Marshall Willen II is an excellent choice if you need a mini rugged outdoor speaker for your next adventure. Its durable design, powerful sound, and portability make it a must-have for music lovers on the go. Check out our detailed Marshall Willen II review to see if it fits you well!
A speaker with a classic design and rustic, warm sound quality will bring you unforgettable emotions or promise to be a meaningful gift for your loved ones.
It is no coincidence that speakers from Marshall have always been a favorite accessory for many users. The characteristic retro design and warm sound quality are all addictive elements that make up the Marshall brand. For me, music is an addictive catalyst, so choosing a standard speaker that suits my ears is an extremely important factor. And Marshall Willen II is the choice that I am delighted with.
Marshall Willen II Review
Retro Design & Build Quality
One of the factors that made me choose Marshall Willen II is its compact design, which still has Marshall’s classic color. Few manufacturers make products as meticulous from design to sound quality as Marshall.
In terms of design quality, Marshall has never disappointed me. Holding Willen II in your hand brings a lot of unique emotions compared to other speakers I have used. The black rubber shell combined with the metal mesh on the front reminds me of the legendary amplifiers that Marshall has produced. The combination of classic features and modern features creates a perfect beauty, making Willen II a fashion accessory, not just a speaker.
Marshall Willen is finished mainly from plastic, but thanks to the meticulous processing, users can hardly distinguish this surface from other high-end materials.
An essential factor that helps Willen score points is the faux fabric mesh on the front, which “tricks” the eye when observed with the naked eye. This is a rare feature in today’s portable speakers because most manufacturers immediately reveal the plastic or metal material. Even when you lightly touch the speaker membrane, it still feels “smooth” and sturdy enough, bringing high reliability in terms of finishing.
The bronze-colored metal Marshall logo is prominently mounted in the middle of the speaker to highlight the brand’s mark. This detail acts as an “affirmation” of the classic, luxurious style associated with the Marshall name over the years. The metal logo creates a visual impression and a subtle highlight. This makes the Marshall Willen II memorable among countless other portable speakers on the market.
Intuitive Controls & Rugged Durability
The control cluster on top also impresses with its neat and convenient layout. Everything is meticulously finished and intuitive, including the power button, Bluetooth, volume control, and battery indicator light so that I can operate quickly.
Press the yellow round button on the speaker mesh to increase or decrease the volume.
The included lanyard is a “small but powerful” detail. More than once during my trip, I hung the speaker on the car to enjoy music or hooked it right on my bag to walk around the streets. This design is convenient and brings dynamism and freedom, making it very suitable for those who like to travel.
In addition, Marshall Willen II is also equipped with IP67 water and dust resistance standards, so you can comfortably listen to music even in drizzle. Outdoor camping trips and picnics are no longer a problem for this mini rugged outdoor speaker. You can comfortably enjoy playing with the Willen II regardless of the weather.
Essential Features, yet Practical
Let’s continue the Marshall Willen II review by describing its features; this speaker has a sufficient but handy set of features. It has a built-in microphone, allowing you to receive calls hands-free. Not all previous versions of Marshall speakers have this feature, so it is a worthy improvement. If you are cooking, driving, or do not want to interrupt your enjoyment of music, the built-in microphone will handle it all “well.”
In addition, Marshall also equipped Willen II with Bluetooth LE Audio, a new-generation connection solution gradually replacing traditional Bluetooth. This technology not only helps reduce audio latency, allowing you to watch movies, play games, or listen to music with very low latency. It also saves battery significantly compared to previous Bluetooth versions. In addition, the Auracast feature allows you to share music with friends quickly.
It offers connectivity and hands-free functionality, and Willen II scores points with the Marshall Bluetooth app. This app provides EQ customization options to personalize the sound quality to each person’s preferences. You can freely increase/decrease the bass, mid, or treble ranges or choose presets pre-tuned by Marshall. Thanks to that, users can control their musical “taste,” from gentle Acoustic songs to intense EDM tracks.
Sound Quality
You first need to know its technical specifications in terms of sound quality. This speaker has a wide frequency range of 75 – 20,000 Hz, which can handle both “deep” bass and “clear” bright high notes. This configuration is supported by a 2” full-range passive radiator with a capacity of 10W, contributing to significantly improving the bass. Despite its compact design, the Willen 2 provides a complete, energetic sound experience. In my opinion, the sound has precise detail, enough to “fill” a moderate room.
In addition, Willen 2 also integrates a Class D amplifier with a total capacity of 38W. This technology ensures stable operation at high volume levels and helps save energy. It prolongs battery life, allowing users to comfortably enjoy music when traveling or camping.
In particular, the speaker has a maximum sound pressure level of 88 dB SPL at a distance of 1 meter. It can suit various spaces, from small indoor parties to fun outdoor gatherings.
Not stopping there, Marshall has cleverly improved compared to the previous version, helping Willen 2 possess a more substantial bass range. This highlights the “rock” spirit and detail in vibrant music genres. The speaker’s broad frequency range allows it to handle many music genres well, from gentle Acoustic to intense EDM.
However, the mid and treble ranges are gentle, not fully expressing the spirit of the song. Although the bass range is powerful, it does not go too deep and does not create the resonance that I want. I do not rate this speaker very highly if you often listen to music genres such as bolero, yellow, or lyrical music.
Long Battery Life with Fast Charging
Marshall Willen II impresses with its compact, eye-catching retro design and its giant battery life of up to 17 hours on a single full charge. It only took me about 2.5 hours to charge the speaker, ensuring an uninterrupted usage experience. Just imagine starting the day with gentle melodies, then ending it with an explosive night with friends. No need to worry about constantly plugging in the charger—that’s the freedom and flexibility Willen II offers.
With such a long battery life, Willen II is a great companion for long trips. Bringing it with you lets you relax with music throughout the journey without worrying about finding a charging outlet. Especially for travel enthusiasts, this 17-hour battery life is enough to keep you going from dawn in the windy plateau. It also lets you enjoy a relaxing moment by the fire at night, maintaining the emotional rhythm throughout the trip.
Final Line
If you still wonder whether to bring it, you must have your answer after this Marshall Willen II review. From my experience on an outdoor trip, I realized that Willen II impresses not only with its beautiful Retro design, water resistance, and long battery life of up to 17 hours but also its high mobility thanks to its flexible lanyard.
Although the sound quality may be picky, mainly if you specialize in listening to vocals or golden music, Willen II is still a hard-to-ignore choice for those who appreciate “cool” design and liberal sound quality in the true spirit of Marshall.
Also see: JBL Go 4 Review: Unpacking the Best in Budget Waterproof Bluetooth Audio
If the “small but powerful” advantages of the Marshall Willen II convince you, grab this speaker on Amazon for $95 / £98.98.
