small to read for most people. The speaker comes with a carrying strap. The carrying strap is extremely difficult to install. The instructions say to push the strap through the opening upwards. I never could get it to slide through upwards. I decided to slide it opposite of what the instructions say. I decided to slide it through the opening downwards. Doing to works, but the strap looks different than what’s illustrated in the manual. The speaker has some weight to it. It’s one you will carry and place it on a table or surface while in use. It’s to a speaker you will be throwing in your bag due to its weight. When I connected the speaker to my iPhone it prompted me to download the Marshall app. Two different apps appeared for me to download. One with a gray background and white colored M, and the other with a black background and gold colored M. The gray and white one is the one that works. The black and cold one doesn’t appear to be supported for this speaker. The app allowed me to create custom EQ settings. You can also increase the bass and treble using the hardware buttons on top of the speaker. The multifunction buttons allow you to play/pause, play previous and next track, and adjust the volume. The audio quality of the speaker sounds really good. I got a compliment of how well it sounds. The speaker also has a 3.5mm aux jack in the back for connecting to devices that support a line connection. Overall, the speaker is a solid choice for playing music in a small to medium sized room.

INTRODUCTION: While this is not my first high-end Bluetooth speaker, it is my first time using a product from Marshall. I had high expectations for the Marshall Middleton II because everyone on social media seems to have a similar Marshall speaker. This is one of the trendiest brands in the audio space, but the Marshall Middleton II manages to live up to the hype. While not perfect, this speaker will appeal to both audiophiles and the casual listener. DESIGN: The Marshall Middleton II has that classic, semi-retro, rock ‘n’ roll, imitation amp design that all Marshall speakers are famous for. I love the aesthetic of the Marshall Middleton II. The device feels premium the moment you take it out the box, and speaking of the box, Marshall also put thought into the box’s design opting to continue its rock ‘n’ roll theme to it too. The speaker comes in two colors: cream and black (black & brass to be more exact), and while the cream is more visually attractive, the black is the better option for avoiding any staining, dirt marks or scuff marks which will matter to you if you choose to take the speaker outside. Regardless of what color you choose, either option will be stunning. It’s just a great looking speaker, period. The material the speaker is made of is waterproof, which I can confirm is accurate. I take this speaker into the bathroom with me as I am showering and washing my hair, and it handled accidental water splashes and heavy mist just fine. You will appreciate it being waterproof if you take this on a beach trip or play it by the swimming pool. More importantly, the sound quality is very good. Marshall claims the Middleton II uses what they refer to as “360° True Stereophonic sound,” or multidirectional audio, and while I didn’t run any fancy tests on this feature, I can say I am satisfied with how this speaker projects sound. It really fills up my living room and pushes the sound to every nearby room on the same floor. The more elevated the speaker is, the better the sound output is, the better the sound is distributed throughout the area, so I prefer to sit it on a shelf, counter or high-top table. The Middleton II also doesn’t distort bass, guitar nor drums. There are physical controls on the device that control the level of bass and treble for when you need to alter them. While you can do the same within Marshall’s app, I personally prefer using physical buttons on my devices that work independently of an app. Regarding power, the woofer amps are 30 watts, and the maximum volume is 90 decibels. The Marshall Middleton II also has a built-in microphone, which I doubt I will ever use, but may come in handy for hands free phone calls at outdoor events, such as barbecues and beach picnics. PROS: The Marshall Middleton II goes into pairing mode quicker than my other Bluetooth portable speaker (from a competitor). I am not sure why that is because I’m pairing it with the same two devices that I used with the competition. The Middleton II pairs almost immediately, even when pairing the speaker to an audio source for the first time. Additionally, the Marshall Middleton II can be paired to multiple devices at the same time. So can my speaker from a competitor; but unlike that speaker, the Marshall Middleton II pairs to multiple devices seamlessly. Unlike my other speaker, the Marshall Middleton II doesn’t struggle to maintain connection to both devices while playing only one, doesn’t struggle to find the devices I want to connect to, and stays connected to both devices so long as neither audio source goes into sleep mode. It’s super easy to do, and you can alternate between audio sources without issue. Battery life is also good. I’ve used it two to four hours a day for at least 4 days out of the week, and my battery life is currently at 62%. You will need to charge this immediately following purchase though, as it only has 25% battery life straight out the box. Marshall claims you can get up to 30 hours of run time on this speaker, but realistically, especially playing at the louder volumes like I do, I will probably get closer to 20-25 hours of run time. CONS: This is the heaviest portable speaker I’ve used in this category or genre of Bluetooth speakers. It is not remotely small. Yes, I can hold it in one hand, but I can’t hold it comfortably; and while I am a woman, I don’t have small hands. Maybe the discomfort comes from its wide, boxy square shape. As a result, I don’t feel comfortable taking this on the go which completely defeats the purpose of having a portable speaker. I feel its weight cancels out its portability factor. The Marshall Middleton II does come with a nylon wrist strap to help aid in traveling with it that looks durable, but I still do not feel comfortable holding this speaker by the strap alone. The speaker weighs four pounds, so it’s not a light portable speaker, and it will be tedious for packing/traveling. Carry it outside with caution. Personally, I think this speaker may be too fancy for outdoor activities, and I am also clumsy, so this will solely be used indoors for me. One thing that irritates me is if my audio source is paused for more than five minutes, the Marshall Middleton II will disconnect from it and sometimes even power off. My other speaker will last up to 20 minutes before completely disconnecting and powering off. Fortunately, the speaker pairs quickly with my phone and tablet, but it still really bothers me that it disconnects that quickly. I don’t know if this problem is just on my device, or if all Marshall Middleton speakers work like this. Maybe it is a way of conserving the battery. CONCLUSION: Tiny quirks and size issues aside, the Middleton II is a great speaker that comes packed with power, great audio, and good looks. It looks attractive in anyone’s office, living room, or on a shelf. The Middleton II isn’t just trendy nor is it all beauty over function; the Middleton II delivers a rich enjoyable audio experience that will keep you choosing it over your other Bluetooth speakers. It’s just great sound, period. I recommend it as a gift to music lovers in your life; specifically, those that will appreciate its retro rocker design.

