[First Time in Japan] Inside Report on the Marshall Roundtable - The Appeal of the Latest Speaker [Middleton II]

In late July, the first-ever roundtable in Japan by the Marshall Group was held in Akasaka, Tokyo. A product representative took the stage, sharing valuable insights into the brand’s history and dedication to their products.

This article will cover the highlights from the event, along with a hands-on review of the newly released portable speaker Middleton II, which debuted on July 25, 2025.

Marshall Speakers Draw You in With That Classical Design

The exhibition space at the venue was lined with Marshall speakers, headphones, and more, creating an immersive environment that showcased the brand’s unique worldview.

For guitarists, the color scheme of Marshall—black and gold—has become firmly established.

However, when it comes to speakers, you’ll notice that many models have a calmer color palette and a classical aesthetic that differ from the traditional Marshall look.
These amps convey a different kind of beauty compared to guitar amps, with designs that naturally blend into interior spaces and leave a lasting impression.

Marshall's Past and Future as Discussed at the Roundtable

From left: Mr. Kumazawa (KanJitsu Denki Co., Ltd.), Mr. Ushizawa (Marshall Group), Mr. Iimura (Marshall Group)

At the roundtable, three speakers took the stage: Mr. Ushizawa and Mr. Iimura from the Marshall Group, and Mr. Kumazawa from KanJitsu Denki Co., Ltd., the official distributor of Marshall in Japan.
Mr. Ushizawa and Mr. Iimura shared behind-the-scenes stories of development and their passion for the latest models, while Mr. Kumazawa showcased the products’ appeal through Q&A sessions and one-on-one interactions.

Unstoppable Love for Marshall! Mr. Ushizawa’s Firsthand Accounts

Mr. Ushizawa is known for writing the “Marshall Blog” and is also active as a gear technician for various artists and as a corporate trainer for new employees.
At the roundtable, he gave a detailed explanation of Marshall’s history and the charm of their guitar amps.
Speaking from a guitarist’s perspective, he generously shared valuable insights into the history of Marshall amps, artists’ live gear setups, and even amplifier design.

The reason Marshall’s founder, Jim Marshall, began making amplifiers was apparently due to a request from The Who’s guitarist, Pete Townshend: “Music in the world is changing. Could you make an affordable guitar amp that suits this new kind of music?” At the time, the popular Fender amps were imported and very expensive, which also played a role in the birth of the Marshall amp.

Later, artists such as Deep Purple, who performed as a demo band for Marshall amps, and others who created music that only Marshall amps could express, helped Marshall quickly to climb the top of the guitar amp market and grow into a global brand.

Incidentally, the first person to use a Marshall amp in the United States was Roy Orbison, known for “Oh, Pretty Woman”.

Mr. Ushizawa’s stories captivated the audience when he spoke about his real experiences in a friendly tone. His talk drew the audience in completely with his small anecdotes to major episodes.

Iimura's Explanation Let the Audience Experience the Product Evolution Through Sound

Mr. Iimura was in charge of explaining the current state and future outlook of Marshall Group, as well as introducing the latest model, the “Middleton II.”

Marshall began its “lifestyle product” business—offering wireless headphones and speakers—back in 2010, when it entered into a licensing agreement with Sweden’s Zound Industries. Later, in 2023, the two companies merged, marking the beginning of unified brand development under the name “Marshall Group,” which continues to this day.

While Mr. Iimura acknowledged that Marshall Group’s history is still relatively short, he expressed his enthusiasm by saying, “We intend to lead in areas like music, culture, and lifestyle.”

Currently, Marshall Group operates a diversified business. When looking at the sales ratio, guitar amps account for about 7% of the total, whereas lifestyle products make up over 90%. These numbers clearly reflect what “today’s Marshall” represents.

Next, Iimura explained how the sound of the Middleton II has evolved compared to its predecessor, the original Middleton.

To get straight to the point, the Middleton II delivers a well-balanced sound overall.

When a song by a Western band prepared for listening was played at high volume, the original Middleton emphasized cymbals and produced a somewhat flashy, sizzling sound that stood out in the mix. In contrast, the Middleton II delivered solid bass, and the vocals and instruments blended together into a pleasant, cohesive musical experience. Perhaps thanks to its unique omnidirectional sound feature, the sense of spatial spread was also impressive.

I was first surprised by how clearly the already well-regarded sound quality of the Middleton had improved. But more than that, I was genuinely moved by the realization that anyone can enjoy such amazing sound anywhere!

The Appeal of Marshall Speakers Revealed by Trying the Latest Models

After the roundtable, I had the chance to actually experience the displayed products.

Each model offered top-class sound quality in its price range, making listening to music really enjoyable. The ability to connect with a dedicated smartphone app to enhance operability is a feature unique to modern products.

What personally excited me while operating them were the “Acton III" and "KILBURN III." They have a user interface close to that of Marshall amps, making them very familiar and easy to handle. These speakers made me want to operate them by hand rather than using a smartphone. The analog feel of turning the knobs was irresistible.

Regarding the sound quality of the "Middleton II" that I mentioned earlier, what remains a concern is its operability. Like its predecessor model, the Middleton II has control buttons arranged on the top of the main unit. The major change is that the buttons now have power and Bluetooth symbols engraved on them. This makes the functions of the buttons immediately clear, enabling more intuitive operation.

Additionally, the battery performance has greatly improved, allowing for up to 30 hours of portable playback. Even when the battery runs out, a quick 20-minute charge provides up to 5 hours of use.

Other notable features of the Middleton II include its ability to function as a portable charger and to make hands-free calls using the built-in microphone, making it more than just a simple portable speaker.

— Sound, Functionality, and Appearance —

The three perfect elements of Marshall’s lifestyle products.
Through this roundtable discussion, I once again realized the appeal of Marshall’s lifestyle products. Among them, the speakers not only have excellent sound quality but also excel in functionality and design that pack an irresistible charm that makes you want to keep one close at hand.

Everyone, I hope all of you will experience the appeal of Marshall’s lifestyle products for yourselves.

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