Marshall Middleton in the test: A friend of the loud instead of the soft tones

With the new Middleton, Marshall delivers a speaker that sounds good in terms of workmanship and performance, but it comes at a price. The focus on the volume might not appeal to every interested buyer. Nevertheless, the package is convincing.

Table of contents

Design, workmanship and price
1. Further growth< /li>
2. Not afraid of water and dust
3. Familiar controls
Technical equipment and mileage
1. Stack yes, stereo no
2. Long playing time included
App with just an increase in comfort
Convincing sound
1. Even if it's not 11 is – 10 is already loud enough
2. Automatic readjustment
3. No friend for quiet hours
4. Choice of seat is important
Conclusion

Design, processing and price

Externally (contrary to popular belief), the speaker, which is not manufactured by the British manufacturer Marshall himself, who is famous for his guitar amplifiers, but under license from Zound Industries, relies on the well-known retro amplifier design. The latter was already used in the meanwhile little brother Emberton (test) and is still strongly based on the design of the amplifiers.

Grown further

At 230 × 109 × 95 mm, the test candidate that has now arrived in the ComputerBase editorial office is made significantly larger than the handier version already listed, which also results in a higher weight of 1.8 kg. It is not clear whether this fact was taken into account when the name was given – but this cannot be dismissed out of hand: while the little brother was named after a village and a civil parish in the Unitary Authority Area of the city of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, England, it is with Middleton – a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester – slightly larger.

Due to its size, the Middleton, which has an RRP of 299 euros, should be the perfect travel companion on the one hand – even if it should reach the maximum permissible weight more quickly in the suitcase, but on the other hand it could already be too heavy to carry with you all the time. However, to ensure that the Bluetooth speaker remains at least fundamentally portable, Marshall has given it a sturdy rubberized wrist strap.

According to Marshall, it was important to use resource-friendly materials when developing the Middleton: The new loudspeaker should be completely free of PVC. Of the plastic, which makes up around 30 percent of the finished product, 55 percent is said to have been recycled. The Middleton is currently available in black and brass, and according to the manufacturer, additional colors will be added over the course of the year.

< img src="/wp-content/uploads/b772e2027a2df2e56fb72e2ecf284ff7.jpg" /> The speaker, which weighs 1.8 kg, can be easily transported with the carrying strap

Don't be afraid of water and dust

In general, the workmanship leaves no reason for criticism, the speaker looks like it was made from one piece and is very stable. The design was largely taken over from the predecessor: the eye-catcher is still the front with a metal grille and the iconic Marshall lettering. The new sound generator is again surrounded by a silicone housing with a leather look, which protects it from damage during mobile use Art is intended to protect, but is equally vulnerable to dust. The construction also protects the Middleton from dust and temporary submersion according to IP67, which means that it should survive 30 minutes in 1 m water depth unscathed. So using it in the paddling pool or pool at home is no problem. However, caution is advised: although a dive does not cause any problems for the stereo loudspeaker, due to its high weight, unlike many other mobile sound generators, it will not remain floating on the surface at such a moment, but will sink like a stone. This fact should always be considered. On the other hand, this could be an option for annoyed visitors at the quarry pond.

Known control

< p class="p text-width">There is much that is familiar in the controls, but just as much that is new. The gold-colored joystick is once again the central point of control. With this, the desired playback can be started or paused by pressing it once, while pressing left or right can play the previous or next track. However, it is not possible to fast forward or rewind. The volume, on the other hand, can be changed with a movement up or down. The functionality of the operation may seem a bit unusual to one or the other user at first, but after a period of familiarization the advantages quickly become clear: Due to its design, the button can be easily felt without looking and thus concentrates all important actions on a central point.< /p>

On the other hand, direct access to the bass and treble settings, which can be found on the right-hand side, is new. This makes the Marshall app, which will be discussed in more detail in the course of this test, superfluous in some parts. The red LED display has moved to the left side compared to the Emberton – and no, it still only goes up to 10, not up to 11. As usual, it shows the visualization of the various settings Battery button to call up the level of the energy store, if there is a change, the volume or the level of the respective bass and treble components is also displayed.

The underside is surrounded by a 2 mm high rubber ring, which ensures a non-slip hold even on wet surfaces. The back of the test candidate is adorned with a metal plate with many holes. In the lower right corner there is also the line input for external sources and the USB-C connection to charge the speaker and other devices such as smartphones or tablets via the power bank function.

Marshall only includes the already mentioned carrying strap and a USB-C charging cable as accessories in the package. The buyer must provide the required power supply himself.

