Marshall Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker

I own a good deal of some pretty decent audio equipment and wanted something wireless and punchy to use on the deck or at the relative’s pool, so I gave this a try. Now I never would expect this to surpass any wired home speaker setup with a decent amp, but I do honestly feel that this is the best sounding Bluetooth speaker that I have ever heard. It was crystal clear; the music was quite dynamic and much more so than any other BT speaker that I own. My last purchase was a JBL Charge 4 — very nice, but true to the increase in price here the Marshall far exceeds it.

Also, upon inspection I noticed that the Marshall also has a AUX input. OK, had to try that because wired should be better that BT right. So, I kicked it up a notch. Used a Android tablet running Tidal Music and USB Audio Play Pro connected VIA USB to an Audioquest DragonFly Blue and connected it to the Middleton AUX input via an Audioquest Evergreen cable. It sounded so good that I’m thinking about getting another Middleton to stack with this one.

One other note, and chalk this up as a good thing; this Middleton unit is heavy and it’s built like a tank.

Enjoy!!

We were looking for a speaker that would last for at least 8-10 hours for a beach day. When we saw this was 20+ hours we bought it. Great sound but didn’t last 5 hours !!!! Yes, it was fully charged. Charged all night. Will be sending it back. My Bose speaker lasts about 7 hours. We will continue to use it. So sad. Had high expectations.

If I could give this bluetooth speaker a 10-star rating, I would because it’s that good! I am seriously in love with this speaker and trust me, I’ve purchased some of the best in my pursuit of sound and performance, from Bose, JBL, Ultimate Ears, Anker, and while they were all good, nothing compares to this speaker at this price point.

Marshall amplifiers are known for their tone, and volume. A piece of rock-and-roll history made famous by legendary guitarist Pete Townshend in the classic rock era of the 60s and the backdrop of nearly every concert performance by rock legends and still a mainstay in live music performances. This bluetooth speaker not only perfectly mimics the classic Marshall amplifier in looks, but also performance. A work of art featuring classic, timeless styling with modern features that are sure to make you smile. And it looks amazing sitting on a shelf with it’s nostalgic nod to rock history.

Here’s what I love about this bluetooth speaker:

* Quick bluetooth setup and connection. The setup is very discoverable and was super easy. Literally press the bluetooth button and search for the Marshall speaker on your phone under bluetooth devices and you’re rocking! Plus, there is a great rock power chord notification when the bluetooth connection is established, and when turning it on/off. I absolutely love this little detail.

* Separate bass/treble adjustments. This is something you generally don’t find in most bluetooth speakers. I tend to use a custom EQ adjustment, on the Spotify app to compensate for the lack of such controls in other bluetooth speakers, but this detail just shows how much attention they pay to the little details that matter.

* There is a red, multi-function LED light gauge on the top that shows the battery power level, as well as the level of the bass/treble settings when making adjustments.

* Bass is the bane of most bluetooth speakers, but this device has wonderfully full, rich and balanced bass that doesn’t sound boomy. The larger-sized cabinet not only mimics the classic style of a Marshall amplifier, but allows for a more resonant bass sound. The ventilation holes on all sides allows for better air movement of the speakers. The treble is crisp. Overall, great separation of tones with tight tonal characteristics.

* The volume control is in sync with the phone volume control. Most speakers have volume adjustments that are separate from the phone. This is an important feature for many reasons. First, if you have your phone volume down low and then try to amplify that weak signal, you get distortion. Second, if you have your phone set to a loud volume and the speaker is also set to a loud volume, you run the risk of starting to play music at a volume that will wake the dead. And speaking of raising the dead, this speaker delivers in true rock-and-roll tradition of being able to deliver the goods in ear-splitting, joyous, clarity. It’s great to turn it up and rock out!

* The sonic field is impressive. The design of this speaker definitely fills the room with sound that is fuller and larger than the device. Placement is everything. I have no idea how the speakers are arranged inside the cabinet, but I definitely noticed the sound becomes more spacious when it has a wall or something to reflect the sound. Walk around with the speaker and try it out in different locations. Put it on a shelf, set it on a window sill in the kitchen, a bookshelf in your office and notice how the sound changes. If you turn around and close your eyes and simply listen, you’ll be amazed at how large the sonic field becomes. It’s impressive and generally something you can’t achieve without moving your speakers apart.

* Speaking of moving your speakers apart, one of the coolest features of this speaker is the ability to create your own sonic wall of sound by stacking additional Marshall bluetooth speakers. The ultimate rock-and-roll nostalgic head nod to the history of the classic Marshall stack. There is a stacking (pairing) feature that is a simple button press. I wish I could experience this as I’m sure it’s an amazing experience that would make me smile.

* The case features a rubberized, leather looking material that is not only wonderfully tactile and satisfying, but clearly a feature that helps with the weatherization as this is supposed to be able to withstand the elements. It even comes with a nice, rubber wrist strap. I can’t imagine subjecting this speaker to those conditions as I am simply in love with the looks, but it’s supposed to be as rugged in the field as it is on the shelf. And there is a nice rubber cushion on the bottom of the speaker.

* It’s supposed to have a 20+ hour battery life. I’ve had it on non-stop for 8+ hours a day and after a week, I am still only seeing the battery at 50%, so the battery performance is amazing. It includes a USB-C charging cord and an aux connection.

Overall, I can’t recommend this bluetooth speaker more highly. Especially if you have a passion for music and the classic Marshall amp legacy. Most quality speakers have a break-in period where they just get better and better over time. I’ve thrown everything in my curated, eclectic playlists at this thing and it never fails to amaze me. Jazz, Rock, Country, R&B, Pop, and Rap and the performance and sound is simply amazing.

