Marshall Willen II Review: A Rockstar in Looks, But Does It Sound Like One?

Marshall is a brand that commands attention. From its legendary guitar amps to its premium Bluetooth speakers, the company has built a reputation for delivering rich, immersive sound in stylish, vintage-inspired designs. The Marshall Willen II, the latest in its lineup of portable speakers, aims to bring that same Marshall signature sound in a compact, rugged, and travel-friendly form factor.

Priced at ₹12,500, the Willen II isn't the cheapest mini Bluetooth speaker out there. But does it justify its premium tag? And more importantly, does it stand out in a crowded market filled with affordable options like the JBL Go 3? After spending time with this pocket-sized powerhouse, I have some thoughts.

PROS

• Premium, classic Marshall design that turns heads
• IP67 dust and waterproof rating for outdoor durability
• Balanced and rich soundstage with excellent clarity
• Multi-functional strap
• Long battery life with fast charging

CONS

• Lacks deep bass, even with the Push EQ preset
• Not as loud as some budget competitors
• Pricey for a mini speaker compared to alternatives

Classic Marshall Aesthetics in a Travel-Ready Package

One thing is clear: Marshall has nailed the design. The Willen II stays true to the brand's iconic rock-and-roll aesthetic, featuring a textured leatherette body, front metal grille, and the classic gold Marshall logo. It's compact, measuring 10.05 cm thick and 4.34 cm tall, and weighs just 360g, making it easy to slip into a backpack or even a jacket pocket.

A standout feature is the flexible rubber strap at the back, which allows you to attach it to your bag, bike, or even a chair. This small addition significantly enhances the speaker's usability, especially for those who love listening to music while on the move. However, while the Black and Brass variant looks sleek, I noticed it tends to attract dust and fingerprints, particularly on the grille. If that's a concern, the Cream variant might be a better choice.

The Willen II is also built to handle the elements, boasting an IP67 rating, which means it's completely dustproof and can be submerged in water (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes). Whether you're hiking, at the beach, or even in the shower, this speaker can handle it all.

Minimalist Controls With a Slight Learning Curve

Marshall has gone for a clean and minimal control setup. Instead of multiple buttons, the Willen II uses a multi-directional joystick located at the top right corner of the grille. This single knob allows you to play, pause, skip tracks, and control volume, while the power button, Bluetooth pairing button, and battery indicator sit separately on the top panel.

While this joystick is a cool aesthetic touch, it takes some getting used to. Pausing or playing music is simple, but adjusting the volume by tilting the knob sideways can feel slightly awkward, especially if you have larger fingers or longer nails.

There's also a built-in microphone, which means you can take calls hands-free without reaching for your phone. It works well for casual calls, though don't expect studio-quality clarity.

Sound Quality: Clean and Balanced, but Not for Bass Lovers

Marshall has a reputation for delivering rich, warm sound with exceptional clarity, and the Willen II largely lives up to that promise-but it's not without its compromises.
The improved drivers ensure a well-balanced output across lows, mids, and highs, and the soundstage is surprisingly wide for such a compact speaker. When I played guitar-heavy tracks, like blues and classic rock, I noticed a crisp separation between vocals and instruments. Acoustic and indie music sounded fantastic-the clarity in vocals and mid-range tones was something I immediately appreciated.

One thing that truly impressed me was its performance for content consumption. Whether I was watching YouTube videos, Netflix, or even listening to podcasts, the dialogue and background sounds were incredibly clear and natural. There was no muddiness, no distortion-just clean, well-defined audio. If you're someone who binge-watches content, this speaker is an underrated gem for that purpose.

However, let's talk about the biggest compromise-bass. While Marshall has tuned the drivers well to maximize low-end output, the Willen II still lacks the deep, thumping bass you'd expect from a premium speaker. This was especially noticeable when playing phonk music, which relies heavily on deep, distorted basslines and high-energy beats.

When I played hard-hitting phonk tracks, I could feel that the low-end wasn't hitting as hard as I wanted it to. It wasn't completely absent, but it didn't deliver the booming, vibrating bass that makes phonk so immersive.

Equalizer Presets: Can You Improve the Sound?

Thankfully, you can tweak the sound output with the equalizer presets available in Marshall's official app for Android and iOS. There are three preset modes to choose from, but while they help in shaping the sound profile, they don't drastically change the speaker's core characteristics.

• Marshall (Default Mode) - This delivers the classic fine-tuned Marshall signature sound, which is balanced, crisp, and warm. It works well for most genres, especially rock and acoustic tracks.
• Push Mode - This mode boosts the bass and treble for a more intense, heavier sound. I used this preset for phonk music, hoping it would add more depth to the bass. While it was a slight improvement, the difference wasn't as dramatic as I had hoped. It gave the Willen II a bit more kick, but when compared directly to my JBL Go 3, the JBL still came out ahead for bass-heavy tracks.
• Voice Mode - This preset enhances the midrange frequencies, making spoken content clearer. If you listen to a lot of podcasts, audiobooks, or interviews, this mode helps boost vocal clarity, making conversations sound more natural and well-defined.

Final Thoughts on Sound

What the Willen II lacks in bass, it makes up for in overall sound richness and clarity. It doesn't distort at high volumes, something many budget speakers struggle with. Even at max volume, the Willen II maintains clarity and a balanced sound, which is a huge plus for audiophiles who prioritize sound quality over loudness.

If I had to describe the difference, I'd say JBL Go 3 is louder and bassier, but the Willen II sounds more refined, clear, and premium.

Battery Life: Long-Lasting With Fast Charging

Marshall claims that the Willen II offers over 17 hours of playtime, and in my real-world usage, I found this estimate to be fairly accurate. By the time this review is up, I would have used this speaker for well over 10 days, and its battery life has consistently impressed me.

Even after using it for nearly an hour daily, the battery still had two bars left after six days, which is a great sign of endurance. If you're someone who listens to music casually throughout the day, this speaker can easily last a weekend on a single charge.

A full charge takes just under 2 hours, which is fast for a portable speaker with this kind of playback time. This means you can plug it in during breakfast and have it ready for a full day's use.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Marshall Willen II?

The Marshall Willen II is an excellent mini Bluetooth speaker that excels in design, durability, battery life, and overall sound quality. It's a great pick for those who appreciate refined audio clarity and a premium build, making it ideal for casual listening, content consumption, and travel.

However, if bass is your priority or you want a louder speaker for house parties, you may want to explore alternatives. The JBL Go 3 offers better bass at a fraction of the price, while Marshall's original Willen (₹8,799) is a slightly more affordable alternative. There is also the improved JBL Go 4 which costs ₹3,999.

If you value premium sound, iconic design, and portability, the Willen II is a solid buy-but only if you're willing to pay for the brand's legacy.