The Marshall Emberton Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a small speaker designed for listening to music. Its balanced mid and treble ranges help reproduce clear and present vocals and lead instruments, and there's a bit of extra boom and warmth in the bass range, making it suitable for lots of different audio content. That said, like many of the small speakers we've tested, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass, making it less than ideal for bass-heavy music genres like hip-hop or EDM. It doesn't offer any sound customization options, either. However, it's very portable, and it has an IPX7 rating for water resistance that certifies it to be immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
Our Verdict
The Marshall Emberton is fair for music. This stereo speaker has an amazing soundstage, so you feel immersed in your favorite songs. Its balanced mid and treble ranges help reproduce clear and present vocals and lead instruments, and there's a touch of extra boom and warmth in the bass range. Unfortunately, like most small speakers, it lacks a thumpy and rumbling low-bass. There aren't any sound customization options, and it doesn't get very loud, either.
- Amazing soundstage.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Marshall Emberton is passable for videos and movies. While its balanced mid-range can reproduce clear and accurate dialogue, it lacks low-bass, so you don't feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. It also doesn't get very loud, which can be disappointing. However, its latency with Android and iOS devices over a Bluetooth connection is low, so the audio you hear should sync up with the images you see.
- Amazing soundstage.
- Low latency.
- Bluetooth-compatible.
- Lacks low-bass.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Doesn't support Wi-Fi, Chromecast, or Apple AirPlay.
The Marshall Emberton is very good for podcasts. It has a balanced mid-range, so it reproduces dialogue-centric content clearly and accurately. It's easy to bring on the go, and it supports multi-device pairing. However, it doesn't get very loud, and there's a lot of compression present at max volume that can affect the quality of your audio at louder volume levels.
- Supports multi-device pairing.
- Portable design.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The Marshall Emberton doesn't have voice assistant support.
The Marshall Emberton is satisfactory for outdoor use. This portable speaker has a durable build, and since it's battery-operated, it's easy to bring outside. It even has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, meaning it's certified to be immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. With 9.3-hour continuous battery life, it should last through long days on the go without a recharge. However, it doesn't get very loud, and there are a lot of compression artifacts when you play it at max volume.
- Portable design.
- IPX7 rating for water resistance.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- A lot of compression present at max volume.
Changelog
- Updated Apr 05, 2023: Added a market comparison with the Marshall Middleton in the App box.
- Updated Dec 05, 2022: Corrected an error that previously listed the metal grilles as made of plastic in the Build Quality box.
- Updated Jan 06, 2022: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Jan 15, 2021: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Marshall Emberton comes in 'Black', 'Black and Brass', 'Cream', and 'Forest'. We expect these variants to perform similarly. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Marshall Emberton is a small, portable Bluetooth speaker. It offers a balanced sound profile with a touch of extra boom and warmth in the bass range, making it suitable for lots of different audio content, and its open soundstage creates an immersive listening experience. However, like many small speakers, it lacks a thumpy low-bass and doesn't get very loud, so it isn't ideal for bass-heavy music genres like EDM or hip hop. It doesn't support voice assistants, even when paired with a smartphone. It also isn't compatible with the Marshall Bluetooth app like the next-generation Marshall Emberton II.
See also our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the best golf cart speakers.
The Marshall Middleton is a better portable Bluetooth speaker than the Marshall Emberton. Both speakers have a similar design, but the Middleton is a touch larger and can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Plus, it's supported by a companion app, where you find additional features like bass and treble adjustments. It's even rated for dust resistance, unlike the Emberton. However, its battery life isn't quite as long-lasting.
The Marshall Emberton is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5 overall. The Marshall has a wider-sounding soundstage and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. It also has a better-balanced sound profile and longer-lasting battery life, though battery performance can depend on your usage, and your experience may vary. That said, the JBL can be paired to another compatible unit to create a stereo pair or to multiple other units when you want your audio to fill a large space without increasing its volume.
The Marshall Emberton is better than the Marshall Willen for most uses. The Emberton is a slightly bigger speaker that reproduces more bass, so you feel more rumble in genres like hip-hop and EDM. It's a stereo speaker with a better soundstage, too. However, the Willen is more suited for outdoor use, thanks to its smaller, more portable design with a built-in carrying strap. It even boasts a longer battery life and an app with more customization tools.
The Bose SoundLink Flex is a bit more versatile than the Marshall Emberton overall. The Bose is better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It can also get louder with less compression at max volume and has a more balanced sound profile than the Marshall. The Bose also supports voice assistants through your smartphone. However, the Marshall can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and offers better directivity, resulting in a wider and more immersive-feeling soundstage. Its battery also lasts a bit longer, though this can vary depending on your usage.
Test Results
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