The portable Bluetooth speaker market has evolved dramatically over the past few years, with impressive advances in sound quality, battery life, and durability. Today's speakers pack remarkable technology into increasingly compact packages, making them suitable for everything from personal listening to powering small parties.
The Marshall Willen II ($119.99) and JBL Charge 5 ($139.99) represent two different approaches to portable audio, each with distinct advantages for specific use cases. Let's dive into what makes each speaker unique and who they might best serve.
Released in late 2023, the Willen II builds on Marshall's iconic aesthetic while incorporating modern features. The speaker maintains Marshall's signature look with a textured black exterior and brass-colored details, but now includes improved water resistance (IP67 rating) and more durable materials.
The compact size - just 4 inches square and 2 inches deep - makes it genuinely pocket-friendly. The included rubber strap is particularly clever, allowing secure mounting to bike handlebars, backpack straps, or any convenient attachment point.
The Charge 5, introduced in early 2021, represents JBL's fifth iteration of their popular mid-sized portable speaker. The cylindrical design measures about 8.7 inches long and features JBL's signature exposed passive radiators (these are unpowered speakers that move with the air pressure from the main drivers, enhancing bass response).
The speaker's fabric covering and rubber end caps feel premium, and it shares the same IP67 rating as the Willen II, meaning it's fully dustproof and can handle submersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
The Marshall Willen II uses a single 2-inch full-range driver powered by a 10-watt amplifier. While this might seem modest, Marshall's tuning achieves impressive clarity, especially in the mid-range where vocals and most instruments live. The speaker includes two passive radiators to enhance bass response, though physics limits what's possible in such a small enclosure.
The JBL Charge 5 employs a more complex system with a racetrack-shaped woofer (52x90mm) powered by 30 watts, plus a dedicated 20mm tweeter getting 10 watts. This separation of high and low frequencies allows each driver to focus on its optimal range. The larger passive radiators and cabinet volume enable notably deeper bass response, with rated frequency response down to 60Hz (compared to the Willen II's 75Hz).
In practical use, these technical differences translate to distinct listening experiences:
The Willen II excels at personal listening distances (3-6 feet), delivering clear, detailed sound that's perfect for podcasts, acoustic music, and vocal-heavy genres. The sound stays composed at maximum volume, though it won't fill a large room.
The Charge 5's additional power and driver configuration create a more room-filling sound with stronger bass impact. It's particularly good with electronic music, hip-hop, and rock, where the extra bass adds energy to the performance. The dedicated tweeter also helps maintain clarity at higher volumes.
Battery technology has seen significant improvements in recent years, reflected in both speakers' capabilities:
The Charge 5's larger battery (7,500mAh) adds weight but enables the power bank functionality, which can be a lifesaver during outdoor activities or travel. Both speakers use USB-C for charging, with the Willen II taking about 2.5 hours for a full charge and the Charge 5 needing closer to 4 hours.
Both speakers employ Bluetooth 5.1 or better, providing stable connections and good range. The Willen II supports connecting to two devices simultaneously and remembers up to eight paired devices. It also features Marshall's upcoming Auracast support, which will enable multi-speaker setups once activated.
The Charge 5 includes JBL's PartyBoost feature, allowing connection to other compatible JBL speakers for stereo pairs or larger party setups. This system works well but only with other recent JBL models.
When considering value, it's important to look beyond the $20 price difference:
The Willen II offers:
The Charge 5 provides:
Choose the Marshall Willen II if:
Choose the JBL Charge 5 if:
Both speakers represent current technology well, though they serve different needs. The Willen II's pending Auracast support shows promise for future expandability, while the Charge 5's established feature set and proven performance make it a safe choice for general use.
For home theater use, neither speaker is ideal as a primary solution, but the Charge 5 could serve as a decent temporary setup or secondary room speaker due to its fuller range and higher volume capability.