Technical equipment and mileage

With the Middleton, Marshall uses a lot of technology. The manufacturer gives each loudspeaker its own Class D amplifier. The output power of the two 3-inch (approx. 8 cm) woofers should each be 15 watts, the two 0.6-inch (approx. 1.5 cm) tweeters are each controlled with 10 watts, resulting in a total output of 50 watts. In addition, the company installed two passive membranes in the Middleton. The sounders should enable a frequency response of 50 Hz to 20 kHz, the maximum sound pressure is specified by Marshall as 87 dB SPL.

The stereo speaker connects to the source wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.1, making contact quickly and without problems. In the test, the Middleton connected to several devices without comment, such as a Pixel 4a, Pixel 6, Nokia 7 Plus and various Android, Fire OS and iOS tablets. The range is specified as up to 10 m, but, as in all cases, depends not only on the local conditions but also on the transmission quality of the source. In the test, the speaker even managed 12 m with two drywalls as obstacles. A very good value.

The system only supports the SBC codec. AAC, aptX or even the high-resolution LDAC codec used in the Sony SRS-XG300 (test) are not taken into account. Users also have to do without a hands-free function for phone calls, which many Bluetooth speakers offer.

Model Marshall Middleton Power 60 watts Frequency response 50 Hz to 20 kHz Stereo/Mono Stereo Max. SPL 87 dB SPL Wireless connection Bluetooth 5.1 codec support SBC inputs AUX stereo coupling – Multi-room capability – Miscellaneous IPX67 certification Size 230 × 109 × 95 mm Weight 1.8 kg Price 299 euros

Stack yes, stereo no

In addition to these basic functions, the “stack function” also offers the option of connecting several loudspeakers to one another. In this way, the performance can be increased in one place or the same music can be played simultaneously in several rooms. The connection can be made both on the Middleton itself and via the app. The coupling of two loudspeakers to form a stereo unit is also not planned by Marshall for the Middleton, nor is the use of several loudspeakers as a multi-room system, in which different contents can be played back via different units.

The multi-host function, on the other hand, allows the Bluetooth speaker to be paired with two different sources at the same time, which can then also record it. Sources that do not have the wireless interface mentioned can be connected via cable via the AUX input.

Long playing time included

The manufacturer states the mileage as “over 20 hours”, but he does not provide the procedure for determining the stated values. It is difficult to check the information, as a wide variety of factors such as the volume selected, the signal quality, and even the type of content play a role. In the test, the battery started with around 90 percent charge, which dropped to around 50 percent over the course of 10 hours of quiet background music with quiet music. So it doesn't matter whether the energy storage lasts 18 or 22 hours or even longer: In most cases, users should be well prepared in terms of time. If you want to be on the safe side, carry an appropriate power bank with you.

According to Marshall, a 15-watt power supply unit, which, it should be emphasized once again, is not included in the package despite the not exactly low price, can fully charge the battery in 4.5 hours. A charging time of 20 minutes should already be sufficient for 2 hours of playtime. In order to save energy, the loudspeaker also switches itself off automatically if it is not used for a long period of time. The USB-C port can also be used to charge external devices and thus as a power bank. 5 V and 1 A are available for this.

App with just an increase in comfort

The app provided by Marshall, which is available for both Android and iOS, does not particularly expand the functionality of the Middleton, but it does make it more convenient to use. Sound settings can also be made on the speaker, but this is also possible from a distance with the app. The same applies to the previously described coupling of several speakers, which is also possible on the device, but is much easier with the app. If you don't need it and rarely change the sound settings, you can usually do without the app. It is then only required for installing firmware updates.

Although the sound settings are titled “Equalizer” in the application, they also only accommodate the adjustment of bass and treble known from the device. A 5- or 10-band equalizer would have been better here in order to fundamentally adjust the speaker to the spatial conditions and then use the two controls described to influence the sound of the respective content.

Convincing sound

If the middle tone is switched on, the Bluetooth speaker greets its owner with a guitar riff after a long press on the joystick. This sound cannot be deactivated.

Marshall himself states that the main focus during development was a high volume, which quickly becomes clear when using the Bluetooth speaker. In general, the Middleton offers a balanced sound with solid lows and concise highs, but also shows that it is not necessarily made for soft tones and that it is more suited to powerful content. However, he never overdoes it. So if you are looking for a bass cube, the Middleton is the wrong choice. If one or the other is still too much for you, you can use the bass and treble controls to adjust the output to your needs.

Even if the sound is consistent and fun to listen to, it quickly becomes clear that the 50 Hz specified by the manufacturer are apparently only theoretical. Because many parts of the music that can be heard on a good system with the appropriate loudspeakers are swallowed by the test person and are therefore not audible.

Even if it's not 11 – 10 is already loud enough

In terms of volume, the Manufacturer in his statements then not exaggerated. Already turned up halfway, the performance goes well beyond what can be understood as background sound in a normal-sized room. At full power, it shouldn't be long before the tenant is knocking on the ceiling underneath you with a broom.

