Marshall Kilburn III Review: A Timeless Speaker with a Modern Power Bank

Marshall recently sent over their Kilburn III (in cream colour) speaker for me to check out (there’s also a new brown finish) , and it marks the first time I have had one of their products on my desk to test.

If you are a fan of that classic rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic, this speaker absolutely nails it. It looks like a miniature guitar amp, complete with a velvet-lined carrying strap and tactile control knobs that feel great to use. It is definitely one of those rare tech pieces that looks timeless enough to fit into any room, and the wife was definitely a fan of the design.

Founded in 1962 in London, England, Marshall originally began as a small drum shop before Jim Marshall started building the iconic amplifiers that would define the sound of rock ‘n’ roll. Today, the Marshall Group has evolved into a global audio and tech company based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Unboxing the Killburn III

Here’s an unboxing of the Killburn III for those interested:

Included is a USB-C cable and quick start guide. It’s ready to go out of the box and once you pair the speaker to your phone and download the Marshall app, there’s an over-the-air software update you can install.

Hands-On Performance

Using it is straightforward and satisfying because, instead of fumbling with touch controls, you get physical dials to tweak your volume, bass, and treble. There are also dedicated buttons for power and playback, plus a handy M-button that acts as a shortcut to equalizer presets (which you configure in the app). A clear LED bar on top keeps you updated on the battery life, which is a major highlight here. This unit is rated for over 50 hours of playtime, which is more than double its predecessor. No issues over here after charging this thing up to 100% as it seemed to have days of playback without running out of juice.

The sound easily filled the room, offering a blend of crisp highs and enough punchy bass to satisfy most listeners, especially on rock-heavy tracks. Even when I cranked the volume, the Dynamic Loudness feature automatically balanced the output to ensure the audio did not get muddy or distorted. It also features 360° True Stereophonic sound, which created a surprisingly wide soundstage that felt like it was coming from everywhere in the room, regardless of where I was standing.

I spent some time listening to the Kilburn III back-to-back with my Sonos Move 2, and the trade-offs are pretty clear. The Sonos retails for $649 CAD (it’s on sale right now for $519 CAD), and you can hear where that extra money goes when it comes to the finesse of the audio. Vocals are noticeably crisper and more balanced on the Move 2, which makes it my go-to for sitting down and actually listening to an album.

However, the Kilburn III has a completely different energy. While the Sonos feels more directional, the Marshall fills the room from every angle. Its 360 degree sound makes it feel like the music is coming from all sides, which is exactly what you want if you are hosting a party or moving around the house.

Then there is the cool factor. While the Sonos has that clean, minimalist look that blends into the background, the Marshall is a total standout. Its mini guitar amp aesthetic, complete with the brass dials and velvet strap, is just cooler than the more vanilla design of the Sonos. It is a speaker that people actually stop and ask you about, which is a big part of the appeal at this price point. Battery life wise, the Sonos is up to 24 hours only so it’s not as long as the 50 in the Kilburn III.

The Practical Details

At 2.8 kg, it has some heft to it, but the carrying strap makes it easy to move from the kitchen to the balcony. It is also useful as there is a charging bank feature via the USB-C port to charge your phone (and anything else), plus it has an IP54 rating so it’s immune to some light spills.

On the downside, the lack of Apple AirPlay support is a notable omission for a premium device in 2026, especially given the $479.99 Canadian price tag. However, if you want a speaker that acts as a genuine conversation starter and can get incredibly loud without breaking a sweat, the Kilburn III is one to consider.