Marshall already sells a wide range of Bluetooth speakers, but its party speaker options were limited to the big and bigger models. The new Bromley 150 adds a smaller, more portable choice that still hits hard.
It stands about 12 inches tall and weighs 6.3kg. That is still a large speaker, but it is much smaller than the Bromley 450 and 750. Marshall built it to fill the gap between its regular Bluetooth speakers and its giant party models.
Marshall rates the battery at up to 40 hours. You also get a built-in light show and the brand’s vintage guitar amp styling. The price is high at nearly £400. I spent time listening to it to find out if it is worth your money.
Marshall Bromley 150 Full Specs
Marshall Bromley 150 Design
The Marshall Bromley 150 looks like Marshall’s other party speakers, only smaller. Think of a classic guitar amp, shrunk down. From the front it looks like a cube. It stands about 12 inches tall and 12 inches wide, with a depth of just 8.2 inches.
The top and sides have a leather-effect covering. The front has a mesh grille with a large brass Marshall logo in the middle. A brushed metal plate runs along the top of the grille. A red LED in the upper right corner shows your battery level.
Six knobs sit on the right-hand side. They control volume, bass, treble, and the microphone input effects. Each knob has a small red LED that shows its current level, as on Marshall’s other party speakers. It is a minor detail, but I like it.
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You also get a large backlit power switch, a mode switch, and a toggle for play, pause, and track skipping. There is a customisable M-button too, plus a button that cycles through the lighting effects.
The lights sit behind the mesh grille in a grid pattern. They glow warm white by default, which reminds me of Christmas tree lights. Every lighting mode reacts to the music. The effect catches the eye while you listen, and it does not look tacky.
A large flap on the left side hides a removable battery. It is about the size of an electric drill battery, and a burgundy fabric strap helps you pull it out.
I like this a lot. For a long session, you can bring a second battery instead of worrying about the internal one running out. It also helps the speaker last longer. If the original battery wears out, you can swap in a new one without any tools.
Another flap on the back covers the inputs. You get USB-C, AUX-in, AUX-out, and twin XLR ports for microphones or instruments. That is a good set of connections whether you want to perform or just throw a party.
The speaker is small, but it is heavy at 6.3kg. You will not want to carry it far. It has a built-in carry handle on top and two mounting points for a shoulder strap. Marshall does not include a strap, so you may need to borrow one from your guitar.
The Bromley 150 is not fully waterproof. It has an IP55 rating, so dust and splashes of water should not cause problems. You cannot submerge it. If heavy rain starts, bring it inside.
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The speaker feels fairly rugged. If you do damage it, Marshall is one of the few brands that sells spare parts on its website, so you can likely replace whatever gets dinged up.
I have loved the design of every Marshall party speaker so far, and this one is no different. It is smaller, which makes it even more charming. Rock ‘n’ roll fans will love it, and the satisfying, tactile controls might win over everyone else.
Marshall Bromley 150 Features
You can use the Marshall Bromley 150 with the Marshall Bluetooth app on Android and iOS. Treat the app as optional. It adds almost nothing to the physical controls. The only extras are customizing the M-button on the side and installing firmware updates.
Rival speakers usually give you more ways to adjust the EQ or change the lighting. This app covers basic settings only. You can use it like a wireless remote, but the speaker itself handles everything else.
There are three lighting modes. Each one shifts the front LEDs between warm white and cool white. The first mode fades the lights on and off slowly in a random pattern. The second flashes them in square grid patterns. The third draws stripes across the front panel in time with the beat.
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All three lighting modes react to the music, and they look good. They hit less hard than JBL’s PartyBox speakers, which are more colourful and in your face. I prefer Marshall’s all-white look, though. It feels classier.
Marshall rates the battery at up to 40 hours, and you can add a spare battery if you want one. With that rating, you probably will not need it. Loud volume and the lights will cut the battery life a lot. Even at half the claim, you still get 20 hours, which outlasts most parties.
