The Marshall Bluetooth speaker family has a new addition: The handy Marshall Emberton is not only available in black (Black) and brass (Brass) but now also in dark green (Forest) and cream (Cream).
I was particularly taken with the latter color: the dark white of the Cream speaker exudes a real vintage feel and, together with the high-quality front grille with the Marshall logo, looks very high quality.
When I’m asked for a recommendation for portable Bluetooth speakers in a handy format, I always recommend two models at the moment: the JBL Flip with a good price-performance ratio and the Marshall Emberton for people who have slightly higher standards in terms of workmanship and design.
Two active and two passive membranes
The Bluetooth speaker from Marshall also has a lot to offer under the casing: Two small full-range speakers, each with a circumference of two inches and an output of ten watts, produce an amazing sound for the size of the device.
In addition, two passive diaphragms resonate in the housing. Marshall advertises this speaker with the so-called “True Stereophonic” technology, which is supposed to offer 360° sound.
Each listener must decide for themselves whether this works. Ultimately, as with most loudspeakers, the membranes are directed towards the front. Accordingly, in my opinion, you get the best sound experience when you stand in front of the speaker.
Powerful battery
The battery life of the Emberton 1 is specified by the manufacturer as 20 hours and is therefore quite solid. However, this value is only achieved at moderate volumes and not at a party at full volume.
It is charged via a USB-C charging port on the side of the speaker. The speaker is fully charged again in three hours.
Marshall Emberton Forest
And this is what it looks like, the Marshall Emberton in the color “Forest”. You can already see the other new color “Cream” in the cover picture of this article.
Ready to dive
If little Emberton is forgotten in the garden after a barbecue and gets caught in a rain shower, it won’t be bothered at all. It is waterproof and IPX7 certified.
In official German, this means “protection against damage after brief immersion in water at a maximum depth of 1 m and for up to 30 minutes”. But who wants to go diving with a Bluetooth speaker?
Silicone instead of vinyl
There is a small minus point for the housing material, which is made of silicone on the Marshall Emberton.
The vinyl-like, soft material of the other Marshall speakers feels much more pleasant. This compromise is probably due to the aforementioned water resistance.
My conclusion
The overall package of good sound, beautiful vintage design and long battery life absolutely convinced me. What’s more, the speaker weighs just 700 grams, significantly less than a carton of milk.
The large, round switch in the middle can be used to control all important functions such as start/stop, skip and volume, and the battery status is quickly and clearly visible via the LEDs on the top.
If you are looking for a suitable accessory for your house or apartment: In the same size as the Emberton, there is a funny key holder in the shape of a Marshall box, the key rings are designed as jack plugs.
Technical data
- Frequency range: 60 Hz – 20 kHz
- Amplifier: Two 10-watt class D amplifiers
- Drivers: Two 2″ 10W full-range, two passive diaphragms
- Battery life: 20 hours
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
- Dimensions: 68 x 160 x 76 mm
- Weight: 0.7 kg
Differences Marshall Emberton 1 vs 2
Is the surcharge for the successor Marshall Emberton 2 worth it or should you go for the cheaper Emberton 1?
In my opinion, the first version is perfectly adequate, as nothing has changed in terms of sound. However, the successor can be paired with the Marshall app to make further settings.
Version 2 is also a little more weatherproof (IP67 protection class) and the battery lasts significantly longer at 30 hours. So anyone who travels a lot with the speaker will notice a difference.
Lars Grudzinski has been working as a sound and lighting technician since the 90s, was a DJ for electronic music, has a large collection of vintage speakers, and has been working for various radio stations in Germany for 20 years. At home, he enjoys high-quality home theater products such as soundbars and projectors and has installed an extensive Sonos system in his own home.