Look, let’s be real. Most portable speakers look like gray marshmallows or plastic tubes that belong in a futuristic dentist’s office. Then there’s the Marshall Emberton II portable bluetooth speaker. It looks like a guitar amp that’s been hit with a shrink ray. It’s got that heavy metal grille, the gold script logo, and a brass control knob that makes you feel like you’re dialing in a solo at Wembley.
But does it actually sound good?
Honestly, I’ve spent way too much time testing these things. People love to argue about whether Marshall is just a lifestyle brand selling nostalgia or if they actually care about audio. The Emberton II sits right in the middle of that fight. It’s small enough to shove into a backpack, yet it’s heavy enough to feel like it won’t shatter if you look at it wrong.
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The Sound: Not Just for Rockers
Most speakers this size fire sound in one direction. If you aren't sitting right in front of it, everything sounds muffled. Marshall uses what they call "True Stereophonic," which is a fancy way of saying it’s a 360-degree sound experience. Basically, there are drivers on both the front and back.
It works.
If you put the Marshall Emberton II portable bluetooth speaker in the middle of a table, everyone gets the same level of clarity. The separation is surprisingly wide for something that’s basically the size of two bricks of butter.
What You Need to Know About the Bass
Don't expect it to shake the walls. It’s a 20W speaker. If you’re looking for "sub-woofer in the trunk" energy, you’ll be disappointed. However, the dual 2-inch full-range drivers and passive radiators do a solid job. The bass is tight. It doesn't get "boomy" or muddy, even when you crank the volume up to 80%.
One thing I noticed? If you listen to a lot of hip-hop, you might find it a bit lean. But for rock, jazz, or acoustic stuff? The mids are where this thing shines. Vocals sound crisp. Guitars have that "bite" that Marshall is famous for.
The "I Forgot to Charge It" Factor
The biggest upgrade from the original Emberton is the battery life. We went from 20 hours to 30+ hours. That is a massive jump. Most competitors, like the JBL Flip 6, tap out around 12 to 15 hours.
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I actually tried to kill the battery over a long weekend at a lake house. Used it for background music during breakfast, loud tunes during the afternoon BBQ, and some podcasting at night. It survived the whole trip without seeing a USB-C cable once.
- Quick Charge: 20 minutes of charging gives you 4 hours of playback.
- Full Charge: Takes about 3 hours.
- The App: You can finally use the Marshall Bluetooth app to toggle EQ presets ("Marshall," "Push," and "Voice").
Ruggedness vs. Aesthetics
The Marshall Emberton II portable bluetooth speaker looks like it should live on a shelf, but it’s actually rated IP67.
That means it’s fully dustproof and waterproof. You can literally drop it in a meter of water for 30 minutes. I wouldn't recommend using it as a bath toy, but if it gets rained on at a campsite or someone spills a beer on it, you’re fine. The "leather" finish is actually a textured silicone that's 50% recycled plastic. It’s grippy and stays clean surprisingly well.
The Stack Mode Weirdness
Marshall added "Stack Mode" to this version. You can wirelessly connect it to other Emberton II speakers to create a wall of sound. Is it cool? Yeah. Is anyone actually buying four of these to link them together instead of just buying one big Marshall Stanmore? Probably not. But it’s there if you and your friends all happen to be Marshall fans.
Where it Trips Up
Nothing is perfect. The most annoying thing about the Emberton II is the lack of a microphone. You cannot use this for speakerphone calls. If your phone rings, you have to disconnect or talk through the phone itself.
Also, it only supports the SBC codec. No aptX. No AAC. For most people streaming Spotify or YouTube, this doesn't matter one bit. But if you’re an audiophile with a library of high-res FLAC files, you might notice the compression.
Final Take
The Marshall Emberton II portable bluetooth speaker isn't the loudest speaker on the market. It isn't the cheapest. But it is arguably the most stylish and has one of the best battery-to-size ratios you can find.
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If you want something that sounds balanced and looks like a piece of art on your coffee table, this is it. It’s a "buy once, cry once" kind of gadget.
How to get the most out of it:
- Placement matters: Because of the 360-degree sound, don't shove it in a corner. Put it in the open or against a flat wall to let the back-firing sound reflect.
- Use the "Push" EQ: If the sound feels too flat, the "Push" setting in the app boosts the lows and highs for a more "fun" sound profile.
- Check firmware: Use the app to update the speaker immediately. It fixes some early Bluetooth 5.1 stability issues.
Grab a USB-C cable, give it a quick 20-minute juice up, and you're set for an entire afternoon of music without a single worry.