Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Black and Brass

I perused many reviews of many speakers before settling on this one, and the word "settled" is misused here because this speaker is absolutely fantastic. Construction This speaker is made from quality materials; you can tell as soon as you pick it up. The rubber coating provides excellent grip and is easy to clean, the included strap is very sturdy, not weak, and you can tell this can survive being knocked about a little bit without circumstances. I'm surprised the mesh is made from plastic, not metal, but they did have to cut a little weight somewhere because this is not a light speaker. The weight does not bother me, though. Portability: This Middleton speaker is portable for me. You'd think that at this price point, a hard-shell cover would be included, but you can find those relatively cheap on Amazon here. ($25 will get you a good one). It's easy to carry around using the strap, and it should fit into just about any laptop backpack you have, but again; this speaker is not small and it is not light. I travel a lot, and I've had this speaker with me on Safaris, out in the desert, in the shower, in the middle of the ocean: it never let me down or inconvenienced me while I was on the move. Sound: The sound quality from this is great, but I would not call it excellent. I'm surprised that a speaker that costs $300 only supports SBC, no AptX or LDAC. Shame on you, Marshall. Despite that, the sound is still great and fills even medium-sized rooms with resonance. The added bass and treble controls are handy, and once you set your preferred levels there you probably won't touch them ever again. If you use the Aux port instead and connect to a source that outputs lossless quality, the sound changes dramatically for the better. The App: The app is very wonky. Sometimes it won't detect the speaker, especially if it's already playing music before I attempt to make the app. Connecting another Middleton for stacked play can be hit-or-miss. When it works, it's wonderful. I wish that When two or more Middletons were connected the app would split stereo into the two speakers instead of giving you the exact same sound from both. Customer Support: Customer support is among the best I've ever run into. My first speaker was damaged under warranty, and I was shipped a brand-new replacement immediately after going through the warranty claim. No delays. Charging: If I were you, I'd get a GaaN charger that's at least 100w with a 100W USB C-to-C cable to charge this thing. Regular USB chargers still work, but they take a lot longer. Also, bear in mind that there is no battery care in this device's firmware. (Why, Marshall, for a $300 speaker????). Once your speaker reaches %100 charge, it does not automatically stop charging, so keep an eye on it and disconnect it immediately. Don't leave it charging overnight. Niggles: 1. The mesh covering on the front is pushed into place, not secured by any screws like the rear mesh. This is weird. Though this speaker is built so sturdily that there is practically zero chance of it ever popping out unless you're playing football with it or something. 2. Marshall does sell spares, which is ridiculous. If the charging port on your perfectly-working speaker gets damaged outside of warranty, you have to throw the whole speaker away, rather than being able to buy the little board with the charging port online somewhere. This is unacceptable in this day and age. Overall: I love this speaker, and I will never look for another portable Bluetooth speaker. This satisfies all my needs.

It looks good, it feels good, and yes: it sounds good. While it is a single portable speaker (tempting me to buy it a friend for "stack mode" with everything but it's price), it fills our living room with music. My wife and I both feel that the sound has a "live" quality to it, a bit like you are at a concert - even when you're not looking at the logo. It gets plenty loud, even for use out on our screened porch, but most of the volume seems to come in the last few notches of my phone's volume setting - maybe that's more a quirk of my phone than the speaker - but as a system it has a lot of adjustability up to about half volume, then the upper half of the volume range only has about 5 notches to choose from. The app settings are very basic, just treble and bass enhance from 1 to 10. I would have expected +/- levels, or at least a 0; and no it's not a SpinalTap custom unit, so you can't crank anything to 11. The app also helps to setup "stack" mode with 2 or more Middletons if you happen to have them, firmware update if that's ever necessary, and that's it. When the phone and Middleton were both plugged in charging, they had a little interference from the nearby microwave as it was cooking, silent dropouts in the music - that's probably just about any bluetooth product, especially when you have an unshielded 6' cable plugged into it. It did similar intermittent drop outs in playback when the phone was taken too far away. The soft rubber case seems very durable, and it prevents unwanted rattles and hums with the table when the U2 gets loud. The sound does project nicely in all directions, 360 degrees. As compared with my ~$50 each pair of Earfun Ubooms, the single Middleton is clearly a better portable sound solution: louder, easier to carry than 2 Ubooms, and better sound overall when playing at equal volumes.

Oh my! I have always wanted to try out a Marshall speaker and since our old portable Sony finally died on us - it lasted about 15 years, I knew Marshall was a quality speaker system with my husband being an audiophile nerd lol. We own some old school theater Ushers in pristine condition are amazing. Anyhow, ordered the black Marshall’s since we’ll be taking this camping. The rubber surrounding the unit is thick to protect the box and the carrying handle is sturdy and strong. It’s heavy too like a real speaker should feel like from the inside components. It just means that they’re aren’t any cheap plastics inside. Controls are integrated and a little hard to see in the dark but it is clearly labeled once you light on it. The on/off button is the big metal button that also serves as the forward/backwards and volume. The battery indicator is red and has easy to see bright bars. Bluetooth is easy to use and the sound! Oh boy, use the default setting for the bass and go up one push for the treble and you can clearly hear the middle and high notes! Definitely no Bose here - you know that saying, “no highs, no lows - it must be Bose!” Lol. “Into the Air Tonight,” sounded absolutely amazing when I tested the music! It’s definitely got volume that’s and clear! No wimpy cheap speakers here. As for the price, well, you get what you pay for here, and it’s definitely worth the price! Heck, if you get two of them, you’ll get a set of quality inside speakers for your TV system or to use outside as well!

