If, somehow, you don’t know what Marshall is, let me take you on a quick journey. Started by a drummer in 1962, Marshall amplification has become known for its guitar and bass amplifiers. You may know some of the artists that use its equipment — Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton to name but a few. Well, that same company also makes some very nice home audio stuff, and the Emberton III is its “Goldilocks” Bluetooth speaker. Not too big, not too small; just right.
I’ve had a chance to test the Marshall Emberton III for a good few weeks now, and I’ve come out of my experience the other side with a great picture of the speaker. Don’t get me wrong there are a couple of aspects I’d like to see improved on, but overall? This is one of the best Bluetooth speakers I’ve tested this year — let’s find out why.
Marshall Emberton III review: Cheat Sheet
- What is it? A Bluetooth speaker that looks like an old-school Marshall amp
- What does it cost? $149/£159/AU$289
- Who is it for? Rock n’ Roll fans looking for a new small Bluetooth speaker
- What do we like? The looks, the sound, and the battery life
- What are its weaknesses? There’s no EQ, and sometimes mid-range frequencies get put on the back foot.
Marshall Emberton III review: Price and Availability
Marshall Emberton III: Specs
Price $159/£149/AU$289
Colors Black/Cream
Size 6.3 x 2.7 x 3 inches
Weight 1.5lb
Battery life (rated) 32 hours
Bluetooth version 5.3
Connectivity iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Durability IP67
Marshall’s products are never cheap, but neither do they come at particularly high prices. The Emberton III is no different. It comes in at $159, around the same as the Bose SoundLink Flex 2. Both are comparable specs-wise, although the Auracast support for the Emberton is still yet to arrive. In that case it comes down to design — do you like the effortless simplicity of the Flex, or the wonderful amp-like look of the Emberton.
Ultimate Ears’ Boom 4 is slightly cheaper, although the cylinder of sound is starting to get a bit dry now. You do get more features though, like party mode that connects loads of speakers together for a massive number of tunes. The Marshall Emberton III’s price is about par for the course then — it’s not cheap, but neither will you spend loads to get it.
Marshall Emberton III review: Build and Style
- Fun amp-like design
- Rubberized, rugged texture
- Feels like a tank
So you’ll likely have already decided whether or not you like the way the Emberton III looks from its images. I happen to love the way it looks, from the textured surfaces that wrap around its chassis to the brass logo and cool-looking metal grille design. It really does look just like a Marshall amp that you’d plug your guitar into — only it fits into the palm of your hand, and doesn’t feature an input jack. Of any kind.
The whole thing is put together like a small tank as well. It’s a solid piece of kit, with no creaks or rattles even when you squeeze it. It could easily take a drop from a table or waist height — I should know, it fell out of my hoodie pocket when I went to take it out. There’s no evidence it even fell, and it still plays music like the day it came out of the box. I daresay you wouldn’t be able to tell it had an accident without me telling you — although I’ve told you, so now my shame is brought to light.
Marshall Emberton III review: Features
- Bluetooth LE
- Auracast on the way
- Useful app
The Emberton III has some great extra features already, although there are some more which are coming as a part of the speaker’s future roadmap. For one, there’s Bluetooth LE, which currently… doesn’t do much. In the future, however, we can expect potential battery life improvements, better sound quality, and more connectivity options thanks to Auracast support. That latter feature is one that is apparently on the way — and when it comes, we’ll be able to connect multiple speakers together for a kind of party mode. Given this is already available in many of the competition, it’s slightly disappointing it’s not yet here with this one.
Then there’s the Marshall app, which is fine. It’s nothing to write home about in terms of extra features, but it looks nice and responds well. In there, you’ll find the three EQ options, battery preservation settings, and that’s about it. Those EQ pre-sets are all you get in terms of sound personalization by the way, so if you’re looking for more customizable audio, you’re out of luck. This is also where you’re likely to find the Auracast and LE features when they launch later.
My favorite feature though is the little knob on top of the speaker. It’s a kind of knurled brass flat… thing, and it clicks around in a circle to skip forward and back, change the volume, and then it clicks down for play and pause. I love it. I like it when it’s on Marshalls headphones, and I like it here on the Bluetooth speaker line. Perfect controller, no notes.
Marshall Emberton III review: Connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.3
- No 3.5mm jack
As is becoming the norm with so many tech products, we’re losing the 3.5mm headphone jack. So too does the Emberton III forgo the apparently anachronistic connection method, opting instead for a Bluetooth-only approach. Would the cabled connection really make that much of a difference in sound quality? No, but it’s a nice thing to have if you have an older audio player that you want to amplify.
The Bluetooth connection, then, is you’re only way to connect. Thankfully it works well, and connects super simply. Turn the speaker on, bring your Android handset close, and you’re prompted to get connected. iPhone users will, as always, have to delve into their settings menu. Pairing another device is easy — just hold down the Bluetooth connection button, and you’re in pairing mode. Sorted.
Marshall Emberton III review: Sound Quality
- ‘Scooped’ mids
- Surprisingly clear highs
- Great bass
In the eighties, Metallica popularized a very particular guitar tone for metal. “Scooped” — plunging the mid-range, and cranking the lows and the trebles for a heavier sound. As you might expect, the Emberton III adheres to this archetype of sound. In fact, if you want it even more scooped, you can head into the app and choose a sound profile that accentuates the highs and lows even more for an “even heavier sound”. Here’s the thing — scooped stuff is loads and loads of fun, and the Emberton is happy to oblige.
The sound profile works for a wide range of different genres, but it really shines for ones that like using bass and distorted guitars. Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls brings the edge and the fury, and the Emberton is more than up to the task. James’ down-picked power chords are threatening and sound chunky, and Lars’ drumming is solid and impactful. Kirk’s guitar solo soars and screams, and James barks his vocals. The whole thing is fun, and the speaker ends up sounding larger than its small stature might otherwise suggest.
Marshall user Jimi Hendrix and his classic All Along the Watchtower is loads of fun pumped out of the Emberton III. That instantly recognizable riff rings out through your space, each string well-defined and clear. The drums are lo-fi, yes, but they are strong and impactful. No, it’s not going to shake the walls, but it will bring the noise.
Marshall Emberton III review: Battery
Marshall has carved itself a niche whereby it is often seen as the ‘battery king’ — and for good reason. The Marshall Emberton III lasts for 32 hours in a category that considers 20 hours to be reasonable. It’s one of the speaker’s biggest selling points in a way. If you want a small speaker that’ll keep playing for over a day’s full usage, the Emberton III is the way to go.
In my testing, I found that the speaker managed around 31 hours. I’d say that you could easily squeeze 32 hours out, or even more, if you lowered the volume from mid-level.
Marshall Emberton III review: Verdict
I really like Marshall’s Bluetooth speakers, and the Emberton III is a great addition to the line. It takes what made the old one great, and then improves on it with some key extras and better sound. It’s that design that’ll really pull you in though, with its cool amp design and excellent brass accents. Its a great little speaker, and one I think many other users will also like a lot.
The sound is a bit lacking in the mid-range, but the battery life is excellent and the price is right. Hopefully, we’ll see those extra Bluetooth settings sooner rather than later.
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