Marshall Emberton Portable Bluetooth Speaker in the test
The smallest Marshall Bluetooth speaker comes in the typical Marshall guitar amplifier design. We tested Marshall Emberton enjoy the review in detail.
Marshall Emberton performs well on stage. With its classic Marshall look, the smallest speaker in the series also competes with the bigger models. The Emberton manages to overcome what it lacks in extras with great craftsmanship and an overall great sound.
Is this a portable and waterproof Bluetooth speaker from Marshall, the legendary brand for guitar amplifiers? Does the small Bluetooth box bring the feeling of the great rock ‘n’ roll era into your living room and pocket? Marshall Emberton is the smallest model in the range, but it hides a surprising performance in its compact body. This Bluetooth speaker has been tested by us and we will show you what the Emberton can do well and what its weaknesses are.
Marshall Emberton review: Minimalist design, high-quality craftsmanship
The Emberton features a minimal design and a high-quality build. In the meanwhile extended range of Marshall Bluetooth speakers, the Emberton stands out as the only model that fits into almost every pocket without any problems. As is typical for Marshall, the Emberton comes in a classic guitar amp look. At just 2.99 x 6.3 x 2.68 inches (16 x 6.8 x 7.6 cm) (WxHxD), the speaker is far from the size of a guitar box. Still, Marshall Emberton looks good in the classic Marshall style even in a small format. The case has rounded edges and is covered with a textured silicone layer with a feel similar to leather.
Despite its small dimensions, the Emberton weighs in at a stately 1.5 lbs (700 grams). But these contribute more to a valuable feel than making the Emberton seem too heavy. The front and back are provided in style with a soft metal grille and Marshall lettering on one side and round off the vintage look perfectly.
A color highlight of the black Marshall Emberton is the brass-colored metal control button on the top. Additionally to the black variant, Marshall also offers the Emberton in the black-brass combination.
The joystick-like button is used to control basic functions like volume up, volume down, and skipping forward and backward one track at a time. Next to it, you’ll find a button for pairing new devices, and a battery indicator on the other side. The Emberton does without a variety of buttons and controls and concentrates on the basic controls. While this makes operation pleasantly simple, it also contributes to the model’s minimalist design language.
Big sound in a small package
When switched on, Marshall Emberton greets the listener with an emphatically rocking, deep guitar riff, reminding again of the history and background of the time-honored brand.
Inside the Emberton, there are two 10-watt powerful speakers, which give the small speaker a lot of power and a rich frequency range from 60 Hz to 20 kHz. As is typical for Marshall, the low end is highlighted a bit, which is particularly suitable for genres like rock or electronic music.
When listening to podcasts or audiobooks, voices seem to be a bit less present, but are still clearly audible and do not disappear in a mess between highs and lows in music. Still, the sound is quite well-balanced. The lows are clean and pure. High frequencies sound clear and distinct from the small speaker.
Until about 80% of the maximum volume, the Emberton delivers a clear sound. If you exceed this limit, the two 10-watt speakers start to distort the sound a bit. However, the sound is still good, especially outdoors. However, Emberton loses a lot of its relatively wide dynamic range.
Decent performance
Marshall Emberton brings no extras besides a nice design and a surprising sound. While the battery life is decent, it does not particularly excel. There is no information from Marshall about the exact battery capacity. The manufacturer states that the battery lasts for about 20 hours at moderate volume. When the battery is empty, the Emberton is fully charged again after about 90 minutes on the USB-C cable. If you need to get going quickly, the Emberton is ready to go again for five hours after just 20 minutes of charging.
With its IPX7 certification, Marshall’s smallest speaker is the perfect companion for vacations or trips to the lake. The Emberton’s IPX7 rating doesn’t make it completely waterproof, but it can easily withstand being immersed in water for up to 30 minutes, about a meter and a half deep. The speaker does not float on water like many others, however. In the worst case, it will sink to the bottom of the water.
There is no dust protection certificate in addition to that. Whilst water does not cause any damage, dust can affect the performance. But, there is the obvious advantage that even if the speaker is exposed to a lot of dust, it can be washed off with water.
The Bluetooth 5.0 connection does not fail even with obstacles in the way. During our test, the connection only interrupted at a distance of about 80 feet (25 meters) with two thick walls in between. In contrast, the connection lasted almost 160 feet (50 meters) outdoors without obstacles before interruptions occurred. You will have to live without an app to control the sound, a power bank function, multi-room compatibility, or similar. Marshall only concentrates on the essentials and omits additional features.
Conclusion – Marshall Emberton
Marshall Emberton has a lot of power for its size. While it doesn’t stand out with extras, it can score points with its sound, design, and simple and practical controls. For some people, the Emberton might be a bit bass-heavy, but it doesn’t destroy the overall sound quality at all.
The Marshall speaker presents itself as a practical and good-sounding companion in the medium to lower price range. Also, its small size makes it suitable for everyday use and portable. If you are not bothered by missing extras and have a taste for Marshall nostalgia, the Emberton is a good match for you.
