Marshall Middleton II Review: Powerful Portable Speaker with Modern Refinements

Marshall has evolved its most substantial portable speaker with subtle yet significant improvements. The Middleton II retains the foundation that made its predecessor successful—powerful sound, robust construction, and 360° audio dispersion—whilst adding modern features that enhance its appeal for 2025 and beyond.

This latest iteration brings extended battery life (up to 30 hours), Auracast compatibility for multi-speaker setups, an integrated microphone for hands-free calls, and support for the LC3 codec. These refinements transform a solid performer into a more versatile, future-proof audio companion. For those seeking a powerful, durable portable speaker with genuine room-filling sound, the Middleton II represents one of the strongest options currently available.

At first glance, the Middleton II is nearly indistinguishable from its predecessor. Marshall has deliberately maintained the same dimensions (230 × 98 × 110 mm) and weight (1.8 kg), resulting in a speaker that's decidedly more transportable than truly portable. This is an honest 1.8 kg, making it best suited for moving between rooms, setting up on a balcony, or animating small gatherings rather than slipping into a rucksack for spontaneous adventures.

If compact portability is the priority, Marshall's Emberton III serves that role more effectively. The Middleton II targets those who value sound quality and volume over minimal weight—a design philosophy that becomes clear the moment you lift it.

Premium Materials and Protection

The substantial weight serves a purpose: exceptional build quality. The textured soft-touch plastic immediately inspires confidence, reinforced corners provide genuine protection, and the metal grilles on both front and rear exude durability. This is an speaker built to withstand regular transport and occasional knocks.

An IP67 certification adds considerable peace of mind. The speaker is completely dustproof and can survive temporary submersion in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes. This means poolside placement, bathroom use, or exposure to rain pose no concerns. The rating reflects genuine ruggedness rather than marketing hyperbole.

Aesthetic Details and Practical Touches

The woven fabric carry strap deserves specific mention—it's both aesthetically pleasing and genuinely useful for one-handed transport. Rather than feeling like an afterthought, it integrates seamlessly into the design whilst providing secure grip.

Visually, Marshall remains faithful to its iconic rock aesthetic: script logo lettering, brass accents, and knurled control knobs. This Middleton II unmistakably carries Marshall's DNA, and that distinctive styling contributes significantly to its appeal. It's a speaker that doesn't hide on a shelf—it makes a statement.

Marshall has long championed physical controls, and the Middleton II continues this tradition admirably. The top surface hosts a well-spaced array of tactile buttons: power, Bluetooth pairing, separate bass and treble adjustment controls, plus a multi-function rocker that manages volume and track navigation.

This interface philosophy prioritises immediacy—no need to retrieve your phone for basic adjustments. The buttons respond with satisfying clicks, their spacing prevents accidental presses, and the tactile feedback ensures you know when commands register. It's an ergonomic approach that feels increasingly valuable in an era of touch-sensitive surfaces and app-dependent controls.

Integrated Microphone: A Mixed Blessing

New to this generation is a built-in microphone for hands-free calling. It's a logical addition for a speaker likely to remain stationary during use. In practice, voice capture works adequately when the speaker sits within a metre in quiet environments. However, performance degrades quickly with distance or ambient noise—outdoor use renders you barely audible to callers.

The microphone serves occasional convenience calls at a desk or bedside but won't replace dedicated headset or smartphone microphones for regular conversations. Consider it a useful supplementary feature rather than a primary selling point.

Marshall has equipped the Middleton II with Bluetooth 5.3, bringing improved energy efficiency, reduced latency, and crucially, Auracast support. This emerging standard enables wireless multi-speaker setups without proprietary ecosystems—a genuine advancement for audio flexibility.

Auracast Implementation

Testing confirmed successful pairing with other Auracast-compatible speakers (including non-Marshall models) for synchronised playback. However, there's a notable caveat: Auracast activation requires the Marshall mobile application. Direct speaker-based enabling would be more intuitive and practical, particularly for spontaneous multi-room setups. As implemented, it's an excellent feature that demands slight advance planning.

Marshall Bluetooth Application

The companion app for iOS and Android strikes an effective balance—comprehensive without overwhelming. It provides five preset equalisation profiles, a five-band manual equaliser for personalised tuning, and useful options like automatic sleep and battery preservation modes. The interface remains clean and responsive, avoiding the trap of unnecessary features that plague some speaker apps.