A high performing bluetooth speaker that will spark a conversation sitting quietly on a bookshelf, or blow your socks off in an impromptu kitchen dance party. I can’t stop looking at it and always look forward to my next music session as the music is always flowing and one of the greatest gifts we have in life.

I always appreciate thoughtful, honest reviews and I hope you find my review helpful and insightful.

Being a musician I was mainly interested in sound quality. After doing a ton of research I decided to addition these 3. Harmon Kardon was immediately disqualified due to poor sound quality and low volume. Then it was a race to the finish between the Marshall & Anker. The default settings on the Anker were not impressive but once you start fiddling with the web based equalizer it could really be tuned to sound terrific. However the Marshall out-of-the-box had more of a raw, studio sound and only needed minor bass/treble adjustments based on if it was indoors or out and type of music. Plus the Marshall looks so freakin cool and retro, Middleton is the winner!

So I mention in the title of my review that this is almost perfect. This is hovering right around a 4.5 and a 5 for me. Honestly, the sound quality of this speaker is quite shocking. The bass, mids, and highs all sound incredible. I’ll go through some pros and cons to explain one issue.

Pros:
* Sound quality is head-shakingly good. I’m sitting here listening to a Master quality album on a streaming service, and it sounds unbelievably good. As good as my powered bookshelf speakers.
* Bass and Treble adjustment – this is super rare on Bluetooth speakers. I bumped the bass up a little and it thumps. I turned it back to normal, and it still sounds great.
* Easy to pair – it took seconds to pair with my iPhone.
* USB-C Charging. Another good surprise here (but the part that plugs into the wall/brick is USB-A) – I would’ve been happy/fine with a USB-C to USB-C charger here, but I’m still happy the connection into the speaker is USB-C.
* 3.5 aux in is a nice plus
* it’s hard to describe, but it has sort of a bidirectional sound (out the front and the back) – it doesn’t just come out the front, and it just improves the sound quality even more.
* Size – it’s bigger, so the sound coming out of it is better than any other Bluetooth speaker I currently own.
* Great battery life
* IP67 dust & water-resistant design
* also serves as a battery backup for your devices

Cons:
* Size – I mentioned this as a pro above, but this thing is beefy. It’s much bigger than I expected it to be. About 2-3x bigger than the current Bluetooth speakers I use around the house. So it IS portable, but it’s something you’ll have to think about before bringing it.
* The text on the top for the different buttons/features is hard to read out of direct light. If you are in a room without overhead light – it’s almost impossible to read anything on here. If they had taken a little gold (to match the Marshall logo) and embossed the different text, I would’ve been happy. But I assume they didn’t because it is likely to wear off. This is probably my biggest issue with it and what almost made it lose half a star (until I get used to where the buttons are and what they do). I just can’t tell what anything is without squinting or getting out my flashlight. Maybe in direct sunlight, it’ll be better (poolside, at the beach, etc.).

So, you can purchase a cheaper Bluetooth speaker. I gave it pause due to the price and read reviews looking for reasons to talk myself out of it. Let’s be honest, you can achieve good sound with a much cheaper speaker….some of which I have. I decided it was worth the chance and that it might provide the true stereo sound I was looking for in a bluetooth speaker since I had the dollars available to take that chance. Admittedly, it’s a luxury purchase. After connecting it, which is as simple as bluetooth should be, I was shocked at what this speaker is capable of putting out. The stereophonic technology in this speaker provides the closest thing to surround sound in a class of speakers I think you can find. I can only imagine the performance with two of them paired. Even with just this one though, the only proper adjective that comes to mind is BEAST. No regrets here…and I never write reviews.

This speaker has a surprising amount of power and bass for its size. This allows it to sound very good relative to its size.
I purchased this speaker to place in my ‘63 Ford Falcon so I can have music without making drastic modifications to my interior.
The build quality of this unit seems top notch for the price category, though I don’t know if I can go as far as saying it’s tough. I choose not to test those limits, and though I do carry it around regularly, I am always mindful of protecting its good looks.
There is a premium to be paid for those good looks and I believe the same amount of money could go further with a less eclectic choice. Expensive and rare, but perfect for some people.

First off, this isn’t a bad speaker by any means. It has some good features and the build quality is nice. If you are familiar with other Marshall speakers, then you know they always make a quality looking speaker with that retro amp look to them. They are definitely eye catchers for the older crowd.

This Middleton is a medium sized portable speaker, meaning it does have an internal battery that can be recharged. A red battery indicator on top will let you easily see the battery life as the speaker is being used. There is an included carrying strap in the box that you can attach , but the plastic screw it is held on by might make it a little iffy to hang the speaker by, particularly if it is being moved around.

This speaker, much like the Emberton II, features active drivers on both the front and back of the cabinet. I’m not a big fan of this design, but it will give you equal sound both front and back if you place it say in the middle of a room. Sound quality is pretty solid, with bass and treble adjustments on the speaker, or via the app. The app is very bare bones, which is a bit of a disappointment.

The real issue with this speaker is price. For what you get, it’s just really hard to justify the price tag. It doesn’t really do anything great, with only decent bass capability and it doesn’t get as loud as you might expect, partly because you never get the full power of the speaker in your direction. The bass does thin out and treble gets brighter when you turn it up to it’s louder levels. So this speaker might appeal more to the older crowd that has enough money that the price on the Middleton really doesn’t deter them.