Compare Marshall Willen II vs Dali Katch G2 Portable Speaker

Reviewers found the Marshall app usable but bare-bones, with limited controls and few reasons to spend time in it beyond updates, battery information, and presets.

Two reviews noted the lack of high-resolution audio support, while also treating it as a modest limitation for a speaker this small.

Backwards compatibility was weakly reviewed because the lack of wired audio makes the speaker less useful with older playback devices.

Battery life was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers reporting or praising roughly 14 to 17 hours and calling it enough for trips, weekends, or long workdays.

Battery life is a standout strength, with 30 hours described as exemplary or whopping.

Codec support is generally positive thanks to aptX HD, though reviewers note device support and that LDAC offers a higher maximum bitrate.

Connection stability drew strong praise where tested, including stable connections, no cutouts nearby, and unusually strong connectivity in one long-range review.

Bluetooth pairing and connection speed were praised as quick, painless, and remarkable in the reviews that evaluated the connection experience.

Bluetooth range was praised, with one reviewer calling it the most they had encountered and another describing the rated range as very strong.

Build quality was consistently strong, with reviewers describing the speaker as robust, rugged, premium-feeling, and durable enough for everyday portable use.

Build quality is a major strength, with reviewers praising the metal-enhanced construction and calling the construction quality superb.

Quick charging was repeatedly praised, especially the roughly 20-minute top-up that gives several more hours of playback.

Charging time is treated as acceptable, with one review saying two hours is not long to wait.

Reviewers often characterized the sound as clean, balanced, warm, and accurate, though that balance sometimes came at the expense of raw loudness or bass punch.

The presentation is praised as effortless, musically insightful, and capable of conveying a genuine sense of the music.

The joystick control was widely liked for feeling intuitive, solid, and easier than typical button combinations on small speakers.

The physical buttons are praised as positively clicky and predictable.

Design was one of the most consistent strengths, with reviewers praising the retro Marshall look, premium texture, compact form, and rock-inspired styling.

Design is a major strength across reviews, described as stunning, classy, distinctive, and attractive even by a more critical reviewer.

Detail retrieval was praised for a speaker this size, especially in close listening, vocals, instruments, and more complex material.

Detail retrieval is one of the strongest sound traits, with reviews praising clarity, nuance, resolution, and extra sparkle.

Most reviewers found distortion controlled for the size, but one noted noticeable tinny distortion when the volume was fully cranked.

High-volume behavior is the clearest sound weakness: one reviewer hears the bass loosen and another calls near-maximum pumping unlistenable.

Only one review gave direct drop-related experience, reporting that a drop did not break the speaker while still advising care around the accents.

Dust resistance was treated positively when tied to outdoor use, with reviewers describing the IP-rated design as helpful for adventures and outdoor handling.

Dust protection is weak because reviewers point to the lack of dust or IP-rated protection rather than rugged outdoor sealing.

Dynamic ability is praised in one review that calls the speaker dynamic with tremendous resolution for Bluetooth.

EQ customization was a common limitation: reviewers liked having presets but criticized the lack of a full custom equalizer and found some modes less useful.

EQ control is mixed: the on-speaker EQ is easy, but the lack of app-based customization limits adjustment beyond the presets.

Everyday usability was strong thanks to compact travel convenience, the stand-up form, ruggedness, and a clean design that works well on the move.

Everyday usability is helped by predictable controls and stable feet, making it easy to live with indoors.

Frequency balance was widely praised as flat, accurate, warm, and clear, though the tuning prioritizes balance more than heavy bass output.

Most reviewers hear a refined, balanced presentation with strong mids or bass for the size, but one review finds it thin and brittle above moderate volume.

The rear strap was often praised for flexibility and outdoor convenience, but two reviewers felt it was flimsier or more delicate than the otherwise rugged body.

The pull-out handle improves carrying around the house or to parties, though one reviewer finds it clever but stiff.

Inter-speaker connectivity was mixed: Auracast was seen as promising, but some reviews emphasized that the feature was not active or should not be counted on yet.

Stereo pairing is seen as useful enough to fill a large room when two units are used, although the cost of buying two remains a caveat elsewhere.

Bluetooth latency is strongly praised in the measurement-focused review, which calls its tested latency as good as it gets.

Loudness split reviewers: some found it strong enough for small rooms, campsites, and groups, while others called it quiet or not award-worthy for volume.

One review says the speaker can play incredibly loudly, while another finds the G2 only slightly louder than the original, so maximum-volume evidence is positive but not unanimous.

Low and normal-volume listening is strong, with reviewers praising normal listening levels and one saying the speaker makes more sense below 50 percent volume.

The built-in microphone was valued as a useful call feature on a compact speaker, though reviews did not deeply assess microphone audio quality.

Multi-speaker pairing inspired low confidence because reviewers noted inactive Auracast support and warned against buying the speaker for future pairing promises.

Multipoint support was treated as a nice extra where mentioned, with the speaker able to remember multiple devices and use two at a time.

Omnidirectional performance was a weakness compared with 360-degree rivals, and one reviewer noted the experience changes depending on placement and listening angle.

One review praises the sound as bigger than the enclosure with a big, open character.

On-device controls were a clear strength, especially the Marshall joystick for playback, volume, and track changes.

The top-edge controls are easy to follow, supporting straightforward on-device operation.

One comparison review treated the missing power-bank function as a drawback against the Soundcore alternative.

Price/value opinions were mixed: some reviewers called it worth the premium or an excellent value, while others felt it was expensive for the output.

Price/value depends heavily on market: one review rejects the U.S. price, while another calls the £299 deal strong for a premium Bluetooth speaker.

Setup and pairing were praised as straightforward, with Bluetooth pairing described as quick, painless, and self-explanatory.

Setup and operation are simple, with reviewers describing the speaker as intentionally straightforward and easy to use.

Smart features were limited: reviewers acknowledged useful extras, but one summed up the package as not feature-packed.

Smart features are intentionally minimal: the no-app approach is refreshing, but the reviewer also calls it a limitation.

Status indicators were praised in one review for making remaining battery power easy to judge directly on the speaker.

Stereo cues are praised through stable separation and a clear left-right sense, though one review still criticizes the tonal balance.

USB-C charging is a weakness because the reviewer specifically notes the speaker does not charge over USB-C.

Overall value was disputed, ranging from excellent value and worth-the-money praise to concerns that cheaper rivals offer more output or stronger feature sets.

Value evidence is split: £299 is praised as worthwhile, but one reviewer calls the speaker among the worst values he has heard.

Voice and vocal clarity were repeatedly praised, with reviewers describing vocals as crystal clear, crisp, and easy to hear.

Vocal reproduction is supported by one review that describes the singer as smooth and instantly recognizable.

Water resistance was strongly praised for outdoor and poolside use, with reviewers saying the IP-rated body makes the speaker easier to take anywhere.

Water protection is a weakness across reviews: reviewers describe it as indoor-leaning, not beach-ready, and not IP/IPX rated.

Most reviewers found the weight acceptable for travel and outdoor use, though one noted the speaker has noticeable heft for its small size.

Portability is tempered by mass: reviewers call it heavy or brick-like even while praising its premium feel.

Wired input was a clear weakness: reviewers noted there is no wired audio or AUX input, limiting use with older or wired-only devices.

The AUX input is praised as a useful physical connection, especially for older or 3.5mm-equipped devices.