It's been a couple of years since I've gotten a new Bluetooth speaker and I opted for this Marshall mainly due to the design.(Due to the name I figured it would sound good) I feel they put more thought into the styling and functionality of their speakers. I really like how they have a more vintage look. The size of the Middleton II is perfect. Great for portability, the strap makes it easy to grab and go. They put buttons and switches right on top so you don't need to grab your phone all the time to make adjustments. The battery bar is wonderful so you can see at a glance how your power level is doing. It doubles as a level meter for volume, bass, and treble. Having dedicated bass and treble adjustments is great as well as necessary. Soo convenient! Battery life is outstanding, definitely over a day or two use at a moderately loud volume level. If you only used it a couple hours a day, maybe you'd have to charge in a couple weeks. Definitely charge it when it gets under half. (for speed sake) Mine was just about dead when it arrived and took three and a half hours to fully charge. It also doubles as a battery bank. You can use it to charge your phone back up! Now the sound. Blown away! The bass that this thing can produce is amazing. Soo low and rumbly, I've never heard anything like it from a speaker this size. Usually on other Bluetooth speakers the bass is good but it's more punchy, this you need to hear in person. The mids and highs are soo clean. You can pick out different instruments that you normally wouldn't hear. It seems like everything has its own channel it comes through on. The Marshall app was the only downside I could really find. Generally you go in the app for more settings and specifically the equalizer. I real hope this gets an update. I spent way too much time switching between the different presets or trying to make my own. I couldn't tell any difference. The steps of the different frequencies are soo small I could barely tell. I left it on Marshall sound and tried my phones built in equalizer. That one works great, definite differences with the bands. It did always seem a bit bass heavy, especially with podcasts, but then I remembered the buttons on the top! Using those to adjust bass and treble made it perfect. Definitely give this Marshall Middleton II a try, it's amazing!

I've used other marshall products before and found them great for the price... Most of the time. The MSRP is $329 and for me I really wished they added codec support like LDAC or Apt X at the very least. We're stuck with AAC and SBC. Otherwise it's a great speaker. It gets loud enough and packs as lot of bass for its size. The speaker also works with Marshalls app as well. It has a rating of 30 hours which I found it basically reached as well. The speaker has an EQ in the app which is great but it also has two buttons to increase or decrease the bass and treble on the speaker as well. Once I found those I was pleased with the sound. It also has a 3.5mm port so you can input from your phone or etc to the speaker . It also has a USB C port which you use to charge the device but you can also use the speaker to charge your phone or device as well. Comes with a strap you can add to the side to easily handle it on your wrist or to carry easily as well. It's also IP67 rated so you don't have ti worry about getting it wet as well.

