ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Marshall Emberton III Bluetooth speaker is now available to purchase from the official Marshall site.
• This tiny speaker can produce much louder sound than you might expect (without distortion), and the sound is quite detailed and accurate.
• The Marshall app doesn’t include a custom EQ, which would greatly benefit the Emberton III.

On Amazon, the Marshall Emberton III has dropped down $150, a 12% discount. Act fast because this is a limited-time deal.

Ah, the Marshall sound. I cannot tell you how many concerts I’ve attended where a stack of Marshall amps stood sentinel behind the musicians, cranking the sound well past 11. Every time I see that sight, I know something special is about to happen.

Needless to say, when Marshall wants me to review something for them, I’m more than happy to do so. Such is the case with the Marshall Emberton III Bluetooth speaker. This tiny (approx 6″ X 3″ X 2.5″) speaker produces more sound than you’d expect (without distorting). When you combine the sound with the look (it resembles a small Marshall amp head), you get a small speaker that packs a sonic and aesthetic punch.

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Simply put, this thing rocks.

The specs

• 2″ 10 W full range and two passive radiators
• Max sound pressure level – 90 dB SPL @ 1 M
• Frequency range – 65 – 20,000 Hz
• Amps – 2 X 38 W class D
• 360-degree sound
• 32 hours of playtime on full charge (20-minute charge gives 6 hours of playtime)
• IP67 dust and waterproof rating
• Built-in mic for taking calls
• Bluetooth 5.3 LE with a 100 M range (in free field)
• Price – $169 on the Marshall site

My experience

Thanks to my Pixel 8 Pro, setting up the Emberton III was incredibly simple. I set the speaker in pairing mode, and the Pixel automatically recognized it. You have to love the Pixel phone’s ability to connect to Bluetooth devices.

As soon as it was set up, I did my usual run-through of “Signals” by Rush. I use that album as my litmus test because 1) I’m incredibly familiar with every measure of the album (and how it should sound), and 2) Geddy Lee’s bass lines are just so active that they can really highlight a speaker’s ability to produce low-end sounds accurately.

I won’t say the Emberton III offers the most low-end for your buck, but it’s really good for a speaker of its size. You have to take into consideration the frequency response of this device, which only goes down to 65 HZ. Here’s the thing: the bass guitar has a frequency range of 41.2Hz to 329.63Hz, so a speaker that dips down in the 20 Hz range isn’t necessary for this particular instrument. On the other hand, a kick drum can reach that 20 Hz range. This means the Emberton III is perfectly capable of reproducing accurate bass, but it does miss out on some of the punch from a kick drum. 

But honestly, what do you expect from a speaker this size?

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Every track from Signals sounded quite good, even at high volumes. That was one of the pleasant surprises from this speaker… its ability to handle volume levels that would normally exceed what you might deem appropriate. But if you want to bang your head seriously to your favorite tracks, crank this baby up — it won’t complain.

Another song I use to test a speaker’s low end is “Row Boat” by Coal Chamber. This track really digs deep into the lower end, and with the right speakers, it can rattle the windows. The Marshall took every bit of the song and didn’t blink. Sure, it misses a bit in the real depths, but it still does the song justice.

The Marshall app has three EQ presets: Marshall, Push, and Voice. Unfortunately, there is no custom option. For me, the Push was the best option, as the Marshall and Voice presets offered a bit too much in the mids. Push gave the best presence in the low end, toned down the mids a bit, and provided fairly good highs.

However, when I shifted to the likes of Kate Bush, the Emberton III shined. When you’re listening to Bush, you really want to focus on her voice, and this speaker produced her sound so well that I could close my eyes and feel as though she was in the room singing to me.

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And then came “Heaven Or Las Vegas” by the Cocteau Twins. Whenever I can listen to Elisabeth Frasier sing, I’m in my happy place, and the Emberton showcases her unique voice on display to perfection.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Okay, seriously… I’m not saying this speaker is the best thing I’ve heard. But as far as speakers of this size, you bet it tops the list. Although it might not offer a basement-dwelling low end, it gives you just enough to know it’s serious about sound. If Marshall added a custom EQ to the app, it would quickly become my go-to for music when I don’t feel like packing a larger speaker or wearing headphones. And the 32 hours of playtime doesn’t hurt.

It may not rate as high as an audiophile-grade speaker, but the Marshall Emberton III is about as good as you’ll get at such a small footprint.