Bluetooth speaker Marshall Emberton III in the test: rich sound and retro vibes

Compact Bluetooth speakers are very popular. They are ideal companions for travel and provide the perfect soundtrack almost everywhere. With the Emberton III, Marshall brings a mobile speaker that impresses not only with its iconic amplifier looks, but also with its powerful sound.

The design of the Marshall Emberton III immediately evokes the distinctive rock ‘n’ roll spirit of the iconic amplifier brand. With dimensions of approximately 16 x 7 x 8 cm (W x H x D) and a weight of just 670 grams, it is extremely compact and mobile. In comparison, competitors like the JBL Charge 5 (test report) weighing just under a kilogram (test report) or the LG Xboom Go DXGQ7 (test report) weighing in at 1.1 kilograms look downright heavy.

The Emberton III’s casing is mostly covered in soft, rubbery-looking imitation leather that feels luxurious. However, the front and rear are adorned with metal grilles, and the distinctive golden Marshall logo is also adorned on the front. Lovers of the famous Marshall amplifiers will immediately find a cozy retro feel here.

There is a large, golden button at the top. Press Center to start or stop playback, and press Left, Right, Up, or Down to adjust volume and skip tracks. As stylish as the button looks, in practice it unfortunately becomes a bit spongy and unwieldy. Next to the gold button is a discreet power button and a Bluetooth button. The other side is adorned with a stylish and detailed battery display in martial look. On the far right is a USB-C port for charging and an attachment option for the included carry strap.

You won’t get an AUX input, nor can the speaker be used as a power bank. The feet on the rubberized bottom surface ensure a firm grip.

The workmanship and materials appear to be of high quality all around. Nothing creaks or wobbles, the metal grilles are firmly in place and there are no criticisms whatsoever about the transitions and seams. With IP67 certification, the Marshall is also completely dust and waterproof. It can also survive a 30-minute immersion bath at a depth of one meter without any problems.

The compact housing of the Emberton III has 20 watts of power, which transmits sound not only to the front, but also to the rear, thanks to the full-range driver. This creates a certain spatiality, although not as pronounced as that of the LG Xboom 360 DXO2T (test report).

Overall, we really like the sound. Especially in Martial Mode, warm, rich sounds surround us. The speaker gives the classic Marshall sound to distorted electric guitars. Maximum volume is decent, but there is noticeable distortion in the upper level ranges.

Even small speakers have to lose to many larger speakers when it comes to deep bass. Weighing only 670 grams, the Emberton III reaches the physical limits of what is possible in terms of sound. Although it sounds great in itself, it can’t compare to the JBL Charge 5 (test report) or the LG Xboom Go DXGQ7 (test report) in terms of bass.

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The Marshall Bluetooth app doesn’t offer full EQ, but it does offer three presets. By default, the Marshall sound is activated with a warm, fairly balanced tuning. preset 2 enhances the highs and bass, preset 3 emphasizes the mids and is suitable for podcasts or audio books. For pure music listening, we prefer the balanced Marshall sound.

Technically, the Emberton III is state-of-the-art. It connects via Bluetooth 5.3 and supports not only SBC but also AAC codec. Practical: Multiple players can be connected at the same time via multipoint. Thanks to the built-in microphone, Marshall can also serve as a hands-free device. As long as you are close to the speaker, the sound quality is very good. However, as the distance increases, a disturbing echo effect begins to occur.

The Marshall Smartphone app doesn’t offer too many features. Finally, in addition to three sound presets to choose from, software updates can also be installed and there’s a battery saving option. However, you rarely use the app for everyday use; Most functions are controlled directly on the speaker.

One big surprise of the Emberton III is its powerful battery. According to Marshall, it should enable up to 32 hours of playback time – but only at low to medium volumes. If you mostly play at high levels, the running time will be significantly reduced. Still, the Marshall speaker is one of the most durable mobile speakers we’ve tested so far.

The accurate battery level display, which provides information about the remaining running time at all times, also deserves praise. The Marshall is charged via USB-C, a suitable cable is included. Thanks to QuickCharge, 20 minutes is enough to plug in and the Bluetooth speaker will play music again for up to six hours.

with price around 178 euros (Amazon), the Marshall Emberton III is in the upper price segment of compact Bluetooth speakers.

The Marshall Emberton III is a compact Bluetooth speaker that boasts an iconic look, a high-quality mix of materials, and robust technology. The sound is powerful, warm and powerful, even though the larger speakers have the edge when it comes to deep bass and maximum volume. The biggest advantage of the Emberton III is its immense mobility due to its compact dimensions and low weight as well as its excellent battery life.

If you like the famous Marshall look and are looking for a small, sturdy box for travel, the Emberton III is the perfect choice. The JBL Charge 5 (test report) offers quite a bit of oomph. The bottom line is that with the Emberton III, Marshall has created an all-round successful mobile fun maker with a high lifestyle factor.

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