I have been using the Marshall Middleton II Portable Bluetooth Speaker for a little over a week now, and this portable speaker is a blast. The sound is incredible for its size, with powerful, full audio that really fills the space, whether I am indoors or outside. Setting it up was very easy, and it connects quickly and reliably to my devices, so I can get straight to enjoying my music without any hassle. One of the most impressive features for me is the battery life. I am getting close to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge, which means I can listen all day and well into the night without worrying about plugging it in. On longer days, it is reassuring to know that when it does need power, a quick charge gets it back up and running, so I can keep the music going. Some playlists really do deserve to go on tour, and this speaker can keep up. The 360-degree True Stereophonic sound is another standout. The multidirectional audio makes the music hit from all angles, so it sounds strong no matter where I am standing. Whether I am by the pool, in the backyard, or moving around the room, the sound remains rich, balanced, and immersive. With the Middleton II, there is truly nowhere to hide from the music in the best possible way. I have already tested its rugged design by using it beside the pool. It had splashes of water on it, and it handled them without any issues. The durable, dustproof, and waterproof construction means it can withstand dust, sand, and poolside splashes. Overall, this speaker combines incredible sound, long battery life, rugged durability, and innovative features into one portable package. It has quickly become one of my favorite devices to bring along for poolside days, outdoor hangouts, and everyday listening.

Wow - where do I start? This speaker is in a class all by itself for its size. You can read all the specs, so I won't take up space repeating them. It is all about the sound, and this thing is far and away the best sounding speaker in its class. The bass is tight, not boomy, the midrange and highs are crisp, and the app allows you to switch between several pre-sets and your own equalizer settings. It is true stereo sound with speakers on both ends and facing forward. It looks great with the black and brass, and it is hefty in weight. It comes with a hand strap, but I can't imagine myself ever using it as it is heavy enough to find a spot to sit it down. I ran it continuously for 12 straight hours, and the battery still had almost 3/4 charge. It took almost 4 hours to recharge with a 20-watt charger, so clearly, it has a large capacity battery. They claim it is two-way charging so you can use the battery to charge other USB-C devices. It does not come with a charger or a cable - you supply your own. It came from Marshall with about a 10% charge, so be sure to charge it prior to first use. They claim it is waterproof with an IP 67 rating, but I am not sure I will put that claim to the test. A small surprise is that it comes with a microphone, so you can use it to take phone calls. I have not tried that yet, so can't comment on that capability. It has a 3.5 MM port for wired connection, but I have not tried this either, as the Bluetooth is capable of everything I would use it for. Marshall is synonymous with high quality, durable, and dependable equipment, and this small speaker certainly appears to be capable of continuing that legacy.

I have been a super fan of the Marshall speakers since the first Stanmore which is now in my wife's office. I've owned and gifted the Marshall series more than any other speaker company. The Middleton II is my first of that series and it doesn't disappoint. I sounds like a speaker three times it's size and has a style that is effortlessly cool. If you want a simply outstanding home speaker that is also small enough, and water/dust resistant enough to be portable, look no further than the Middleton II. Tack on the fact that it can also act as a charger for your phone, and it has now become my go-to recommendation to friends and I plan on buying another one for one of my friends this holiday season. So what do I like? Let me count the ways... 1. Sound: What we are all here for. The Middleton II gets LOUD and does it without distortion (at least at any level that I could listen to without blowing out my eardrums). It is also tuned nicely with the 'Marshall Classic' EQ. It's perfect for rocking out, listening to country, dance music, and lots of other upbeat music. You get a second preset that you can dial in for other music such as jazz, classical, vocal that could use a bit of tweaking to maximize their particular signatures. 2. Size: Just about perfect. Big enough to pack the hardware to really sing but small enough to be unobtrusive in your home and easily portable to the beach or park. 3. Battery: My Middleton II came at almost 0% battery and it charged up to full in almost exactly 2 hours on a high speed charger (seeming to average about 27w draw). I have been playing it for at least 8 hours and my app says the speaker is at 87% battery! Granted that has been at low volume, but that is because I have it at almost the lowest setting I can have it and it STILL fills my office with music! That's how powerful this speaker is! The Marshall claim of 30+ hours of playtime is heavy on that 'plus' side! 4. Style: Timeless and classic. How can you go wrong with device that looks like those amp and speaker stacks of the artists we adore? You can't. No silly LED effects and no wasted space, just a pure music sound machine. What could Marshall improve on the Middleton II? I'm not going to say that I don't like these things they are just personal wishes that if they instituted them on the model III, I'd buy it in an instant and give this one to my favorite nephew. 1. Volume: Ok, yeah I know, I'm getting old, but MAN does this thing get LOUD even at low levels. It can sometimes make it hard to 'dial it in' for your given location, especially if it is small or you don't want to disturb others. I have my phone volume at may 15-20% and the Middleton is on the single line at the bottom of the scale and it is perfectly loud enough for an office. I would actually like a bit more control over the volume than really good at the bottom and 'Oh my god my ears are bleeding!' at anything over half-way. 2. Hand Strap: While the Middleton II is nicely portable, it is NOT a speaker for just holding in your hand on a wrist strap. The smaller speakers down from here? Yes, but the Middleton II is the size that needs a strap that goes from one side to the other like the Stockwell or Kilburn. Even if we're only on the short side (though that would mess putting it down). I took the strap off even though I will be taking this out and about, because I can't see myself ever using it as intended. 3. Button Labels: Again, I'm old so my eyes aren't the best and sometimes it has been hard to see the body color labels on the Middleton. I don't know if they are any easier to see on the other colors but I've always preferred the black color for nostalgia and covering up dust/dirt/scuffs. Maybe some of the gold color as an inlay? I don't know, maybe this is just me but I'm betting not. TLDR: My new go-to recommendation for friends and family for the best portable speaker, hands down. Power, sound, and style for miles! No drawbacks, just some nice to haves for the next iteration. LOVE my new Middleton II.

