Marshall Emberton: Small but Powerful Portable Speaker

Depending on your priorities, Marshall Emberton is either the ideal portable Bluetooth speaker or a little overpriced. We’ll explain: For $149, the Emberton is a little smaller and less powerful than the competition.

- TIM GIDEON

But its compact size can actually be seen as an advantage over these larger, more cumbersome models. When you max out the volume, the bass may thin out a bit, but the Emberton still delivers surprisingly powerful audio performance for its size. On top of that, it’s got a stylish design and it’s waterproof. If you’re willing to tote around a larger speaker, you can get more bass and power for the price. But plenty of travelers will prefer the Emberton’s bag-friendly dimensions to larger options from JBL and Sony.

DESIGN

The brick-shaped Emberton is available in black with a gray metallic mesh grille on its front face, along with the familiar white-script Marshall logo. It’s quite compact at 2.7 by 6.3 by 3.0 inches (HWD), but surprisingly heavy (1.5 pounds) for its size. Marshall manages to retain the retro look of previous models while giving the speaker a slightly modern feel. It has a digital LED readout in red on the top panel (for battery status) providing the modern, and a central control panel with a brass finish for a touch of retro. The speaker is compatible with Bluetooth 5.0, and internally, dual 10watt drivers are driven by a Class-D amplifier.

Despite there being an uncovered USB-C port on the right panel, the Emberton has an excellent IPX7 rating, meaning it is fully waterproof and can be submerged up to a meter (though Bluetooth signal doesn’t do well underwater). The speaker should easily handle rain, poolside splashes, and being rinsed off in the sink.

Marshall Emberton