Hip to be square: Marshall packed a whole lot of power, panache and pizzazz into its smallest party speaker yet — and yes, it looks good on the dance floor

Take the party on the move

Marshall Bromley 150 on table against pink background
(Image credit: © Future)

TechRadar Verdict

The Marshall Bromley 150 is a great party speaker that packs in an awful lot of power for its size, with exceptional bass, clear mids, and expressive highs. Its 360-degree sound is a delight, as is its excellent build quality and lighting. Its companion app feels underbaked and its price is undoubtedly steep, but sonically it’s still among the best portable party speakers on the market.

Reasons to buy

  • +

    Stunning design and build quality

  • +

    Exceptional bass output

  • +

    Tasteful, customizable lighting

Reasons to avoid

  • -

    Thin companion app

  • -

    Mids could be a little more articulate

  • -

    No LDAC as seen on other Marshall speakers

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Marshall Bromley 150 review

The Marshall Bromley 150 is the newest, and smallest model in its line, packing party-ready sound into a compact cube-shaped cabinet. Despite its diminutive stature, this Bluetooth speaker is pretty mighty, boasting a 200W power output with a single woofer and dual full-range drivers. But is it any good?

Well, I’ve spent many an hour putting the Marshall Bromley 150 through its paces, listening to countless tunes, messing around with its various features, and testing out its stage-inspired lighting. So here’s how I’d rate it after extensive use.

I’ve been really impressed with Marshall’s Bromley models to date, which easily compete with some of the best Bluetooth speakers around. They’ve provided ultra-deep, punchy bass that never subdues other sounds along the frequency range, look absolutely spectacular, and have great battery life to boot. And the Bromley 150 is no different.

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Man pressing the power button on the Marshall Bromley 150

(Image credit: Future)

Let’s start with sound quality. As you might expect from a party speaker (although it's not always a given), the Bromley 150’s low-end output is the main event. It provides the sort of bass that you feel in your soul — it's deliciously rich, palpable, and almost earth-shaking. And for a speaker of this size, that's impressive.

For instance, when tuning into Cowboy Killer by Kyle Walker and Nate Katz, deep bass hit with tremendous impact while remaining regimented, resulting in a powerful yet controlled listening experience. Even then, the raw power of the Bromley 150’s dynamic bass didn’t come at the expense of sounds elsewhere in the frequency range — higher-pitched drums were precise and expressive and keys in the mid-range were well-defined and clear in the mix.

Even tracks with rippling sub bass translated beautifully onto the Marshall Bromley 150. It can extend down to 42Hz, and handles the lowest frequencies with immense confidence, producing full-sounding low-end audio.

With more vocal-heavy tracks, the Bromley 150 continues to perform well. In Black Eye by Allie X, vocals were clear in the mix and drums in the treble sounded pleasantly forward, with a satisfyingly rapid decay for an energized, refined sound. I’d argue that vocals in the mid-range lacked the texture and detail that I’ve heard from some speakers at this price-point, though.

When I listened to some funk tracks, I similarly felt that electric guitars didn’t always sound as well-separated and defined as I’ve experienced elsewhere. But mids are still weighted nicely, and certainly sound clean and clear. There’s also no LDAC on board for higher-res Bluetooth listening — something that featured on the Marshall Acton IV and Marshall Stanmore IV. But then again, this is a party speaker, so the focus is understandably more on impact than insight.

One more note on sound. Marshall has continued to wow me with its True Stereophonic 360-degree sound, and this works well even on the small Bromley 150, with its impressive bass output and clean highs being retained, even from the rear or the side. This works even better here than on some larger rivals I’ve tested, like Sony’s ULT Tower 7, for instance.

Man holding phone with Marshall Bluetooth app in front of the Marshall Bromley 150

(Image credit: Future)

Anyway, let’s move onto the next big attraction: the Bromley 150’s design. The Bromley 150 is a true beauty. It has an amp-inspired aesthetic, with quality faux-leather, stunning golden details, and premium-feeling control knobs. It also feels really robust and hardy, and comes with an IP55 rating, protecting it against high-pressure jets of water and dust ingress — that’s above average for a party speaker of this ilk.

