JBL Boombox 4 VS Marshall Middleton II

The JBL Boombox 4 and Marshall Middleton II both offer waterproof designs, but they differ in some key areas. The Boombox 4 has an IP68 rating, making it slightly more water-resistant than the Middleton II, which carries an IP67 rating. This means the Boombox 4 can withstand being submerged in deeper water for longer periods. In terms of size, the Boombox 4 is significantly larger, with a volume of 28,343.92 cm³, compared to the Middleton II's much smaller 2,479.4 cm³. This makes the Boombox 4 a bulkier speaker overall.

Regarding portability, the Boombox 4 weighs 5,890 g, making it much heavier than the Middleton II, which weighs just 1,800 g. The Boombox 4 is also taller, wider, and thicker—standing at 262.9 mm high, 506.4 mm wide, and 212.9 mm thick, compared to the Middleton II's 110 mm height, 230 mm width, and 98 mm thickness. This size difference might make the Middleton II more suited for easy transport.

Both speakers have a control panel placed on the device, and neither comes with a travel bag. Neither speaker includes a touchscreen, RGB lighting, or remote control. Additionally, the Boombox 4 features a detachable cable, while the Middleton II does not offer this feature.

Both the JBL Boombox 4 and Marshall Middleton II feature stereo speakers, but there are notable differences in their audio capabilities. The Boombox 4 is equipped with a subwoofer, whereas the Middleton II does not have one. In terms of frequency range, the Boombox 4 can reach as high as 20,000 Hz and as low as 37 Hz, giving it a wider low-end frequency compared to the Middleton II, which has a lowest frequency of 45 Hz.

The Boombox 4 also has more powerful audio output, delivering 4 x 200W, compared to the Middleton II’s 4 x 80W. Both products feature a passive radiator to enhance sound performance, and neither has magnetic shielding. Additionally, the Boombox 4 has no microphones, while the Middleton II is equipped with one microphone.

Overall, the Boombox 4 offers a broader frequency range and more powerful audio output, as well as a subwoofer, which may provide deeper bass. The Middleton II, on the other hand, includes a microphone, which the Boombox 4 lacks.

The JBL Boombox 4 and Marshall Middleton II both offer impressive battery features, but there are some differences between them. The Boombox 4 provides a longer battery life, lasting 34 hours compared to the Middleton II's 30 hours. In terms of charging time, the Boombox 4 charges faster, taking 2 hours, while the Middleton II requires 3 hours for a full charge.

Both speakers include a battery level indicator, a rechargeable battery, and lack removable batteries or wireless charging capabilities. These features are identical between the two models.

While both products are similar in many respects, the Boombox 4 has the edge in terms of battery life and charge time, offering a bit more playtime and faster recharging.

The JBL Boombox 4 and Marshall Middleton II have several similarities and differences in their connectivity options. Both speakers use USB Type-C for charging and have one USB port, but the Boombox 4 supports Bluetooth version 5.4, while the Middleton II uses Bluetooth 5.3. The Boombox 4 also supports Auracast, a feature not found in the Middleton II, which does not have this capability.

In terms of Bluetooth range, the Boombox 4 has a maximum range of 10 meters, whereas the Middleton II offers a much longer range of 60 meters. Neither speaker supports Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and both lack features like NFC Bluetooth pairing, a 3.5 mm audio jack, AUX input, aptX technologies, LDAC, AAC (for the Boombox 4), AirPlay, Chromecast built-in, or DLNA certification.

While both products offer solid connectivity with a USB port and Type-C charging, the Middleton II stands out with its longer Bluetooth range. However, the Boombox 4 supports Auracast, which the Middleton II does not.

The JBL Boombox 4 and Marshall Middleton II share several similar features, including the ability to be used wirelessly, support for remote smartphone control, voice prompts, and the inclusion of a sleep timer. Both speakers also lack fast pairing, voice commands, and a built-in radio.

While both speakers have the same set of features in this group, they do not differ in any of the provided specifications. The functionality regarding wireless use, smartphone control, voice prompts, and sleep timer is identical between the two models.

Overall, the features offered by both the Boombox 4 and Middleton II are aligned, with no significant differences in this category.

Both the JBL Boombox 4 and Marshall Middleton II do not support pairing for stereo sound. This feature is absent in both models, meaning neither can be used to create a stereo setup by pairing two speakers together for enhanced audio output.

In this particular category, the two products are identical in functionality, with no differences in the pairing capabilities for stereo sound.

Overall, neither speaker offers the ability to pair for stereo sound, making them similar in this respect.