The Marshall Middleton 2 is such a good Bluetooth speaker. I love just about everything about it! I grew up playing guitar and the first amp I ever purchased with my own money was a Marshall. So, the Marshall speaker line up holds a special place in my heart. With the Middleton 2, you get that same Marshall aesthetic that you've come to expect with Marshall. While the smaller speakers, like the Middleton 2, don't have the classic Marshall knobs, you still get the gold colored control "knob" and all the necessary buttons on top. I really like the ability to adjust the bass and treble right on the speaker. It's nice to have those quick access buttons to adjust the sound on the fly. As far as sound goes, it is oh so good. You get rich bass and crisp highs in what I consider to be the perfect sized speaker that can go anywhere. I've listened to metal, jazz, hard rock and classical on this speaker and it is amazing. You really can't go wrong with Marshall speakers. They also throw in a carrying strap which is a nice addition. Also, the battery life is great. Overall, this is an excellent speaker and I recommend this 100%. If you get the chance, go into a Best Buy and give it a listen in person if you can. It's great!

Marshall is still top notch. This Middleton II blue tooth speaker is more like a blue tooth system. It has everything I need to keep the vibe going. The look is great. It's got a simple and sleek look but also has a touch of luxury styling. And the fact that it looks just like a Marshall guitar amp is super cool. The feel of it is nice. It has a good weight to it and feels like a quality, well built speaker. The control knob works smoothly and is easy to use. A feature I really like is that this is also a power bank for your phone or tablet. I listened to music for six hours straight because my phone was able to be charged. Now, the sound. The sound is so spacious. I don't find myself looking for sweet spot to get the best clarity no matter where I am around it. The quality of sound that this speaker creates is very impressive. The bass is deep, way deeper than you'd ever think a blue tooth speaker like this one could be. The mid range and treble is so detailed and clear. I crank the volume and it doesn't have any distortion whatsoever. Just an awesome sound. The battery lasts as well. I haven't had the need to charge it yet. Overall, if you are looking for an awesome speakers at a great price point, this is the one.

I have been a fan of Marshall products for some time. I currently own the original Middleton the Emberton III and the Major IV headphones. In addition, I have a number of Bluetooth speakers from Sony, Bose and JBL. This new Middleton II is a major upgrade over the original Middleton. Before I get into the sound quality I want to point out some of the improvements that have been made. The new model is ever so slightly larger than the original. It now comes with a metal grill on the back as well as the front where the original has a plastic grill on the back. The controls on top of the speaker are now raised and easier to find and use. Where the original used the brass center button to turn on/off the speaker the new model has a dedicated power button below the Bluetooth button. The new model retains the separate bass and treble controls. The biggest addition is the inclusion of a microphone to allow you to take calls through the speaker. Battery life has been increased to 30 hours from 20 hours on the original. Power output has increased to 30 watts for the woofers from 20 while the tweeters still use 10-watt amps. The app now provides 6 preset EQ settings that include among other things the Marshall signature setting and a custom setting with a 5-band EQ. The original only had a bass and treble EQ in the app. The app also allows you to adjust battery saver mode as well as unattended use time to shut down. There is a new carrying strap that is now made of a nylon material instead of rubber which is a nice upgrade. The speaker uses a USB-C to charge and can be used as a charger for other devices along with a 3.5mm input. The speaker is waterproof and dust proof with an IP67 rating and now the speaker floats if it were to fall into the water. The original would just sink to the bottom. All of these changes make a significant difference over the original but what about the sound. Marshall is unique in the fact that their speakers produce sound from both the front and back of the speaker. With a tweeter and passive radiator on the front and back the speaker produces a much more stereo type of sound. The woofers are on the side, and the openings are larger on the new speaker. With the larger amps the speaker gets louder than the original and produces much better bass. This additional bass smooths out the mids and highs. The speaker has a wider soundstage and a very neutral sound signature when set to the Marshall signature setting which I found to be my preference. There is no harshness to the music even at the highest volumes. The sound is open and airy and just sounds amazing. At roughly 9”X4”X4.25” and just short of 4lbs. this is not the most portable of speakers. I would give that to the Emberton III. But from a performance standpoint the Middle II is a much better sounding speaker. If there were one thing I would consider a con it would be that Marshall chose to implement Auracast for connecting multiple speakers. I have had the Emberton III now for over a year and Marshall still has not provided a firmware update to implement this feature. The previous models used stack mode however you cannot connect a stack mode model with an Auracast model so at this point there is now way to connect multiple speakers in the Marshall line up and that is disappointing. As for pricing, the Middle II sells for $329.99 and the original Middle is currently selling for $249.99 and I have seen them as low as $199.99. For the current $80 difference I would definitely choose the Middle II. I have spent several days comparing the original and the Middleton II and even though the original Middleton is a great speaker now that I have had a chance to compare them, I would still choose the new Middleton II even at $130 difference. It’s just that good, with the improved functionality and performance it is by far one of the best Bluetooth speakers in this price range.

