7 days ago
A British Hi-Fi Great Just Gave Its Signature Speaker a Standout Upgrade
After seven years, the renowned audio brand has finally released a new version of its popular speaker.
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Marshall is best known for its iconic guitar amplifiers. So much so that in recent years, the legendary British audio maker has introduced new-age wireless speakers modeled after their likeness.
They have a similar black and gold design, with faux leather finish and tactile metal knobs, and the brand's signature logo prominently displayed on the front.
Today, Marshall's wireless speakers cover the bases. They come in a range of sizes, with some models being powered and others being portable. The Kilburn is one of its largest portable Bluetooth speakers.
And now, with the release of the third-generation Kilburn, it has made one of its best summer-ready speakers even better.
The Kilburn III has been long overdue. It's a new and improved version of the Kilburn II, which was released all the way back in 2018.
And while Marshall hasn't strayed too far in the looks department — it's virtually the same size, weighing just under seven pounds, and, just like before, looks like a miniature amplifier — it has been upgraded in several key ways.
In the company's press release, Hanna Wallner, a product Manager at Marshall Speakers, claims that the Kilburn III is a 'remarkable upgrade' over the Kilburn II.
The Kilburn III has a completely reengineered acoustic design, according to the brand. It features three drivers — a pair of two-inch full-range drivers and a 4-inch woofer — that are each powered by their own 30-watt Class D amplifier.
Additionally, the speaker supports Marshall's 360-degree True Stereophonic. This proprietary spatial audio technology enables the Kilburn III to deliver a more immersive sound with, according to the brand, 'no blind spots.'
Like its predecessor (and other Marshall speakers), the Kilburn III has numerous tactile knobs and buttons on its top control panel that allows you to tweak the EQ and customize its sound.
Given that its predecessor was released seven years ago, the Kilburn III has naturally been improved in a lot of subtle ways — the most notable of which is its battery life.
Marshall says that the Kilburn III is rated for over 50 hours of playtime, which is twice as long-lasting as the Kilburn II (and, if we're being honest, longer-lasting than most similarly sized portable speakers).
Notably, the Kilburn also features a rugged design. It now has an IP56 rating, meaning it's more suitable for use near water, such as the pool or beach.
And like many of its more recent speakers, Marshall now offers the Kilburn III in black or cream finishes … it was previously only available in black.
Marshall's Kilburn III portable Bluetooth speaker is available now from the company's website. It costs $380.
The Kilburn III comes in two different finishes, black or cream.
$380 at Marshall
Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol's editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.