Coming from a 7 year old Onyx 2...(which still sounds great) I was shocked to see how little the sound changed between the that and the 4...almost the same speaker. They both sound great and very clear...but they both suffer from the battery issue many have complained about here. The Onyx 2 no longer works without being plugged in (and I fear this will be the case with the 4 in a couple years)- but I needed something for my pool. My search began: Remember - portable for the pool - so I looked at everything and not being a JBL fanboy I decided on the Marshall Middleton the Onyx 4 and the UE Hyperboom. Marshall - really sounds great - very crisp sound and they get a lot out of this little speaker. If I was traveling a lot and bringing it to my room this would be my speaker. The most portable of the three - but the smallest sounding (which again, is still pretty damn good). Good bass - but not like the other two considering its $300. UE Hyperboom - This is the best sounding - but really not by enough to justify the price tag. I was willing and I was actually rooting for this one. But when you are at a pool and the water feature is going on...are you really gonna see much difference in clarity? If you want to crank it - this is a better option. If you have neighbors and live on a golf course...it won't matter and the clarity of the the HK and the Middleton are both great...again $400..I did not see a significant jump in sound that "blew me away." HK Onyx 4 - I have a 19 speaker HK system in my vehicle and my friends say it is the best sounding system in any car they have ever heard...and I tend to agree. My tastes run from Klipsch home systems to now the upgraded Sonos Arc with 4 surrounds and the large subwoofer....so I like good sound. The HK will not blow you away with power - it will sound great at a pool and your friends will say...WOW that sounds really good! If you want power go with JBL...but to me they all sound the same and again - to get something that will give you that kind of power....your back to over $400. The batteries on the HK 2 I had sucked and I fear this will be the case with the 4. I am very disappointed that the sound is not much - if at all - different...but the 2 was pretty perfect. I also got the HK 6 a couple months ago and played it for maybe 30 seconds - boxed it up and returned. Horrible in my opinion. I also dabbled with the Sony SRS-XG300. A beautiful speaker which sounds like it is playing underwater...again I did play with all these on the equalizer settings (which the HK does not have) to give them all a fair fight. So if your gonna crank it up...$400 is no issue...go with the Hyperboom. Sound will not be that much different (especially if there is background noise like water features at pools etc.) But, it will crank louder than the HK and still give you some great sound quality. Portability with travel...you are not gonna get much better than the Marshall Middleton if you are willing to eat that $299 price tag. The HK gives you a lot but again that battery issue should have been resolved...they know about it and have done nothing in the way of battery (or sound really in my opinion - which again is not a bad thing) for the last 7 years. The price is a little high - but the sound quality is still 5 stars and that is what I am rating it on. Good luck in your own search - and when in doubt between 2...get them both and compare - Amazon makes it easy for returns.

The Marshall Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a perfect blend of iconic design and impressive audio performance. This speaker delivers rich, clear sound with deep bass that truly fills a room, making it great for both indoor and outdoor use. Its compact size and lightweight build make it super easy to carry around, while the classic Marshall aesthetic with the signature logo adds a cool vintage vibe wherever you take it. The speaker pairs quickly and reliably with any Bluetooth device, and the controls are intuitive and responsive. Battery life is solid, giving you hours of uninterrupted music on a single charge — perfect for long days out or gatherings. The build quality feels premium, durable enough to withstand everyday use while looking stylish on your desk or picnic blanket. If you want a portable speaker that combines iconic looks with powerful, high-quality sound, the Marshall Middleton is a fantastic choice. Highly recommended!

I love my Marshall — excellent audio quality, great design, and solid build. The bass sounds amazing, and the battery lasts a long time.

One of the best gifts my husband asked for. We both get to enjoy it daily. The sound quality is excellent. It is so convenient to take anywhere. We highly recommend it.

After almost a year with the Middleton, I still love it. However, I have a few complaints that I hope Marshall will fix on newer versions. The loudness and clarity from this speaker are amazing. You could throw a small house party with this one speaker. My complaint is the equalizer control. I really wish this speaker had a high, mid, and low adjustment knobs like a real equalizer or mixer. The treble control is fine but the bass is pretty lackluster. It doesn't sound much different from highest setting to lowest setting, not to mention cumbersome to adjust from the push buttons. The low filter is pretty bad in my opinion. If it had a tiny panel of spring loaded EQ knobs that actually filtered like a real equalizer I would give it a 10/10. Other than that, still love the Middleton and I'm glad I went with this instead of the Bose in the same price range. UPDATE 10/24: After a year and a half with this speaker the stupid multifunction button that was terrible to use decided to break. I can no longer turn the speaker on or off. I filled out the form for a warranty claim or repair and this was the response I got. Hello Jonathon, Thank you for your reply and providing the requested details. I regret to inform you that the warranty for your product expired on March 26, 2024, and at this time, Marshall does not have any Service Centers offering out-of-warranty repairs for this model. We sincerely apologize that we cannot offer a repair solution for your product. Our ambition is to provide products that can be repaired regardless of time and we are currently working on expanding our repair offering solutions. We encourage you to recycle the product at your local Electronics Recycling facility. We'd like to express our gratitude for your continued support by offering you a 20% off voucher code, MHCS-BGWMX4DG5H. Please note, voucher codes can only be used with full-priced items, and cannot be used in combination with a sale or promotion. Thank you for your feedback and understanding while we work towards more sustainable solutions. If you have any questions or need further assistance, do not hesitate to contact us. Kind regards, Mila Marshall Support DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT BUY THIS SPEAKER!!! Or any of Marshall's speakers for that matter. After a year if something happens you are SOL. I basically have a $330 paper weight now. So disappointed that all they offered me was voucher to get a new one to start this process over again. I will never buy anything Marshall again. It seems they're quality control has gone the way of so many other previously excellent brands. Complete garbage response from them.