Skilled’s Ranking
Execs
- Trendy, sturdy & sustainable design
- Massive, balanced sound
- Very lengthy battery life
- Stack Mode
Cons
- No AAC or aptX
- Costlier
Our Verdict
The Emberton II nonetheless isn’t good however there are a selection of enhancements right here which take it slightly bit nearer. These on the lookout for a compact, long-lasting, great-sounding Bluetooth speaker have discovered an actual contender right here.
Greatest Costs At the moment: Marshall Emberton II
Not Obtainable
Free
Certainly one of our favorite Bluetooth audio system ever has acquired an encore. Marshall’s Emberton II arrives and appears to be even higher.
The pint-sized speaker now provides issues like longer battery life, linking a number of models collectively in ‘Stack Mode’, higher sturdiness and extra. Nonetheless, it does come at a better value this time round at $169/£149.
Design & Construct
- Nearly similar wanting design
- Sustainable supplies
- IP67
You’ll need to play spot the distinction to determine which speaker is the unique speaker and which is the Emberton II.
Marshall, has not modified the look of this speaker and, to be trustworthy, why would it not? The scale and weight (simply 700g) are similar and all of the buttons, lights and charging port are in precisely the identical place.
Chris Martin / Foundry
The principle distinction visually – aside from that my Emberton and Emberton are completely different color schemes – is that the feel has been modified on the casing to look extra like one among Marshall’s guitar amps.
The common black possibility of the unique is gone so your different selection is cream, which I’d fear about getting grubby for those who take it out and about. I’d wish to see the Forest Inexperienced colourway, which Marshall added to the Emberton vary post-launch.
One thing we’re on the lookout for extra in critiques lately is sustainability and the Emberton II is constructed from 50% post-consumer recycled plastic repurposed from electronics, water bottles and automotive mild covers. It’s additionally 100% PVC-free which is nice to see.
One other improve is a bounce from IPX7 to IP67 with the six which means it’s now dustproof in addition to totally waterproof. With its measurement, weight and sturdiness the speaker can feasibly be taken nearly anyplace.
Chris Martin / Foundry
In case you’ve not used the unique Emberton, the massive brass management knob within the center does nearly every thing: energy, quantity management and playback. A small button to the left is for Bluetooth pairing and a ten crimson lights on the alternative facet point out battery degree.
It’s an easy speaker to make use of and Marshall features a USB-C charging cable within the field. About the one I’d add, as earlier than, is a 3.5mm aux enter although that is understandably a Bluetooth speaker in the beginning.
Sound High quality & Options
- The identical sonics
- EQ presets
- Stack Mode
- 50% longer battery life
Contained in the Emberton II, the speaker is sonically the identical as its predecessor. Meaning you get two 2in full vary drivers and two passive bass radiators outputting a complete of 10W.
The frequency vary is 60-20,000Hz and as soon as once more ‘True Stereophonic Sound’ means the speaker provides 360-degree audio with sound popping out the again in addition to the entrance.
Chris Martin / Foundry
As per the primary Emberton, I wouldn’t say it was true 360 as going through facet on naturally doesn’t sound nearly as good however the speaker does a terrific job of filling a room with sound. You may be amazed as what it could actually do contemplating its tiny measurement and 10W of energy.
Bass isn’t booming however it’s wealthy and heat. The mid-range is obvious and there’s sufficient vibrant high finish to lead to a well-rounded tuning. There’s now some management over the sound through the Marshall app within the type of EQ presets.
Nonetheless, past the usual one, there’s a small selection of Push (for a bass enhance) and Voice (which does as you’d anticipate. I’d nonetheless like a customized possibility, however that is not less than some progress and will arrive in a later model of the app.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Bluetooth will get a small improve to five.1 however sadly there’s been no progress with codecs so that you solely get SBC right here. It’s not the top of the world however it might be good to see AAC added for iPhone customers and aptX for Android to enhance the standard for these with suitable units.
The principle draw back is that the audio high quality takes a dip at greater volumes with distortion creeping within the greater you go, however more often than not – particularly indoors – you gained’t must push it that far. And outside conditions can reap the benefits of the brand new Stack Mode.
Stack Mode – a reference to amplifier stacks – is the place you possibly can pair a number of Emberton II audio system collectively. After all, you don’t need to bodily stack them on high of one another.
It’s a pleasant concept and one thing numerous rivals do beneath completely different names, usually alongside the strains of ‘celebration mode. It’s value declaring that this doesn’t create a stereo pair which is a disgrace and likewise doesn’t work with the unique Emberton – I do know as a result of I attempted.
What you are able to do is join different audio system within the vary that help Stack Mode such because the Willen. Marshall additionally doesn’t point out if there’s a restrict to what number of audio system might be added to the celebration.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Battery life was already sturdy on the unique Emberton however with out even making the gadget heavier, Marshall has prolonged it by 50%.
I’m unsure how, however the speaker can now final 30+ hours, though the specs point out a 20-minute chart getting you 4 hours of playtime versus the earlier 5. That’s a minor level because the Emberton II has severe longevity so that you’ll in all probability overlook it’s battery powered more often than not.
Value & Availability
As talked about on the high, the Emberton II is costlier than its predecessor. Up from $149/£129, it now prices $169/£149. It’s not an enormous quantity and inflation can seemingly take a lot of the blame.
Though it’s moved additional away from price range choices, the speaker continues to be good worth and stays cheaper than many rivals from the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Bose and Sonos.
Within the US you should purchase it from Marshall in addition to Amazon and BestBuy. Within the UK you’ve obtained the official retailer in addition to Amazon, Currys and John Lewis.
One factor, because it usually the case within the tech world, is that the outdated mannequin is now cheaper – formally £109 (although oddly not within the US), so if the brand new options of the Emberton II don’t attraction then you could possibly decide up a discount.
Take a look at our chart of the greatest Bluetooth audio system for extra choices.
Verdict
The Emberton II doesn’t repair the entire criticism I had concerning the unique mannequin and is now costlier so it’s not an on the spot no-brainer.
Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless cheaper than many big-name rivals and comes with quite a lot of enhancements together with longer battery life, extra management over the sound, a extra sturdy (and sustainable) design, in addition to a brand new Stack Mode.
It’s a disgrace that the outdated Emberton can’t be paired, and the codec continues to be solely simply the fundamental SBC however on the entire, this gained’t matter an excessive amount of for a lot of customers.
The Emberton II is one other simple to suggest Bluetooth speaker for those who’re on the lookout for one thing compact, trendy, sturdy, long-lasting and with respectable sound.
Specs
- 2x 2in 10W full vary dynamic drivers
- 2x passive bass radiators
- 2x Class D amplifiers
- 60Hz-20kHz frequency vary
- Bluetooth 5.1 – 10m vary
- Multi-directional control-knob
- Stack Mode
- SBC codec
- 30+ hours battery
- USB-C port
- 68 x 160 x 76mm
- 0.7 kg
- IP67
- Launch colors: Black/Brass or Cream