The best Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes and sizes, but few are as iconic and instantly recognizable as Marshall's speakers with their classic appeal.

Announced today (January 31), the Middleton portable speaker is available now and priced at $299/£269 (about A$427). The latest portable speaker to join Marshall's ranks, this midsize portable speaker joins the smaller Whelen portable speaker and the Emberton portable speaker.

With a design reminiscent of the original British Marshall guitar amplifiers popular in the 1960s, the Middleton features traditional Marshall signature motifs and brass-colored control knobs, echoing Marshall's live performance tradition.

The go-anywhere Middleton claims over 20 hours of playback time on a 4.5-hour charge, and can even keep a cell phone battery full. It is also IP67 dustproof and waterproof, and can be submerged in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes without sustaining damage from immersion.

In addition, according to Marshall, Middleton is made of 55% post-consumer recycled plastic and is completely PVC-free, giving Middleton a respectable eco-certificate.

As one would expect from a company that has built its reputation on professional speaker systems for live events, the Middleton is sturdy and practical enough to fill in between live festival sets or sit on a living room sideboard He says. And unlike higher-end portable models, it does not have a built-in carry strap; at 4.29 x 9.06 x 3.74 inches, it can easily be tossed into a travel bag or backpack without adding significantly to weight or taking up too much space.

Class D amplifiers, rated at 20 watts x 2 and 10 watts x 2, drive Middleton's quad speaker system, but the size of the drivers in the cabinet is not specified. As with Marshall's larger portable speakers, True Stereophonic, Marshall's proprietary multi-directional stereo sound, provides a 360-degree sense of presence wherever you are. It can be connected to other Middleton speakers to amplify the sound in stacked mode.

Bass, treble, and volume controls adorn the top of the speaker, while the built-in dynamic loudness adjusts the tonal balance to remain consistent no matter what level you are listening at.

Again, the Marshall Middleton portable speaker is priced at $299/£269 (about A$427) and is available now in black, cream, black and brass, and forest finishes.