What’s the story? Well the original Willen went to the gym, added some muscle, and came back with some added oomph and a better presentation of controls. But there’s more…

Pocket Rockstar
What’s the story? Well the original Willen went to the gym, added some muscle, and came back with some added oomph and a better presentation of controls. But there’s more…
Just like its predecessor, the Willen II is an absolute stunner. Wrapped in a rubber housing with a texture that mimics leather, and crowned with a gold metal grille on the front, it looks like it’s been plucked straight from a vintage Marshall amp—one that would’ve powered The Who through a decibel-shattering set.
Now, let me tell you, when you pick this little beast up, you’ll notice something surprising—it’s hefty. I’m talking, "nearly dropped it out of shock" hefty. And in the world of speakers, weight often means quality. That added heft also brings with it an undeniably solid build quality. This thing is tough. The kind of speaker you’d feel comfortable chucking into a backpack without worrying about the bumps and scrapes of an outdoor adventure. With IP67 waterproofing, it’s more than ready for a camping trip, a beach day, or a rainy British festival, keeping it safe from accidental splashes or mud baths.
Marshall has blessed the Willen II with their signature joystick—a clever little feature that leaves the usual Bluetooth speaker’s "double-click" shuffle in the dust. It’s effortless, intuitive, and frankly, a joy to use when you’re navigating through your playlists or cranking up the volume.
The Willen II has also bulked up a bit compared to the original. The enclosure is slightly thicker, but not in a way that’ll ruin your day—it’s barely noticeable unless you’re comparing the two side-by-side. That added thickness, though, helps it push out a bit more bass, so you can feel the beat without sacrificing portability. Oh, and there’s a nifty rubber clip strap that lets you attach it to just about anything—perfect for backpackers or cyclists who need a soundtrack to their journey.
The Marshall Willen II doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does smooth out a few bumps, making subtle yet meaningful improvements over its predecessor. One of the more notable upgrades is in the frequency response—while the original Willen only dipped down to 100Hz, the Willen II reaches a respectable 70Hz.
When we threw on Black Mambo by Glass Animals, the Willen II really showed its chops. The level of detail it offered was nothing short of impressive for such a small speaker. The sound is well-balanced—there’s none of that overbearing low-end that can often turn a track into a muddy mess. Instead, the Willen II keeps things warm and tidy, with that classic ‘Marshall’ emphasis on the mids, delivering a sound that’s both rich and easy on the ears.
Switching gears to Sympathy for the Devil, the Willen II pulls off something rather subtle. The bassline, while present, isn’t smacking you over the head like a lot of modern Bluetooth speakers tend to do. It’s more refined, more natural—a purist’s take on bass, really. Now, if you’re a bass fiend looking for that gut-punching thump, this might feel a tad restrained. But for everyone else, it’s beautifully balanced.
What really had us grinning was the electric guitar tone. The timbre came through with a clarity and authenticity that you just don’t expect from something this compact. It’s the kind of detail you might expect from a much larger system, yet here it is, in a speaker that fits in your hand. That true-to-life guitar tone is really where the Willen II shines—it captures the nuances of the music in a way that’s rarely seen in portable speakers. Do note however, that to get the subtle details from the track, you need to push the volume up to about 80% or more.
You’d be hard pressed to find the kind of timbre and nuance the Willen II offers on other Bluetooth speakers. Sure something like the UE Wonderboom 4 or any other in the same price can offer a better bass, or a better top end even, but they won’t have a spec on the Willen II’s ability to represent an instrument’s timbre and most certainly won’t be able to touch the mid range and texture of the vocals here. So if you’re a purist of sorts and have heard a capable sound system, you’d understand and appreciate what the Willen II does.
Nuanced and rich the Willen II is for the purists!
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