This is my first Marshall bluetooth speaker (though not Marshalls' first bluetooth speaker), and I didn't know what to expect because sometimes older companies that specialize in one thing (guitar amps), don't really translate well into newer technology. I am pleased to find out that Marshall did translate their expertise in audio amplification into a bluetooth speaker. I am not a musician, but if I were to assign the Marshall brand a personality, it would be everything they included in this bluetooth speaker. This speaker is quite hefty for its modest size, so the (removable) carry strap is a nice add on. Additionally, this speaker goes past the generic plastic, and has made the strap a faux-leather, and the speaker itself is also wrapped in a texturized rubbery material. It has speaker grills on the front and back... because it has speakers in the front and back! It has passive bass vents on the sides. What this means is that it produces a nice, solid room-filling sound. In the app they call it Marshall's signature EQ (even though it shows all 0's on each frequency). But you can change it to a 'custom' EQ, which also allows you to choose from a series of presets. Regardless of what you choose, this is one of the best sounding tabletop bluetooth speakers I've heard. The one thing I don't like is the play/pause controls on the top is a sort of joystick control. It looks nice, but feels flimsy and squishy. The only other thing I didn't like, is this speaker arrived with a mostly dead battery. Most electronics usually have around a 60% charge out of the box (a safe sweet spot for Lithium batteries). Lithium batteries don't do well sitting at a low charge. Maybe I'm overthinking it. But, be prepared to be required to give this thing a good charge before you can use it for the first time. It died on me trying to use it at high volume while still trying to charge it from low/dead battery. Overall though, this is probably my new favorite tabletop bluetooth speaker

The sound quality on this this is unreal. Me and my little boy were both impressed even by the richness of the power on and power off sound. (Short guitar riff) We primarily got this speaker to bring with us to the beach but since it's November that may have to wait a while. But we have brought it outside while grilling and also connect it to my gaming computer when I don't want to use headphones. The sound quality is everything I have come to expect from Marshall over the years. It's a deep rich sound with true bass and clear treble. Although I do admit that even with the treble turned up the bass is still quite prevalent. The only thing that may be a drawback to some is the weight of the speaker because it isn't light. (4 or 5 pounds) But I honestly don't see how they could have gotten a deep rich full sound like this without quality (i.e. weighted) parts. Overall I would definitely recommend this as a top of the line portable speaker to connect to your phone, your tablet, your laptop, or anything else that needs great amplification.

The upgraded power makes a big difference. Clearer and louder sound at higher volumes without bass runoff. There are (2) 3 inch woofers on each side and the front and back house the tweeters and passive radiators. For the most part sound is heard fairly evenly in all directions. I love the physical buttons for bass and treble controls as you don't have to rely on the app for sound control and the meters give it more visual flare. I found the equalizer less effective in the app but you can only expect so much from a smaller speaker. Visually it looks outstanding as all Marshall speakers do. The strap is great. I like the new nylon material better than on the previous version. Battery life is as claimed thus far. There is a charging cable in the box and typical in 2025 no charging block. There was a software update right out of the box so I would set the app up right away after a full charge. It is a big improvement over the original Middleton. I wouldn't say it is worth upgrading if you own the original but worth it even over the previous model discounted.