But volume alone has only limited significance, the tonal component also plays a role. And here the manufacturer also does a good job. In large parts, the middle tone remains clean in terms of sound, but the output becomes significantly brighter from around 75 percent of the maximum volume, which should not appeal to every listener. At this point, the rubber ring under the speaker is no longer sufficient to dampen the vibrations caused by the bass, which means that they are audibly transmitted to the surface. If glasses or similar objects are standing there, which meet the disturbances with clinking and rattling, the resulting noises can quickly become annoying. Up to this point, the playback remains free of distortions – only shortly before the maximum possible volume does it fit into the overall picture.

Automatic readjustment

The function Marshall called “Dynamic Loudness” plays an important role in the sound output, which primarily adapts the bass range to the respective volume. In practice, this means that at low volume the corresponding frequency ranges are amplified, with the amplification being reduced as the volume increases. However, this process can also have a negative effect on the output: Older titles, where the bass range is not so pronounced, can still sound good at low levels, but sound more and more listless as the volume increases. The user cannot influence this.

No friend for quiet hours

The fact that the sound generator is primarily trimmed for volume is also shown elsewhere: It offers fine gradations at normal to high levels, but they become coarser in the lower volume range. This is also due to the fact that the increase in output is not linear. With the change from level 4 to level 5, among other things, the volume felt doubled compared to the previous edition. This makes the speaker somewhat unpredictable in this regard. It is to be hoped that Marshall will improve this again with a firmware update.

The fact mentioned means that the Middleton is less suitable for a quiet playback that is well adapted to one's own wishes for falling asleep. The only way to counteract this would be to connect a mobile device via cable, since the volume of the source and speakers can be adjusted separately, making finer gradations possible.

Selection of seat not insignificant

While the two tweeters radiate to the front, as is usually the case, the bass range is emitted to the sides and to the rear. As a result, the choice of location also plays a role in terms of the sound output that should not be underestimated: placed in front of a wall, the sound escaping to the rear is reflected back to the front, which makes the sound appear fuller. Outdoors, however, this reflection is missing, which means that the output is thinner.

With “True Stereophonic” the Middleton uses a function with which Marshall is supposed to give the listener a “first-class spatial and binaural sound” at every position. If only the basics of acoustics are used here, it quickly becomes clear that the manufacturer's promises cannot be kept in this form. This is also confirmed in practice: a stereo effect can only be heard directly in front of the speaker, but the two channels begin to mix at a distance of around 1 m and localization becomes increasingly difficult. How is this supposed to be possible with increasing distance? This would require two devices to be coupled to form a stereo unit.

Conclusion

The overall package of the Middleton is largely convincing. The processing is not objectionable at any point, the same applies to the choice of material. The water and dust protection according to IP67 also predestines the loudspeaker for outdoor use, whereby the high weight should not be underestimated. Additions such as using the sound generator as a power bank complete the offer.

In terms of sound, on the other hand, the Middleton strides on a grand foot, which makes it not a quiet treadmill. It quickly becomes clear that the Bluetooth speaker was designed for loud output. He feels less comfortable at home in the evening bedside table – which can be seen above all in the rough volume classification in the lower ranges. Nevertheless, the test candidate can also be used for discreet background noise in various activities, and it also masters this area. But once he's let off the leash, he shows what he's really made of. Then it delivers a convincing sound image even at high volume. But don't overdo it – if the glasses are dancing on the table, maybe you should slow down.

The golden joystick may be a little irritating at first. Once used to it, however, it quickly shows its advantages. The tone controls directly on the speaker should also be highlighted positively. The app that is also available is therefore not a must, but only represents an increase in convenience, in addition to the possibility of installing firmware updates. In addition, several loudspeakers can be linked to form a “stack” in order to either increase the performance or keep the same play content in different locations. On the other hand, you should not think of a real multi-room system or at least the coupling of two units to form a stereo set.

But the whole thing also has its price, which is around 300 euros is not exactly low and for one or the other interested party it could already be too high for a portable speaker. However, if you don't shy away from digging deeper into your wallet, you should have found a high-quality and durable companion in the Middleton.

Marshall Middleton Loudspeaker product group, 02/10/2023

sound+
processing+
Operation+
EquipmentO

good workmanship
high quality materials
Water and dust protection according to IP 67
high volume
good sound

heavy weight
No coupling of two loudspeakers to a stereo set

ComputerBase was loaned to the Middleton by Marshall for this test. The manufacturer did not influence the test report and there was no obligation to publish it. There was an NDA specifying the earliest possible release date. However, the test only appeared afterwards.

(*) The links marked with an asterisk are affiliate links. In the case of an order via such a link, ComputerBase participates in the sales revenue without increasing the price for the customer.

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