The stage-light-style LEDs are to die for as well. They look so much classier than the RGB LEDs you’ll see on most party speakers, and mirror the deluxe aura of the Bromley 150 to perfection. Marshall has told me in the past that it considered leaving lights out of its party speakers entirely, as it wasn’t sure if it would suit the luxurious vibe it wanted to show off. But I’m glad they found a solution. There are various modes you can choose between too, and if you want to conserve battery life, you can switch them off entirely.

On top of that, the Bromley 150 is far smaller and lighter than its sibling models, and has a luxurious built-in handle that makes it very easy to take from A to B. While it could easily be a statement piece you could leave in your apartment or living room, being able to easily take it outdoors or on the go is a big bonus.

When it comes to features, the Bromley 150 hits most of the right notes too. First of all, it has an impeccable battery life of 40 hours, which will get you through multiple parties with ease. The battery is also fully replaceable and easy to remove — in fact multiple parts are replaceable, which only adds to the longevity of this speaker.

Other features such as Auracast connectivity for multi-speaker pairing and mic inputs for instrument or karaoke sessions are also most welcome, and make the speaker into a versatile party machine. There are a few other inputs, including USB-C and 3.5mm if you want to experience lossless audio. It would’ve been great to see RCA on the Bromley 150 for DJ controllers and turntables, though, especially as this was on the larger Bromley models.

My biggest gripe with this speaker, though, is its underwhelming companion app. This model is still using the old Marshall Bluetooth companion software, and it’s simply too basic. Here, you can tune into an Auracast broadcast, customize the M-button (to display stroboscope lighting, activate low volume mode, or do nothing), and set a power off timer… but that’s all.

You can’t make any alterations remotely to EQ, despite there being physical bass and treble dials and no way to alter effects for karaoke or instruments, meaning you always have to be by the speaker to make changes. The lack of depth is a bit disappointing, and I’m hoping this will be addressed in the future, potentially by migrating this model onto the more advanced Marshall app, used by the Marshall Heston 120 and Marshall Heston 60 soundbars, as well as the Homeline speakers.

The major question is, however, is the Marshall Bromley 150 worth the money? Well, I have to be honest and tell you that this is an expensive Bluetooth speaker. It comes in at $499.99 / £399.99 / AU$699 — more than you’d pay for significantly more powerful models like the Sony ULT Tower 5, for instance. However, I think it still earns its price-tag overall.

This is a premium product, not just in its sound, but in its design. Yes, you’re paying for a party speaker, but this is a statement piece in equal parts. It performs fantastically well across the board, and with replicable parts, this speaker is an investment that should serve you well for many years to come. If you want great sound at a more affordable price-point, you really can’t go wrong with the Sony ULT Tower 5, but for a compact party speaker that’s oozing with style, then the Marshall Bromley 150 is the ideal pick.

Marshall logo on the Marshall Bromley 150

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Bromley 150 review: price & release date

  • Priced at $499.99 / £399.99 / AU$699
  • Released in October 2026

The Marshall Bromley 150 was released in October 2026, just over one year after Marshall launched its first ever party speaker, the Bromley 750. It has a list price of $499.99 / £399.99 / AU$699, meaning it firmly sits in the premium category for a speaker of this size. By comparison the much larger and more powerful Sony ULT Tower 5 is $50 / £50 / AU$150 cheaper than this model, so you’re paying a bit of a premium for the Bromley 150’s deluxe build.

Marshall Bromley 150 review: specs

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Weight

13.9lbs / 6.3kg

Dimensions

11.4 x 8.2 x 11.7 inches / 290 x 208 x 297mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm (in and out), USB-C, 2x XLR/6.35mm combo jacks

Battery life

40 hours

Speaker drivers

1x 6.5-inch woofer, 2x 2-inch full-range

Waterproofing

IP55

Ports on the reverse side of the Marshall Bromley 150

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Marshall Bromley 150?

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Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Great battery life, solid connectivity options, but the app is weak.

4/5

Performance

Mesmerizing bass, solid mids and articulate highs, plus great 360-degree sound.

4.5/5

Design

Stunning looks with gorgeous lights and good IP55 rating, easy to transport around.

5/5

Value

Undoubtedly expensive for its size, but luxurious build and great audio work in its favor.