LC3 Codec Support

Addition of the LC3 codec alongside traditional SBC and AAC represents forward-thinking design. LC3 delivers superior audio quality whilst reducing power consumption—provided your source device supports it. Compatibility remains limited currently, but this positions the Middleton II advantageously as LC3 adoption grows.

Marshall's audio reputation precedes this speaker, and the Middleton II upholds the brand's sonic credentials whilst revealing some characteristic tendencies. The speaker houses two 3-inch woofers, two 0.6-inch tweeters, and two passive radiators, configured to deliver omnidirectional sound rather than focused stereo imaging.

Room-Filling Presence

The primary promise—360° audio dispersion—is thoroughly fulfilled. Sound fills spaces evenly without requiring optimal listener positioning. For sonifying a room, outdoor area, or small gathering, the Middleton II excels. It maintains impressive volume without distortion or harshness, even when pushed to maximum levels.

Tonal Balance and Character

The signature reveals a distinctly bass-forward character that adds depth and impact to electronic, hip-hop, and rock genres but sometimes lacks precision. Low-frequency impacts can sound somewhat diffuse rather than tightly defined. The application's equaliser provides some correction capability, though achieving optimal balance requires experimentation.

Midrange frequencies sit noticeably recessed, resulting in vocals that sound less warm and present than ideal. For vocal-centric music or podcasts, this recession becomes more apparent. Treble response performs competently—clear and detailed without harshness—though excessive treble boost via the equaliser can introduce unwanted brightness.

Stereo Imaging

Despite stereo configuration, the imaging remains subtle unless positioned very close to the speaker (within one metre). This isn't necessarily a flaw—the design prioritises wide dispersion over precise soundstaging. For background music or party atmospheres, this approach succeeds. Audiophiles seeking critical listening with defined instrument placement should temper expectations accordingly.

Battery life represents the Middleton II's most significant improvement over its predecessor. Marshall claims 30 hours of playback, up from the original's 20 hours. Our testing at 50% volume yielded 26 hours—whilst short of the claim, this remains exceptional for a speaker of this power class.

Charging and Power Features

USB-C charging completes in reasonable time, with rapid charging delivering four hours of playback from just 20 minutes connected to power—genuinely useful for topping up between uses. The USB-C port doubles as a power output, allowing you to charge smartphones or tablets from the speaker's battery. This powerbank functionality proves particularly valuable during extended outdoor use.

Replaceable Battery

Perhaps most commendable: the lithium-ion battery is user-replaceable. In an era of sealed devices with finite lifespans, this design choice deserves recognition. When battery capacity inevitably degrades after years of use, replacement extends the speaker's useful life considerably—an environmental and economic benefit that too few manufacturers prioritise.

Ideal For:

• Those prioritising power and room-filling sound over compact portability
• Users wanting robust construction with genuine IP67 waterproofing
• Fans of Marshall's distinctive rock aesthetic and physical controls
• Anyone valuing exceptional battery life (25+ hours realistic usage)
• Users interested in Auracast for future multi-speaker setups
• Those appreciating replaceable batteries and sustainable design

Consider Alternatives If:

• You need truly portable, lightweight design for regular outdoor activities
• Balanced, neutral sound with prominent vocals is your priority
• Budget is limited (the Middleton II commands premium pricing)
• You require effective hands-free calling from distance
• Multi-speaker features must work without mobile app dependency

The Marshall Middleton II doesn't revolutionise the portable speaker category—it refines an already solid formula with thoughtful improvements. Extended battery life, Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast, LC3 codec support, and the distinctive Marshall aesthetic combine to create one of the most compelling options for powerful, durable portable audio.

The bass-heavy sonic signature won't satisfy everyone, and the 1.8 kg weight positions this firmly in the "transportable" rather than "pocketable" category. However, for users seeking room-filling volume, genuine ruggedness, exceptional endurance, and future-ready connectivity, the Middleton II represents an excellent investment.

Whilst it doesn't match some competitors on tonal balance (the JBL Charge 6, for instance, offers more neutral sound at lower cost), the Middleton II surpasses most rivals in battery life, power output, and spatial sound dispersion. It's a speaker that prioritises impact and endurance over surgical precision—and succeeds admirably on those terms.