Somewhat water-resistant build. When not in use you can simply press the buttons back into the chassis which makes the speaker much easier to pack.For as good looking as the speaker is at the front it's positively hideous from the back with all the quality control stickers going on but thankfully you get a flip over a leather case that helps cover that up.Whilst the Stockwell isn't as feature rich as something like the Battery life is stated at 25 hours and running it at about 80% volume for us it got close to that figure which is quite admirable.The button layout is ridiculous as it doesn't give you the option to control playback on the device.
Iconic design. This little guy sounds better, is smaller, is better built and has an ungodly 50 hours of battery life. Whoever thought that was a good idea should be fired.You would think that having such a historical pedigree and reputation for good sound this little speaker would live up to their claims of great sound. But, compared to the competition in its price range, Marshall's svelte Bluetooth speaker just doesn't offer enough.If you're looking for a Bluetooth speaker in a similar price range that has good looks, offers better sound performance and oodles of features, then the That said, if Marshall's signature looks, remarkable battery life and customizable sound profiles are must-have features, you could do much worse than the Stockwell. Adjustable bass and treble knobs.
It's not bad per se but it really leaves you wanting.
The first was the rather anemic and weak low end. It has knobs! Once I pick up a phone call, the person on the other end has a difficult time making out what I am saying, even when I can't get any closer to the speaker without touching my face to it.On the bright side, battery life is a spot that the Stockwell nails. The three adjustable knobs can help to customize the sound profile to your liking.At its best, the speaker offers incredibly crisp delivery with accurate bass performance. It's not bad per se but it really leaves you wanting. From left to right, there's a 3.5mm input for wiring up your device as an alternative to Bluetooth. Truly it is the best portable speaker on the market today.Oh and I should mention you can get 2 of them and chain them together for the same price of the marshal and daisy chain them together for some mind-melting sound.Its a shame that the Marshall Stockwell fails to sound as good as it looks. As mentioned you get the ability to control the volume and EQ settings directly from the device but round the back, you will also find a usb2.0 port which you can connect your phone to charge. Depending on your familiarity with this type of equipment, this will either be a total breeze to operate, or a nightmare.For me, it was somewhere in the middle. 25-hour battery life. Each can be pushed in for a more seamless look on the top panel (and so that the case can easily wrap around it), but another push will pop them out, so that you can adjust the volume, bass and treble, respectively.There's a button to answer and hang up phone calls, one to enable Bluetooth discovery mode and finally, a power button. Its retro design looks very cool and definitely in line with the companies amps that made them an icon in the music industry. Cool design. That said, you can save a little by purchasing the speaker and case bundled together for $249 (£199, about AU$345) through Marshall's website.Moving on to the speaker now, the main attraction is its grille, which rocks a pattern of grouped musical notes. The look works just as well at a hangout with your scrappy bandmates as it does on a regal coffee table.The design starts with an optional protective case. My only gripe with this is its placement should have been on one of the speaker's sides as having a cable sticking right out the back seems like an afterthought on such a sleek design.Battery life is stated at 25 hours and running it at about 80% volume for us it got close to that figure which is quite admirable.The button layout is ridiculous as it doesnt give you the option to control playback on the device. The grille's rectangular face is wrapped by a gold-painted rim. Its advertised 25 hours of battery life is no exaggeration. But, that's more of a mixed bag.Regarding its output, the Stockwell is well-stocked to put out a room-filling sound, though it isn't the bass-heavy affair you might be hoping for. The top end was at times a bit harsh but other times I quite enjoyed the sparkle. This is because its controls are modeled to look just like those found on a guitar amp. For this review, I had the option of going bigger or smaller in the Marshall speaker range but the Stockwell which sits right in the middle of the companies Bluetooth speaker lineup just seemed right. Whoever thought that was a good idea should be fired.You would think that having such a historical pedigree and reputation for good sound this little speaker would live up to their claims of great sound. That's fine in other minimal speakers but seriously you're going to give me the option to adjust the treble but not skip a track? I would have expected a far deeper low end from such a design but the Marshall Stockwell fails to give a real sense of depth and really comes apart at high volume. If I was getting something similar size and shape (just a bit bigger) I would (and have) grab the IK Multimedia iLoud.This speaker has been on the market for a few years now but its sound quality and performance are just off the charts.It easily beats out the Marshall for sound and build quality although, admittedly, it is nowhere near as good looking as the Stockwell.If you are a regular reader of Audiophile On then you already know what I am going to say. Complete with the ruggedized build, familiar gold finishes and enough knobs and buttons to make you want to touch them all, this Bluetooth speaker riffs completely on Marshall's amplifier design identity – and that's a good thing. The first was the rather anemic and weak low end. Its looks alone are cool enough to warrant the $40 (£30, about AU$55) purchase, but what's unfortunate is that it's practically a necessity.Without it, the Stockwell can fall over with a slight jolt to the surface it rests on. Please refresh the page and try again.TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher.