Marshall’s fastening system surprised. Janiko Kemppi
We listed the travel speakers we recently tested that are easy to recommend. However, the speaker left the list to be released in June, which managed to convince even after a short use. It’s a Marshall 100-euro Willen small speaker with one great feature.
Marshall Willen falls into the smallest category among travel speakers. The speaker is about 10 centimeters wide and four centimeters thick. Initially, only the black version will be launched, but a cream-colored version will also be available in the fall.
Willen’s surface is a softer matte plastic, 60 percent of which Marshall says is recycled. The coating feels durable and does not feel like it would easily get deep scratches. In terms of durability, the speaker is also generally convincing, and no bumps or drops seem to affect performance.
In the test, Willen went on a few fishing trips to the rocky shores. The matte plastic surface collected sand dust quite easily, which got stuck quite tightly. The speaker looked pretty wild on the outside, but the dust leaves with a wet rag or simply rinsing the speaker after the trip.
The design of the Willen speaker is simple, but it is sure to please many. The front of the speaker (or top when the speaker is lying on the ground on its back) features the Marshall iconic logo as well as a small joystick-like control used to turn on the speaker, change songs, and adjust the volume. On the side of the speaker you will find a Bluetooth button for pairing, a microphone and a light bar indicating the battery status.
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You can clearly see from the top of Willen how much battery is left. Janiko Kemppi
The simple solution surprised
Definitely the best thing about the Willen speaker is its mounting mechanism, which is ingenious in its simplicity. There is a flexible strap on the back of the speaker, which allows the speaker to be easily attached to a backpack or even a pole or wheel bar, for example. The strap opens by pulling and stays firmly in place when it is closed.
It may seem strange to praise a simple lashing strap, but there are several excellent travel speakers on the market that don’t have any kind of lashing mechanism. This means that you always have to carry a bag or backpack with the speaker if you are on a bike, for example – if the speaker does not fit in your pocket. On the dock alone, additional security was provided by attaching the speaker to a metal loop for boats.
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Willen can be easily attached to a backpack, for example. Janiko Kemppi
The listening experience at Willen is pleasant and surprisingly balanced into such a small speaker. Although it is a mono speaker, the speaker also performed well as a home speaker in the test. Willen is in line with Marshall’s previous speakers, and straight from the package, especially rock music is played on the speaker comfortably. However, this does not mean that other categories will not work with the speaker as well. The nice plush bass as a speaker of this size also surprised.
The Marshall phone app offers an equalizer with three presets. In addition to the default “Marshall” mode, there is a more bass and treble mode, as well as a sound mode with a mid-range emphasis. The last mode is suitable for listening to audiobooks or podcasts, for example.
Willen’s battery life is really good. After two fishing trips of about four to five hours, the battery charge was still 40 percent, even though the volume was consistently high. Marshall promises a battery life of 15+ hours, with which the test results were in line.
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Willen follows Marshall’s familiar design. Janiko Kemppi
The Willen speaker supports a “stacking mode” where multiple Willen speakers can be connected to each other. Simultaneously with the Willen speaker, we also tested Marshall’s 169-person Emberton II speaker, which will be released in July, and is really reminiscent of its predecessor. In the test, Willen and Emberton were also able to connect using a stacking mode, which was a nice surprise.
We didn’t do a separate, more extensive test of the Emberton 2 speaker, as the speaker already turned out to be very similar to its predecessor Emberton, which turned out to be a good speaker in a previous speaker test. It is a larger model than the Willen that offers deeper sound, twice the battery life and better sound quality. This speaker, like Willen, is designed to withstand water and dust. However, it’s a heavier and more “table model” that works great as a home universal speaker, but also on the go.
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Emberton II and Willen. Janiko Kemppi
A successful whole
After testing, I can see that Willen quickly became one of my favorite speakers right now, greatly influenced by its mounting solution, but also by battery life and sound quality. The whole thing feels well thought out.
The speaker is also pleasing to the tester’s eye, although the front grille and joystick think: do they collect sand and other dirt, affecting the operation of the controller, for example? Fortunately, the speaker is water resistant, so it can be rinsed after trips.
The price of a hundred euros for a speaker seems appropriate for Willen. The closest big competitors at this price point are at least the JBL Flip 6 as well as the Ultimate Ears Boom 3, which are more expensive. These speakers produce more sound, but they are also larger.