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'

'It needs to work as a social lubricator'

06 Apr 2026, 10:00 by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/harry-padoan · TechRadar

Features By Harry Padoan published 6 April 2026

(Image credit: Future)

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I’ve tested more than 40 Bluetooth speakers during my time here at TechRadar, and I always get most excited to test the party speakers. They’re 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”. It’s 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 that’s 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

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.

Standing out in a homogenous market

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall’s 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”.

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