Marshall Uxbridge Voice
Stylish and powerful compact speaker
The little cabinet delivers the goods on sound quality
£170 FROM Marshall, marshallheadphones.com FEATURES AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast or Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth 4.2; 168x128x123mm, 1.4kg
The Marshall amp is a classic design, well known to rock fans with its sturdy wooden cabinet and distinctive front-panel grille. And, in recent years, the company has used that same design to add a touch of retro charm to its range of wireless smart speakers, with the Uxbridge Voice being the latest addition to the range.
Available in either black or white, the Uxbridge Voice is also available in two different versions that are designed for use with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant and Chromecast. However, both versions also support AirPlay 2, as well as Bluetooth, so they’re well suited for use with Macs and iOS devices as well. There’s no 3.5mm connector for wired audio though, and it’s a shame that the Uxbridge doesn’t support AptX or Apple’s AAC for Bluetooth, so you’ll need to use Wi-Fi to get the best sound quality.
It’s a very compact little speaker, standing just 168mm high, 128mm wide and 123mm deep. It’ll fit easily onto any shelf or table around your home, and that distinctive design really stands out, with the Uxbridge looking just like a miniature guitar amp. It’s very well built too, with a sturdy cabinet that weighs in at 1.4kg. But, despite the compact design, the Uxbridge isn’t portable, and requires mains power at all times.
Playing With AirPlay
You’ll need to use the Google or Amazon apps if you want to set the Uxbridge up for voice control, but AirPlay simplifies things for Mac and iOS device owners. Plug the Uxbridge in and it automatically shows up in the Wi-Fi settings panel of an iPad and you’ll be streaming music, from say a Tidal account, almost instantly.
That sturdy little cabinet delivers the goods on sound quality too, with a clear, detailed sound that works well with the multi-layered harmonies of Queen. There’s a nice, delicate touch on Damien Rice’s sad vocals and acoustic guitar on The Blower’s Daughter, but the 30W output is powerful enough to rock out should you switch to the more swaggering guitar type riffs of, for example, Junkie Walk by The Pretenders.
There are manual controls for volume, treble and bass that sit on the speaker’s top panel. The bass could be a little firmer perhaps, but that’s a lot to ask from such a compact speaker, and the Uxbridge really does pack an impressive punch for a speaker of this size. Our only real complaint is that it’s a little pricey – especially for Apple users who can get Siri voice control from the new HomePod Mini for just £99. But, if you’re a fan of the Marshall rock sound and that distinctive retro design, then the compact Uxbridge Voice will be a great choice for use in a kitchen or bedroom, or just sitting on your desk while you’re working.
Cliff Joseph