The Uxbridge is undeniably gorgeous, but does it surpass simply being quirky eye-candy for gig-going fans? We find out.
Design & Build – Amp it up
The Marshall Uxbridge is a statement piece.
Across the front, you get a woven grill cloth, much like you would on an actual amp – fully emblazoned with the iconic Marshall logo, while four short legs keep the unit sturdy.
At the top of the Uxbridge, you’ll find the volume as well as bass and treble rockers, all in an attractive copper finish. These are joined by a Play/Pause button and a mic mute button. Surprisingly, Marshall put the Bluetooth button on the back of the device, where you may expect a power switch – however, there isn’t a power switch. The only way to turn it off is to unplug it. It’s no doubt a conscious decision that Marshall wants you to have the speaker on at all times, with Alexa (or Google) always on stand-by (more on Alexa below).
On that note, the Uxbridge operates only from the power mains, so it’s not intended to be portable. In fact, at 1.39kg it outweighs both the Echo 3 (780g) and Google Home (477g), which are lithe in comparison.
If you prefer portability, Marshall offers the Stockwell II, Kilburn II and Tufton II – though these lack smart functionality. For a battery-powered speaker, the waterproof Marshall Emberton packs 20 hours of battery life and 360-degree sound. See Marshall’s full speaker collection.
Also see our shortlist of the best Bluetooth speakers of 2020
Along the Uxbridge’s base, you’ll find four LED lights similar to what you would find on an Echo device. These sit on a brushed copper panel and indicate levels – whether that’s volume, bass, or treble. The lights also turn blue when Alexa is active.
Connectivity
Marshall Voice App
Setting up the Uxbridge was straightforward. You’ll need to install the Marshall Voice app (free on Android and iOS) and connect to the speaker via Bluetooth. The Uxbridge offers Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, so you can only connect to one device at a time.
While you don’t need the Marshall Voice app to use the speaker once it’s set up, you do need for in-app equalization (for this you’ll need to stay connected to the Uxbridge via Bluetooth).
Once Alexa is connected via the Alexa app, you don’t need to configure it again – it is available as soon as you plug in the speaker. Again, if you prefer the Google ecosystem, there’s also an Uxbridge with Google Assistant.
In terms of Alexa’s performance, I had to speak loud and clear for a response. Alexa doesn’t always understand what you mean and will rattle on to a misunderstood question. It helps to speak slowly and to pause after calling Alexa before asking a question.
Keep in mind the Uxbridge is a multi-room speaker so you can buy one for each room of the house to save you from having to bark orders.
If you only ever use one Uxbridge, it’s clear Marshall wants you to use it from within the same room. The speaker is meant for enjoying an album while lounging in the living room, or streaming playlists to entertain guests. As a smart speaker, you don’t need to be tethered to your phone via Bluetooth, so anyone in the room can request what plays next.
Audio quality – All about the bass
The Uxbridge’s 54Hz – 20,000Hz frequency range is slightly shorter than your average loudspeaker’s range of 45Hz – 20,000Hz, but the sound it delivers is incredibly clear and warm.
The low range is particularly impressive. The bass resonates with a velvety smoothness, without suffocating the trebles and middle – which means vocals aren’t drowned out but complemented. The result is rich, room-filling audio.
While the range sits mostly in the bass and middle, you can easily boost the trebles using the rockers at the top of the speaker. For more delicate tuning, you can go into the Marshall Voice app, which includes presets for various genres including spoken for podcast fans.
With this level of customisation, the Uxbridge can handle almost any genre you throw at it – though unlike rock, reggae, or pop which often feature a driving bass, softer genres like piano or classical can sound slightly muted.
Marshall hasn’t revealed much about the size of its driver apart from it being a 30W Class D amplifier for the woofer and tweeter, but the speaker is undeniably loud, gaining a maximum volume of 96 dB. There is mild distortion in the upper range when the Uxbridge is on blast, but you will never need to listen to it that loud.
Price and Availability
Marshall also makes a version with Google Assistant at the same price, also available in both black and white.
The price puts it in a similar range as the Sonos One (£199/$199) which remains one of the best smart speakers around. The Sonos One offers both Alexa and Google Assistant support, so you’re not tied to one ecosystem at the point of purchase. There are of course cheaper smart speakers available too, but what you pay for with the Marshall is the design and easily customisable sound.
Verdict
The Uxbridge is impressive. Marshall backs the speaker’s iconic look with great sound, keeping it from being just an amusing novelty with passable audio.
If instead, you want a speaker that packs personality and powerful sound and is sure to impress friends with an iconic look, you can’t go wrong with the Marshall.
Somrata researches and writes about the best tech deals to help readers make smart, informed buying decisions. She’s an expert on accessories and also reviews laptops, phones, audio and other devices.
