Marshall Tufton Bluetooth Speaker Review: Large, bold rocker
"The Marshall Tufton is an accomplished party speaker and belongs to your next meeting."
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Beautiful authentic design
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Very solid construction
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Sounds great at high volumes
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Very good battery life
If you want a really good bluetooth speaker, there are many good options – and even more if you're not that picky. Most of these speakers are rather small and emphasize the personal but portable sound. If you want something with a little more power – a Bluetooth speaker that powers an entire terrace party as easily as mood music at home, your choices are much more limited.
One of these options is the Marshall Tufton, a $ 400 Bluetooth speaker that doesn't apologize for its main job: it's a serious party machine that strikes a fine line between performance and portability. Given the high price and some very capable competitors, is it the right Bluetooth speaker for your next meeting? We put it to the test to find out.
Classic design
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The Marshall brand is of course best known for its legendary guitar amps and speaker stacks that have shaped the stages and garages of the music world for decades. When the British brand entered the personal audio sector, it naturally retained this appearance and gave its products an authenticity that few other companies can claim. I've always liked the look, but smaller products like headphones lack the same presence of live music equipment.
That's why I love the tufton. As a large Bluetooth speaker (over a meter tall), it can use the Marshall design legacy in a way that few other personal Marshall audio products can. From its crisscross metal grille with the italic Marshall logo to the textured body surfaces and top-mounted knobs, it's the best you can get from a real Marshall amplifier. Some people who saw me with it asked if it was a small guitar amp.
I am also a big fan of the internal power supply. You shouldn't have to carry a large power stone around with you when you drive off, and the tufton doesn't make you. A simple and easily replaceable 2-pin power cord is all you need.
Built like a brick …
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These classic Marshall design features are not just cosmetic. The tufton is big, heavy and very solid. At just over 10 pounds, you don't want to carry this beast long distances, although the leather-like detachable strap is ideal for that.
One has the impression that one could take the tufton almost anywhere and it would survive well.
This weight is the result of four separate amplifiers that power four separate drivers, a battery, a built-in power supply, and some apparently very robust materials in the cabinet walls.
With corners that are protected by rounded plastic end caps and a set of solid rubber feet, you get the impression that you could take the tufton almost anywhere and it would survive well. It even has low water protection: An IPX2 rating means that you don't have to fear the occasional encounter with rain – just don't make it a habit and definitely try not to spill your beer on it everywhere.
Do one thing and do it well
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Everything about the Marshall Tufton indicates that he is primarily and exclusively a speaker. You can choose between Bluetooth (with aptX if your device supports it) or a 3.5mm line-in connection on the back, but that's all for you. You will not find a USB port to play music from a USB stick or to charge your phone. There is no microphone that could turn the tufton into a large speakerphone.
For those who yearn for an easier time without sacrificing today's amenities, the Marshall Tufton is a dream come true.
You won't even find the play / pause button, which has become almost universal in the world of Bluetooth speakers. What you will find are three old school controls for power / volume, bass and treble. They turn with perfect resistance. I don't know if something really analog is going on beneath the surface, but Marshall has mimicked the feel of a real analog speaker so well that I just don't care.
Pairing the Tufton with your device couldn't be easier. If the speaker doesn't switch to Bluetooth pairing mode the first time you turn it on, just press and hold the corresponding Bluetooth button for 3 seconds and the speaker will appear in your list of Bluetooth devices. Tap on it and you're done. You can use the same button to switch to using the line-in input.
Marshall claims only 30 feet of radio operation for the Tufton, but I was able to walk over 100 feet from the speaker outdoors and the music continued to play on my iPhone 11.
The rechargeable battery of the Tufton is suitable for an alleged operating time of 20 hours. As far as I can see, this is about right. However, expect to get less of it if you use the full volume.
For those who yearn for an easier time without sacrificing today's amenities, the Marshall Tufton is a dream come true.
More power than precision
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Given the visual similarity of the Tufton to Marshall's live music devices, its audio chops are best appreciated in spacious rooms. It can get remarkably loud. Loud enough to make neighbors you haven't invited aware of what a good time you are having. This is done without any signs of distortion or unwanted vibrations in the housing up to the maximum setting.
With a total output of 80 watts, it just gets louder and sounds better at higher volumes than with the Sonos Move.
With the bass and treble controls set to the midpoints, the tufton creates a good balance between lows, mids and highs. The bass is as full and sovereign as you would expect from a cabinet of this size, which is equipped with a generous reflex connection for air movements. But this bass never overwhelms and can be easily adjusted to your liking with the bass button. The vocals are crisp and clear, and the tufa prevents them from getting hard at higher volumes, which is often the case with fewer speakers.
Thanks to the dedicated rear-end full-range driver, the Tufton has an admirable 360-degree coverage. The front certainly sounds better, but not as much as you'd think if you just looked at it. Unfortunately, this arrangement does not add much to the stereo separation. Not that a single speaker would ever make excellent stereo – especially a speaker with a high rectangle – but it is something to be aware of.
I compared the Marshall Tufton to the similarly expensive and similarly equipped Sonos Move for $ 399. Both are designed for use on the street and provide large, open spaces with plenty of full-range sound, but the tufa completely outperforms the move outdoors. With a total output of 80 watts, it just gets louder and sounds better at higher volumes than the Sonos.
If you take these two wireless speakers with you, the script will be flipped. The Sonos Move with its integrated AutoTrueplay EQ system has a deeper and wider sound stage than the Tufton. This is noticeable when both speakers use Bluetooth. Switching the Move to Wi-Fi and adding a lossless audio source like HiFi streaming music from Tidal will make it even clearer.
Jazz standards by artists like John Coltrane and Miles Davis are allowed to breathe through the move in a way that the tufton with its trend-setting and more closed design simply cannot cope with.
Is that a deal breaker? Barely. However, potential Marshall Tufton buyers should know that they are getting an accomplished block rocker, not a precision instrument for critical listening.
Our opinion
With tons of portable energy and a no-frills design that exudes Rock & # 39; roll authenticity, the Marshall Tufton is a great Bluetooth party speaker that you can take anywhere. As long as you don't expect this classic muscle car of a speaker to sound like a hi-fi home system, it will impress those who want to inspire a lot.
Is there a better alternative?
There are several great alternatives to the $ 400 Marshall Tufton, including the $ 399 Sonos move and the $ 400 Ultimate Ears hyperboom. Each has its strengths: The Move is a chameleon that effortlessly switches between wireless home hi-fi speakers and party mode, while the Hyperboom is a bass-heavy beach and pool companion with many connections. But neither have the raw power of Tufton nor its retro charm, which in our opinion makes it a class of its own. To get a more capable crowd-puller, you have to watch heavyweights like the $ 900 Soundboks 2.
How long it will take?
The Marshall Tufton looks very good and I expect it to last a long time if you don't abuse it. The manufacturer's warranty is only one year, which is less than a few (Logitech gives a two-year warranty on the Hyperboom). However, the biggest limitation to the longevity of Bluetooth speakers is the battery. The tuft is not user replaceable. When he's done, he's done. It is worth noting that the Sonos Move battery can be replaced by the user.
Should you buy it
If you are proud to be the person who always brings the music, the Marshall Tufton is your Bluetooth speaker. It sounds great and looks great. If you agree with the almost spartan lack of features and the relatively expensive price, you will indeed be very happy.
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