I tested the speaker for over a week and charged it only once. You can also run it from the mains with the AC adapter in the box.
Marshall says 20 minutes on the charger gives you 5 hours of playback. A full charge from empty takes 3 hours. Keeping it topped up is easy.
If one speaker is not enough, the Bromley 150 supports Auracast. It can receive a Bluetooth signal from a compatible device and sync up wirelessly. You can also daisy-chain speakers with cables and link as many as you like.
There is no Wi-Fi. You do get twin XLR inputs, a 3.5mm input, and Bluetooth 5.3. That lets you connect the speaker to almost anything, including a laptop, DJ decks, or instruments.
Marshall Bromley 150 Sound Quality
The Bromley 150 is Marshall’s smallest party speaker so far, but it does not sound small. It gets loud, and it was more than I needed in my small terraced house. It has a 6.5-inch woofer, two 2-inch full-range drivers, and a large 7.5-inch passive radiator. For its size, the bass is very strong.
That surprised me, because bass was the main weakness I found on the Bromley 750. The 750 hits hard, but its sub-bass was unimpressive. This much smaller speaker makes up for it and adds the rumble I missed on the 750.
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I expected the opposite result. My best guess is the tuning. The 750 needs to be pushed hard before the low end shows up, while the 150 delivers it at lower volumes that suit listening at home.
EQ options are limited. You get bass and treble knobs on the side, and the app adds nothing more. The speaker sounds great by default, so it does not need much. It is still a sharp contrast to the Sony ULT Tower 5.
As you would expect from Marshall, it handles rock music very well. The mid-bass punches, the treble is crisp and clear, and the vocals sound forward and clean. What surprised me was how well it handles every genre. I played jazz, easy listening, metal, and dubstep, and all of it sounded great. The balance is good, and the extra low end helps a lot.
This is a single speaker, so it cannot give you the stereo effect of a hi-fi system. It does put out omnidirectional sound, like its larger sibling. You can place it in the middle of a room, and it still sounds good, even when you stand behind it.
The design suggests the best spot is in front of the mesh grille, but the sound is almost the same from the rear. Quality drops a little only when you stand at the side.
The Bromley 150 is less powerful than the bigger Bromley speakers. At max volume, it is still very loud. At home, I listened at about 75% volume without worrying about my hearing, and I cannot say that about some larger speakers I have tested.
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Whether it is loud enough depends on what you need. If you host big outdoor parties, you may want something larger. For 99% of people, this is more power than you will ever use.
Marshall Bromley 150 Verdict
Marshall’s smallest party speaker is also my favourite so far. For its size, it has a lot of power and bass. The battery lasts a long time, and no rival matches its design and build quality. It costs a lot, but if you want a speaker that looks as good as it sounds, you have to pay for it.
Pros |
Cons |
| Nice design, big, and bassy sound | EQ is super basic |
| Compact size and long battery life | Its expensive |
| Tactile controls |
Final Thoughts
The Bromley 150 is my favourite Marshall speaker so far. It delivers the same experience as Marshall’s bigger party speakers, and it somehow has even more bass. It is also easier to store and looks cute.
Fit and finish are top-notch. No one comes close to the looks and build quality of Marshall’s party speakers. The lighting effects look impressive without losing their class, and the black and brass finish matches that.
The sound is excellent too. Whatever genre you play, you get a good time. The bass hits hard and deep, the mids punch, the treble is crisp, and vocals sound fantastic.
The one downside is the price. In the UK, it costs £399.99, which is not cheap. The Sony ULT Tower 5 sells for about £50 less, and it is bigger, more powerful, and has more features. The JBL PartyBox 130 has the same story, and it currently sells for the same price as the Marshall.
Still, neither rival looks or feels as good as the Bromley 150. If you want a speaker that looks as good as it sounds, this is the price you pay. I think many people will agree it is worth the extra money.