Remember that the best choice depends heavily on your specific needs and use cases. Consider how and where you'll most often use the speaker, and let that guide your decision more than specs alone.
| Marshall Willen II | JBL Charge 5 |
|---|---|
| Size & Weight - Impacts portability and placement options | |
| 4" x 4" x 2", 0.79 lbs - Truly pocket-sized | 8.7" x 3.8" x 3.7", 2.11 lbs - Medium portable |
| Audio Power - Determines maximum volume and sound quality | |
| 10W total (single driver) - Good for personal listening | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) - Fills medium rooms |
| Driver Configuration - Affects sound separation and clarity | |
| Single 2" full-range driver with dual passive radiators | 52x90mm woofer, 20mm tweeter, dual passive radiators |
| Battery Life - Critical for extended outdoor use | |
| 17 hours, 2.5-hour charge time, 20-min quick charge = 5.5 hours | 20 hours, 4-hour charge time, built-in power bank |
| Frequency Response - Indicates bass capability | |
| 75Hz-20kHz - Limited deep bass | 60Hz-20kHz - Fuller bass response |
| Water/Dust Resistance - Important for outdoor durability | |
| IP67 rated - Same protection level | IP67 rated - Same protection level |
| Multi-Speaker Features - Enables expanded sound systems | |
| Future Auracast support (pending update) | PartyBoost for immediate multi-speaker pairing |
| Special Features - Additional functionality | |
| Rubber mounting strap, Marshall app with EQ presets | Power bank function, stereo pairing capability |
| Bluetooth Version - Affects connection quality | |
| Bluetooth 5.3, 100m range, dual device pairing | Bluetooth 5.1, 30m range, dual device pairing |
| Price - Value consideration | |
| $119.99 - Premium for ultra-portable category | $139.99 - Competitive for medium portable category |
The JBL Charge 5 is better suited for home theater use due to its more powerful 40W output and fuller bass response. While neither speaker is ideal as a primary home theater solution, the Charge 5's larger drivers and better low-frequency response make it more suitable as a temporary or secondary room speaker compared to the Marshall Willen II.
The JBL Charge 5 offers superior overall sound quality with its dedicated woofer and tweeter setup, providing better bass response and higher volume capability. The Marshall Willen II delivers clear audio but is limited by its smaller size and single driver configuration.
The Marshall Willen II is priced at $119.99, while the JBL Charge 5 costs $139.99. The $20 difference reflects the JBL's larger size, additional power, and extra features like the power bank function.
The JBL Charge 5 offers 20 hours of playback time, slightly more than the Marshall Willen II's 17 hours. However, the Willen II features faster charging and a quick-charge feature that provides 5.5 hours of playback from a 20-minute charge.
Both speakers feature IP67 water and dust resistance ratings, making them equally suitable for outdoor use. The Marshall Willen II is more portable, while the JBL Charge 5 offers more volume for outdoor gatherings.
The JBL Charge 5 is significantly better for parties due to its higher 40W power output, stronger bass response, and PartyBoost feature for connecting multiple speakers. The Marshall Willen II is better suited for personal listening or small gatherings.
The JBL Charge 5 offers immediate multi-speaker pairing through PartyBoost, while the Marshall Willen II will support Auracast in a future update. JBL's system only works with other JBL speakers.
The Marshall Willen II is significantly more portable at just 0.79 lbs and pocket-sized dimensions (4" x 4" x 2"), compared to the JBL Charge 5 at 2.11 lbs and larger dimensions (8.7" x 3.8" x 3.7").
Both speakers can connect to smart TVs via Bluetooth, but may experience audio lag making them suboptimal for TV viewing. The JBL Charge 5 performs better in this role due to its fuller sound profile.
The JBL Charge 5 delivers notably better bass with its 60Hz lower frequency response and larger drivers, compared to the Marshall Willen II's 75Hz lower limit and smaller driver configuration.
Only the JBL Charge 5 features a power bank function to charge other devices. The Marshall Willen II does not offer this capability.
The Marshall Willen II is better suited for travel due to its compact size, lighter weight, and included mounting strap. While the JBL Charge 5 is portable, its larger size makes it less convenient for frequent travel use.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: whatsthebest.co.uk - youtube.com - crutchfield.com - goodhousekeeping.com - abt.com - bestbuy.com - theaudio.co - store.moma.org - av-connection.com - rtings.com - electronicexpress.com - techradar.com - outeraudio.com - youtube.com - soundguys.com - howtogeek.com - jbl.com - abt.com - youtube.com - harmanaudio.com - homedepot.com - bhphotovideo.com - dxomark.com
