Marshall audio devices have enthralled over the years but most of them have lagged behind in terms of the feature set. The brand has surely worked on making those upgrades in recent years and with the Emberton III you get a product that looks to satiate the audiophiles who like to carry their gear everywhere.
The Marshall products are priced higher than most brands which it claims to be doing for the experience, the design and yes, the signature sound output. But does the Emberton III with its compact profile manage to pack enough punch to be a reliable on-the-go option? We decided to find out during our time and here’s what we found.
The Marshall Quality
Marshall has built its reputation over a consistent design language that doesn’t seem to age and is very likeable even today. The Emberton III gets all those traits built into a compact profile weighing 670 grams, with less physical buttons but more emphasis on a clean look and portable package. The black with gold touch is omnipresent across Marshall products and it is good to see the company keep that going on.
The rugged looks are combined with the IP67 rating which means a pool party is always welcome. You have the power and Bluetooth pairing button at the top built into the surface, while there is a golden dial-like button for music playback and volume control. You also have a battery indicator that lets you know when the speaker is running out of juice.
We usually don’t have complaints about a Marshall speaker but the Emberton III looks deceivingly small which only becomes evident when you see it in the flesh.
How It Sounds
Talking about the sound quality, Marshall has offered its proprietary stereophonic audio that delivers 360-degree sound and you could feel it while playing the tunes on the Emberton III. The speaker has dynamic drivers along with dual passive radiators for stereo sound output.
The hardware innards shows its worth when you really put the Emberton III through the sound test. It can handle most genres but the low-end feels slightly underwhelming, while the higher notes don’t stretch the radiators and give you a clean sound.
The bass levels aren’t matching the usual Marshall standards but the form factor probably has a lot to do with that and for that reason we give the Emberton III a solid shout. The general profile is balanced and you don’t feel the bass overbearing on the tracks which is not liked by everyone.
However, the vocals are clear and crisp and you will have a pleasant experience listening to podcasts through the speaker. The big addition of a microphone on the III means you can even rely on these for hands free calls.
Still Not Smart Enough
The previous Marshall wireless speakers failed to get the right balance between its audio and smartness. Even now we are seeing some limitations with the Emberton III. The speaker does not let you connect with multiple devices at the same time, which is pretty common for portable speakers in this range.
The compatible Marshall app still feels rough and needs more features and customisation options, especially with the equaliser. If you are asking people to download an app, you need to give them more than just the regular options. Having said that, the Emberton III supports Bluetooth 5.3 LE for connectivity which is helpful and keeps the speaker future-ready.
Never Leaves You Stranded
Marshall claims 32-hours of battery life with the Emberton III which might have sounded like a lot but during our time those numbers were easily believable.
It also helps that you get USB C for charging the speaker, which takes around 2 hours but the overall backup will keep most people happy, especially when you are out and don’t have power cords handy.
The Marshall Emberton III speaker is compact but don’t get fooled by its size as the audio range and quality is classic from the brand but some people might shy away because of its price tag and lack of smart features. However, if you know the Marshall quality, it is worth it.
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