Marshall is one of the most famous brands in music. Its iconic guitar amplifiers have made it a household name since the 1960s, and even in 2024, its amps make regular appearances in the background of live performances, from rock and pop to metal and hip hop.
But Marshall makes a lot more than just amplifiers – its portfolio of audio gear includes everything from some of the best portable speakers to some of the coolest noise-cancelling headphones.
If you're a music lover looking for a compact speaker that looks just as good as it sounds, the Marshall Emberton III is a tempting choice.
I've tried out every generation of the speaker since it first launched in 2020, and after using it for the last month or so, I can tell you that the Emberton III is undeniably the best one yet.
Pros
- Cool retro design
- Water and dust resistant
- Fantastic sound quality
Cons
- It's not super loud
- Not that different to the Emberton II
Marshall Emberton III key specs
| Weight | 670g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16 x 6.8 x 7.69cm |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Water resistance | IP67 |
Marshall Emberton III review: What's new?
The Marshall Emberton III may appear almost identical to the Emberton II, but there have been a few upgrades worth mentioning.
Firstly it's a little bigger with a new power button on top and a microphone built-in. But the biggest changes have happened inside. The latest model now comes with Bluetooth 5.3 and LE Audio, which means it's ready for Auracast to broadcast music to other compatible speakers without pairing.
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The sound has also been improved with "Dynamic Loudness" and "True Stereophonic" (Marshall's version of 360-degree sound). Plus the battery life has been boosted to 32+ hours, up from 30 hours on the Emberton II.
Marshall Emberton III review: Design and setup
The Marshall Emberton III looks a bit like a miniature Marshall guitar amplifier – it has the broken leather look around the outside, the black metal speaker grill on the front, the brass control knob in the middle, and of course, the iconic Marshall logo sprawled across the front. I think it's one of the coolest-looking portable speakers you can buy.
A rugged design makes it feel like it would survive being knocked about in your backpack on your travels, and it has an IP67 rating which means it's both water and dust-resistant. You won't need to worry about unexpected showers in the garden or getting it covered in sand on the beach.
There are two small buttons on top of the device, one to turn the speaker on and one to put it in pairing mode. The new power button took a bit of getting used to, but only because I've been using the Emberton II for a while, otherwise I think it makes a lot of sense.
To adjust the volume, you press the top and bottom of the dial, and to skip through tracks simply press it to the left and right. It's very intuitive. There's also a strip of lights on the right-hand side to let you know the speaker's remaining battery level, which I find really handy.
Setting the speaker up is as simple as turning it on. My phone picked up the connection immediately and prompted me to download the Marshall Bluetooth app.
Marshall Emberton III review: Performance and battery
Marshall has a long history in audio, so it'll come as no surprise that its speakers sound great. The Emberton III is small and mighty with rich, detailed sound. But it is fit for purpose in that it's not designed to shake the walls.
New to this Emberton model is "True Stereophonic", Marshall's version of 360-degree multi-directional audio, and it makes the sound feel much more immersive – so much so that it even carries well outside and the experience is the same no matter where you stand, even if you're stood behind it. "Dynamic Loudness" is another feature that improves the quality of the sound, adjusting the tonal balance as you change the volume.
When you dial the music all the way up, you'll still get a clean bass performance, although it's not as punchy as some other portable speakers you can buy. Something to consider is that this speaker doesn't go particularly loud, and because of that, it'll be best for listening at small gatherings rather than big parties.
Within the Marshall Bluetooth smartphone app, there are a few EQ presets to choose from, including Push (to add more oomph), Voice (for when you're listening to podcasts or the radio) and Marshall (for its signature rock n' roll sound). Those are the only options you have though, there are no manual controls over the bass and treble.
For the times when you want to give the music a boost, the Emberton III has LE Audio which means it will eventually get Auracast and so you'll be able to hook it up to other compatible speakers, like the Marshall Willen II, to play music from them simultaneously. However, you can't connect it to older generations using Marshall's now-retired Stack Mode.
Multipoint connectivity is a huge plus point here. You can have two devices hooked up to the speaker at once and switch between them without disconnecting and reconnecting. Having more than one person on the music takes away a lot of playlist pressure!
You'll rarely need to charge the Marshall Emberton III because the battery lasts 32 hours or more, depending on the volume it's set at. It'll get you through a weekend away, a garden barbecue or in my case, a couple of weeks of occasional listening during the day.
When you do eventually need to plug it in, it'll take about two hours for a full charge. Or if you're short on time, a quick 20 minutes plugged into power will give you around six hours of tunes.
Marshall Emberton III review: Verdict
The Marshall Emberton III will tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people. combining style and substance in a big way.
The eye-catching design is certainly a draw. I have it placed up on a shelf and it adds to the look of the room, rather than taking away from it. It's also a great size for chucking in your bag, and it's durable so will survive all sorts along the way. And you won't need to charge it too often because the battery lasts for ages.
But perhaps most importantly, this speaker has fantastic sound quality, no matter what type of music you listen to.
Drawbacks? There aren't many. Admittedly, it's not as loud as other, bigger options and you don't get manual EQ control. I wouldn't let those points put you off though, this is otherwise one of the best portable speakers you can buy.
Marshall Emberton III review: Also consider
If you want something a little more affordable, you should buy the UE Wonderboom 4. It's super portable, waterproof and delivers great sound performance – all for less than £90, and it's regularly discounted at Amazon, especially during sales like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.
After something more powerful? Take a look at the JBL Charge 5. It is a little more expensive than the Marshall Emberton III, and it's a fair amount bigger too, but it's also powerful, bassy and perfect for parties.
