Marshall Kilburn II review

The idea of a Marshall speaker sounds like it could be a bit of a gimmick, an amp-stack-shaped thing for a teenager’s bedroom. Its Marshall Kilburn II shows this really isn’t the case, though. This is a serious wireless speaker with big, energetic sound and an attractive, practical design, with plenty of that classic Marshall whiff. It doesn’t have the deepest bass or the most convincing mids in this class. But it is a lot of fun, and those amp-ode control knobs are far more useful than you might imagine.

Good sound ; Sharp Marshall look ;

Could be more water resistant ; Limited controls ; The very best have deeper bass, firmer mids ;

Marshall Kilburn II Review

Marhsall offers no shortage of Bluetooth speakers, and at $299.99, the Kilburn II fits somewhere in between the Stockwell II and the Tufton in terms of both price and size. Even for a mid-size model, the Kilburn II is portable in the sense that you can carry it by its strap, but it's too heavy and bulky to, say, throw in a backpack. The good news is that it can deliver some serious power for its size, and adjustable bass and treble knobs allow you to alter its sound signature to suit your tastes. There's nothing glaringly wrong with the Marshall Kilburn II, but its price feels rather high for what it offers. Design The boxy Kilburn II is available in black or gray faux leather. It measures 6.5 by 9.6 by 5.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.5 pounds, so the removable strap is helpful for transporting it around. It also happens to look quite nice, like a classic guitar strap with a velvet-lined underside. The front face of the Kilburn II is all metallic grille, emblazoned with the script M...

The Marshall Kilburn II speaker looks great, sounds very good, and has onboard EQ knobs, but ultimately feels priced a little too high.

Powerful audio output with rich lows and bright, clear highs; Handsome, amp-inspired design; Bass and treble knobs

Expensive; Lacks sub-bass; Water-resistance rating (IPX2) is about as low as it gets

Marshall Kilburn II hands-on review

The brand new Marshall Kilburn II Bluetooth speaker is sitting on the desk right now, playing a song I know really well, and I’m tempted to turn up the volume. Trouble is, there are other people in the house who may not appreciate a sudden blast of Nogizaka46; because the Kilburn II gets loud. Really loud. It’s satisfying loudness too, as to reach ear-splitting level you twist a big button on the top. It’s coated in rubber for grip and has a delicate circular pattern with an equalizer-style position indicator on the top. Twist it until it stops, and unless it’s a party, someone will be banging on the wall and shouting, “Keep it down!” Alongside the volume knob are two others, which independently control the bass and the treble. It’s wonderfully old-school, and the entire setup instantly makes you think of Marshall’s famous amps. The design of the Marshall Kilburn II does exactly the same. It’s a rectangular box covered in a soft-touch material that from a distance looks a bit like leat...

Very loud; Eye-catching design; Good battery life; Support for two Bluetooth connections;

Expensive; Only vaguely portable;

Marshall Kilburn II review review

Good sound ; Sharp Marshall look ;

Could be more water resistant ; Limited controls ; The very best have deeper bass, firmer mids ;

Save $100 on the Marshall Kilburn II Bluetooth Speaker

In search of a portable Bluetooth speaker that sounds great and looks cool? The Marshall Kilburn II portable Bluetooth speaker checks both boxes, and it's $100 off at Amazon today. Normally $299.99, it's available in gray right now for just $199, a 34 percent discount. With an amp-inspired design featuring a solid metal grille and the iconic Marshall logo, this speaker stands out in a good way. It offers more than 30 hours of playtime on a charge, has a "guitar-inspired" carrying strap, and is water resistant, so it can withstand your adventures. It can play music from any Bluetooth device at a range of up to 30 feet away, and features multi-host functionality so you can easily switch between two Bluetooth devices. The Marshall Kilburn II weighs just six pounds, but "can deliver some serious power for its size," we wrote in our review. It delivers "rich lows and bright, clear highs," and we praised its adjustable bass and treble knobs, which allow you to customize its sound...

Marshall Kilburn II : The best vintage speaker

Marshall’s second iteration of the Kilburn speaker is a real rock ‘n’ roll star – everything its predecessor should have been

Beautiful design; Adjustable on-the-fly bass and treble knobs;

Loud but unrefined sound; No smart functionalities; Comparatively expensive;