Marshall is taking on JBL and other party speaker makers in a 'very homogenous' market and explains why it wants to make models that 'trigger your senses'

Date:
Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Description:
Marshall tells me about its decision to enter into the party speaker segment, and how it's attempting to stand out from the crowd.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Ive tested more than 40 Bluetooth speakers during my time here at TechRadar, and
I always get most excited to test the party speakers. Theyre large, powerful and for someone who loves house music like I do ideal for pumping out tunes with impactful and immersive bass.

This is an area where JBL has been pretty dominant. In 2025, JBL launched
more of its high-performing PartyBox speakers, and its owner, Harman, claimed that the brand had solidified its position as the number one portable and party speaker brand. Its hard to dispute that. Not only is JBL shipping a whole lot of units, but its party speakers come with impressive power, AI-optimized audio, modern features such as Auracast, and generally moderate pricing. However, JBL has competition on its hands from another brands thats used to putting on a show. Marshall recently took launched to two models to know JBL off its perch: the Bromley 750 and Bromley 450 models. Article continues below You may like Marshall Bromley 450 review: this party speaker sounds as good as it looks I spent a day at an elite hi-fi show to pick out 6 affordable speakers and hi-res players even I'd buy, so maybe you can too JBL Charge 6 vs Marshall Middleton II: two mighty mid-sized speakers duke it out

Why has Marshall decided to scale this mountain, and how is it
differentiating itself from rivals like JBL? I put these questions among others to Marshall, so here's what it has to say about the world of party speakers. Today's best Marshall Bromley 750 and Marshall Bromley 450 deals Marshall Bromley 450 844.88 View See all prices deal Marshall Bromley 750 899.99 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Standing out in a homogenous market (Image credit: Future) Marshalls amp-making heritage certainly makes it seem at home in the realm of party speakers.

That was a clear focus for Hanna Wallner, Product Manager at Marshall Group, who told me: We have a long history of bringing sound to the stage, and in more recent years, to homes through our Bluetooth speaker range, headphones, and TV sound. It was a natural next step to move into the party speaker category, and we saw an opportunity to bring something different to a uniform market."

But how exactly do the Bromley speakers stand out in a segment full of
generic boxes with colorful lighting? For Wallner, this had a lot to do with staying true to our identity and what we are great at prioritizing iconic design and superior acoustics. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

That involves considering every element of design through this lens. Everything is thought through in such great detail, from the PU-leather cabinet wrapping and tactile control panel, right through to the light sequencing patterns that are inspired by stage lighting, said Wallner. As someone whos tested both the Bromley 750 and 450, I have to say that the white, stage-inspired lights are a stand-out aspect of their design, offering an alternative to the swathe of RGB-light-adorned rivals.

And nailing that lighting was crucial for Marshall. Wallner explained: When
we first introduced the idea of lights, we were hesitant as the different colored LEDs that we see on competitor products didnt feel quite right. But
we managed to find our own unique way of integrating lights whilst staying true to our heritage. This is a speaker with party at its core and in
parallel puts the Marshall stamp on the party speaker category.

The Marshall stamp is clear in just about every part of the Bromley speakers, not only through their lighting, but also through their sound signature. A
lot of party speakers at least in my experience put a lot of their eggs in one basket, with very heavy bass and limited attention placed elsewhere.
Sure, that can open up loud, attention-grabbing audio, but its less
satisfying for those of us who want a more refined, well-rounded listening experience. What to read next The best Bluetooth speakers you can buy, all tested by our experts JBL Boombox 4 review: one of the best party speakers
you can buy The AirPods Max 2 won me over after a few days thanks to one key upgrade

However, the Bromley 750 and 450 are able to paint a fuller picture. Yes,
they plate up hard-hitting low-frequency audio, with a serious dosage of output power. But they also manage surprisingly detailed, well-separated
mids, and snappy and responsive treble. They also offer a great soundstage Marshalls true 360-degree stereophonic sound really saps the blind spots out, meaning you dont get the overly directional sound that some rivals supply. Learning from the past As well as party speakers, Marshall launched a new range of TV audio products in 2025, including the Marshall Heston 120
soundbar (pictured) (Image credit: Future) Interestingly, though, Marshalls entry into the world of party speakers doesnt mark its only adventure into a new segment of late. For instance, the audio specialist decided to try its hand at the TV audio market in 2025, and released three new products: the Marshall Heston 120 and Heston 60 soundbars, as well as the Heston Sub 200 subwoofer. With those releases, Marshall undertook a considerable amount of market research when producing its entrant models .

And that appears to have been the case with the Bromley 750 and 450 too, with Wallner sharing: When we started this project, we wanted to really deep dive into the different behaviors in the category. Together with consumer insights and our design research team, we did a qualitative user study globally, where we focused on people that owned and bought a party speaker in a similar size and price. From this, we learned that this category is all about setting the right environment for a party."

But how do you translate an abstract concept like a party environment into something tangible? Acoustics are naturally very important, said Wallner, but more than that, this product needs to trigger your senses and add that extra layer to the party. It needs to work as a social lubricator, and also a showoff piece."

This seems to be a sensible approach. While Marshall may not be able to offer its products as cheaply as the dominant player, JBL, the brand has an instantly recognizable aesthetic that turns its audio gear into statement pieces.

Thats evident in the Bromley speakers gorgeous faux-leather casing, golden details, and metal grilles but also in the design of its other models, such as the Marshall Kilburn III , Middleton II , and Emberton III . Buying one of these speakers will provide impressive audio, yes, but there's an undeniable sense of cool to these designs built on the the guitar amp and live music heritage that other speakers just don't match. Marshall beyond the stage (Image credit: Future) So, Marshall has delivered a couple of party speakers that set themselves apart, not only in terms of sound and features, but in terms of design, but they still have to be good, right?

In my review of the Marshall Bromley 750 , I described it as a great-sounding party speaker debut, packed with plenty of power, connectivity options, and
an extensive battery life. I also raved about its premium build quality, iconic look, and repairable parts.

OK, the Marshall app is a little under-equipped and the high price compared to JBL's PartyBox line could be a dealbreaker for some. But I still felt
that the Bromley 750 was a strong party speaker debut for Marshall.

The Marshall Bromley 450 was revealed a little later, and just released in March 2026. Wallner revealed a little about its inception: Early into that project [the Bromley 750], we saw a great opportunity to bring all the great pieces from 750 into something smaller and more accessible. We actually started the 450 project before 750 hit the market."

And in my four-and-a-half star Marshall Bromley 450 review , I praised how Marshall compressed so much of the 750s talents into a more portable, affordable model, talking up its immersive sound and tasteful lighting, among other things.

But thats only one side of the coin. I was curious to hear about consumer uptake and feedback, and gauge whether Marshall is starting to make a splash in the party speaker world.

While the company refused to delve into specifics on sales figures and the like, Wallner stated: The response so far has been fantastic. Our launch into TV sound and the party speaker category in 2025 proved there is a real and growing appetite for Marshall beyond the stage."

When I asked if more party speakers were on the way, Marshall declined to
say, but did add that the company is looking forward to bringing the unique Marshall experience to returning fans and new audiences alike. Today's best Marshall Bromley 750 and Marshall Bromley 450 deals Marshall Bromley 450 844.88 View See all prices deal Marshall Bromley 750 899.99 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices The best Bluetooth speakers for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best Bluetooth speakers 1. Best overall: JBL Flip 7 2. Best cheap: JBL Clip 5 3. Best high-end option: Bang & Olufsen A1 3rd
Gen 4. Best party speaker: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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