Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth Speaker

There is a special category of household indignity reserved for playing music from a phone: everyone huddles round it, somebody’s notification barges into the chorus, and suddenly a £1,000-ish dinner party has the audio authority of a damp biscuit. The Marshall Emberton II exists for people who would like music to occupy a room without installing a hi-fi shrine.

This is a compact black Bluetooth speaker, measuring 160 mm wide and weighing 0.7 kg, with two 2-inch 10 W full-range drivers, two passive radiators and stereo output. Marshall lists a 60–20,000 Hz frequency range, although we would not pretend a specification sheet can settle every argument about sound. It can, however, establish that this is a proper speaker rather than a decorative keyring with opinions.

The figure doing most of the persuasive work is its stated battery life: more than 30 hours per charge. USB-C charging makes it pleasingly compatible with the cable ecosystem already breeding in most drawers, and a 20-minute charge is stated to provide four hours of playtime. Marshall also says a full charge takes three hours, so last-minute planning remains a recognised human weakness.

IP67 dust and water resistance is another unusually sensible detail. Marshall states the Emberton II can be submerged in one metre of water for up to 30 minutes. We like that it has been given some protection from the world’s general incompetence, rather than requiring a ceremonial dry shelf whenever music is involved.