4/5

Buy it if…

You’re looking for highly portable party sound
The Bromley 150 produces incredibly powerful, weight sound, but it’s far lighter and smaller than the Bromley 450 and 750, and is incredibly easy to transport around thanks to its neat carry handle.

You want a lavish-looking speaker
Arguably the best thing about the Marshall Bromley 150 is its staggeringly good looks. Its amp-inspired aesthetic, golden details, and classy lights make it feel just as much of a statement piece as it is a party speaker.

Don’t buy it if…

You’d like a convenient control app
The Marshall Bluetooth app is an underwhelming companion for the Bromley 150. It doesn’t have built-in EQ tweaking or light controls, so there are very few changes that you can make on the fly if you’re not right next to the speaker.

You want to get the best possible bang for your buck
While the luxury of the Bromley 150 helps it to earn its price overall, you can get more powerful sound at this cost. For instance, the recently released Sony ULT Tower 5 is far meatier, offers exceptional sound and connectivity options, and has some pretty appealing lighting of its own.

Marshall Bromley 150 review: also consider

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Header Cell - Column 0

Marshall Bromley 150

Sony ULT Tower 5

JBL Xtreme 5

Price

$499.99 / £399.99 / AU$699

$449.99 / £349 / AU$549

$399.95 / £329.99 (about AU$560)

Weight

13.9lbs / 6.3kg

28lbs / 12.7kg

6.4lbs / 2.9kg

Dimensions

11.4 x 8.2 x 11.7 inches / 290 x 208 x 297mm

14.1 x 21 x 11 inches / 358 x 534 x 280mm

13.6 x 6.5 x 6.1 inches / 346 x 165 x 155mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm (in and out), USB-C, 2x XLR/6.35mm combo jacks

Bluetooth 5.3, RCA, XLR (in and out), USB-A, USB-C, mic input (6.3mm)

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Battery life

40 hours

20 hours

24 hours (28 hours with PlayTime Boost active)

Speaker drivers

1x 6.5-inch woofer, 2x 2-inch full-range

1x 230mm woofer, 2x 60mm tweeters

1x 90W woofer, 2x 20W tweeters (AC power mode)

Waterproofing

IP55

IPX4

IP68

Sony ULT Tower 5
This is a considerably larger model than the Marshall Bromley 150, but it’s actually cheaper. The ULT Tower 5 is an exceptional party speaker that provides palpable bass, no end of connectivity options, and a sleek design. It may not look as luxurious as the Bromley 150 or have quite as good battery life or waterproofing, but for pure sound-for-pound value, it’s unbeatable. Read my full Sony ULT Tower 5 review.

JBL Xtreme 5
While the JBL Xtreme 5 isn’t quite as mighty as the Bromley 150, it still delivers powerful, refined sound while also providing the benefits of an ultra-rugged design. That’s right, you’re getting excellent IP68 dust and waterproofing, a drop-proof build, and a neat carry strap for carrying the speaker about. It can’t compare in terms of battery life or connectivity options, however. Read my full JBL Xtreme 5 review.

How I tested the Marshall Bromley 150

Man turning dial on the Marshall Bromley 150

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested at our music testing space at Future Labs
  • Mainly streamed tunes over Tidal
  • I have tested and reviewed more than 60 Bluetooth speakers

I spent many hours blasting tunes on the Marshall Bromley 150, and spent the vast majority of my time assessing its qualities in our music testing space at Future Labs.

For the most part, I streamed tunes over Bluetooth via Tidal on my Xiaomi 17 phone. However, I also tried out a wired connection as well as Auracast functionality. I commenced testing by sifting through the TechRadar reference playlist, which includes songs from a wide variety of genres, but I also listened to hours worth of tracks from my personal library.

More generally, I’ve been testing audio gear for years here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve tested more than 60 Bluetooth speakers, including other Marshall party speakers, such as the Marshall Bromley 750 and 450, and rivals like the Sony ULT Tower 5.

Harry Padoan
Senior Writer, Reviews

Harry is a Senior Reviews Writer for TechRadar. He reviews everything from party speakers to wall chargers and has a particular interest in the worlds of audio and gaming. Harry has a background in business tech journalism, particularly around the telecoms industry.

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