Short answer: the Marshall Emberton III. It ranks #99 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $129.99; the B&O Beosound Explore ranks #109 and costs $299, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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 III 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 III. 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.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the B&O Beosound Explore. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound Explore | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #109 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #99 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 631 g | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| 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 cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Output Power | 60W | 20W |
| Max Volume | 91dB | - |
| App | - | Yes |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| EQ | - | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Aux Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Cabasse Swell
- Marshall Emberton II vs Turtlebox Ranger
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Marshall Emberton II
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Sony SRS-XB20
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Bose SoundLink Color II
The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound Explore: $299.00 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Real-world battery life around 20-24 hours. Distinctive anodized-aluminum design.
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 →
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 91dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 631 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Sony SRS-XE200
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Soundcore Flare 2
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Doss E-Go II
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Sony SRS-XB30
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom Go PL5
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Teufel Rockster Go
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom XG5
- See all 16 comparisons
Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon
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.
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. Not really any different from the Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Emberton III vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Marshall Emberton II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Marshall Emberton III vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton III vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
- See all 22 comparisons