Marshall’s new tough Bluetooth speaker promises huge sound from a small box
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Marshall is a brand synonymous with street-worthy guitar amps, but this new portable Bluetooth speaker seems rugged enough to withstand a world tour with Slash.
The Middleton sure looks good, with the company’s scripted logo on a black plastic case. The housing is made from 55% post-consumer recycled plastic and is IP67 rated, meaning it offers full protection against dust and can withstand being submerged in 1 meter deep water for at least 30 minutes.
Sitting between Marshall’s recently released Stockwell 2 and Emberton 2, the Middleton features a four-speaker multi-directional setup to take on the best Bluetooth speakers when it comes to audio power from a compact body.
As with the Marshall Emberton 2, this four-speaker array allows the unit to use Marshall’s bespoke ‘True Stereophonic’ system, which the company claims creates a more immersive 360-degree soundstage than a standard stereo line-up.
There’s a hefty max output of 87db, which sounds like it would be enough to get Lemmy’s approval from beyond the grave, but if that’s not enough you can use the unit’s multi-speaker stacking mode and pair it with other Middletons for even more power.
Unlike the Emberton 2, there are physical bass and treble controls on the top of the speaker, while the EQ can also be adjusted via the dedicated Marshall app for Apple and Android devices.
The Middleton comes with a claimed battery life of over 20 hours of playtime, with a full charge taking 4.5 hours to bring the juice back to 100%. Conveniently, the battery doubles as a power bank, so you can charge your mobile devices on the go.
The Marshall Middleton is now available direct for £269 / €299 / $299 marshallheadphones.com (opens in new tab).
Analysis: Will the Marshall rock hard enough to justify its price?
With its long battery, cool looks and balanced sound, we were impressed with the performance of Marshall’s updated Emberton 2 speaker when it arrived late last year, but questioned the hefty price tag.
The Middleton offers increased output, IP67 waterproofing and some welcome EQ controls, but it’s still missing some notable features that we’d expect at this price point.
Chief among these (for some) is the lack of support for smart assistants, with no built-in means to use Alexa or Google Assistant, making the Middleton a hard sell when up against others on our best waterproof speakers list, including the cheaper Sonos Roam.
But audio is the most important thing, and when it sounds good, we forgive the lack of a little rock fairy to talk to.