Short answer: the Marshall Emberton II. It ranks #103 of 142 medium speakers by sound quality at $159.99; the B&O Beosound Explore ranks #112 and costs $299, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
On the B&O Beosound Explore side: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Watch for: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble.
What the Marshall Emberton II gets right: 30 hour battery life, among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. The tradeoff: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Marshall Emberton II. It ranks higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Skip the B&O Beosound Explore if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 142 medium speakers.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound Explore | Marshall Emberton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $159.99 |
| Ranked | #112 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #103 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 3.2" x 4.9" x 3.2" (81 x 124 x 81 mm) | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8" (46mm) full-range drivers | 2x 2" full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 20W |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| App | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 80ms |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| EQ | - | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Aux Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Marshall Emberton II compares with other leading options:
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound Explore: $299.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Real-world battery life around 20-24 hours. Distinctive anodized-aluminum design. Measured bass extension of ~70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble. Colored midrange. Just not great sounding overall.
Full B&O Beosound Explore review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 3.2" x 4.9" x 3.2" (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8" (46mm) full-range drivers |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Marshall Emberton II: $159.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: 30 hour battery life - among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. IP67 rated, durable rubbery build using 50% recycled plastic. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Not very loud.
Full Marshall Emberton II review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 80ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs Marshall Stockwell 2 - little guy goes louder?? 🤓 More from alanrossreviews →
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- Passione Speaker: Bass Test Marshall Emberton 2 vs Emberton 3
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