Marshall Emberton II Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The Marshall Emberton II is a 0.7 kg portable Bluetooth speaker with stereo output, more than 30 hours of stated battery life, USB-C charging, and IP67 dust and water resistance. It is for people who want music away from the desk without packing a small appliance disguised as luggage.
StuffYouMayWant is an editorial curation site. We may earn from qualifying purchases via affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
At a glance
One-line verdict
This portable Bluetooth speaker delivers long stated battery life and IP67 credentials in a compact Marshall package, provided cables, calls, and Wi-Fi are not on your playlist.
Best for
People who want a compact black Bluetooth speaker with physical controls, app-adjustable presets, and more than 30 hours of stated playtime.
Skip it if
Skip it if you need to plug in a wired source, take calls through the speaker, use Wi-Fi, or issue voice commands from the sofa.
The full picture
Portable speakers have become oddly serious household objects: another black puck demanding a cable, an app, a software update, and possibly a graduate degree in tapping tiny buttons. The Marshall Emberton II takes a more appealingly direct route. It is a compact Bluetooth speaker with a multi-directional control knob, stereo output, and a stated battery life of more than 30 hours.
We think it earns a place for the person whose music routinely migrates from kitchen counter to balcony to borrowed cottage, but whose bag has already been colonized by chargers, snacks, and one suspiciously damp towel. At 0.7 kg and 160 mm wide, it is small enough to remain a portable speaker rather than a portable argument.
The black Emberton II is also unusually candid about what it is not. There is Bluetooth 5.1 with a stated 10 m (30 ft) range, but no cable input, Wi-Fi, microphone, or voice assistant. That restraint will either look admirably focused or mildly annoying, depending on how many legacy gadgets are still haunting your drawers.
Its IP67 rating is the practical bit worth reading rather than merely admiring on a spec sheet: Marshall states it is dust and water resistant and can be submerged in 1 m (3 ft) of water for up to 30 minutes. Add USB-C charging and optional equaliser presets in the Marshall Bluetooth app, and this is a well-judged companion for music that needs to leave the desk without acquiring a full support crew.
The Irresistible
- More than 30 hours of stated playtime on a single charge is a very decent escape from the ritual of discovering a flat speaker just as people arrive.
- The IP67 rating covers dust and water resistance, with Marshall specifying submersion in 1 m (3 ft) of water for up to 30 minutes.
- Two 2-inch 10 W full-range drivers and two passive radiators provide stereo output in a notably compact 0.7 kg speaker.
The Clever Part
- A multi-directional control knob handles power, playback, track skipping, and volume, sparing everyone a phone unlock merely to lower the music.
- Bluetooth 5.1 has a stated range of 10 m (30 ft), and the separate pairing button keeps setup legible.
- USB-C charging is included, with a stated 20-minute charge delivering 4 hours of playtime.
- Marshall Bluetooth app equaliser presets are available, but the speaker does not require the app to operate.
The Fine Print
- A full charge takes 3 hours, so the quick-charge feature is useful but not a loophole in the laws of planning ahead.
- The frequency range is listed as 60–20,000 Hz, which is useful context but not a substitute for a separate wired setup if that is the sound setup you need.
The Reality Check
- There is no wired connectivity, Wi-Fi, microphone system, or voice-command function. Anyone needing a speaker for cable-fed audio or calls should treat that as a firm no, not a charming quirk.
Buyer questions answered
Does the Marshall Emberton II come in a black finish?
Yes. The supplied selected listing identifies the Marshall Emberton II in black.
Is the Marshall Emberton II water resistant?
Yes. It has an IP67 dust- and water-resistance rating, and Marshall states it can be submerged in 1 m (3 ft) of water for up to 30 minutes.
How long does the Marshall Emberton II battery last?
Marshall states that its built-in rechargeable battery provides more than 30 hours of playtime on one charge. A 20-minute charge provides 4 hours of playtime, while a full charge takes 3 hours.
Can the Marshall Emberton II work without the Marshall Bluetooth app?
Yes. The speaker can operate without the Marshall Bluetooth app, although the app provides equaliser presets.
Does the Marshall Emberton II have a wired audio connection or microphone?
No. Its listed specifications include no wired connectivity, Wi-Fi, microphone system, or voice-command function.
Inside this drop
More from Vol. 05
LEGO Ideas Typewriter 21327 Building Set
The LEGO Ideas Typewriter 21327 is an adult building set styled as a collectible retro typewriter display model. It gives a desk or shelf the air of a person who has written a novel, rather than merely renamed seventeen files “final_FINAL”.
Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Gooseneck Kettle
The Fellow Stagg EKG is a 0.9-litre stainless-steel electric gooseneck kettle listed for pour-over coffee and tea. The Smoke Green variant adds a maple wood handle, because apparently even boiling water now deserves a considered colour palette.
Peak Design Everyday Tote V2 15L Tote Bag
The Peak Design Everyday Tote V2 is a 15 L tote bag with a weatherproof shell, wide top access, FlexFold dividers, a laptop sleeve, and internal and external pockets. It is for people whose tote has quietly become a portable junk drawer with ambitions.
Divoom Ditoo Pixel Art Bluetooth Speaker
The Divoom Ditoo is a compact Bluetooth speaker with a programmable 16 × 16 pixel-art front screen, alarm functions, TF-card playback, radio support, and a tiny mechanical keyboard. It is desk décor for people who consider a normal speaker suspiciously short on blinking pixels.
Keep browsing
More Music & Audio finds you may want
Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 Bluetooth Speaker
The Harman Kardon Aura Studio 4 is a Bluetooth home speaker with six 40 mm mid-high drivers, a 130 mm subwoofer, and five music-synchronised lighting themes beneath its transparent dome. It is what happens when a speaker refuses to sit quietly in the corner like sensible furniture.
Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker
The Bose SoundLink Max is a portable speaker that mixes incredible sound quality with rugged design, perfect for the outdoors or your living room dance-offs.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless Headphones
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 are over-ear Bluetooth headphones with hybrid noise cancellation, ambient pass-through, USB-C audio and charging, and a carry case. They also include two 1.2 m cables, because even premium wireless headphones eventually encounter a stubborn old seatback socket.
FiiO CP13 Cassette Player
The FiiO CP13 is a rechargeable, playback-only cassette player with a 3.5 mm headphone output, physical volume knob, and support for Type I through IV tapes. The transparent listing adds a little ceremony to choosing music from a plastic rectangle, which is frankly more fun than it has any right to be.