Short answer: choose the Bose SoundLink Color II only if you find a good used example, and choose the Marshall Emberton III for a current, weatherproof travel speaker, though neither ranks well in its class. Bose ranks #110 of 151 medium speakers at $139; Marshall ranks #111 at $129.99, a $9.01 premium. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 151 medium speakers, and the Earfun Uboom L, ranked #1 at $49.79, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The discontinued Bose remains useful for a few specific needs. It has comfortable rubber cladding, stereo playback, a built-in microphone, multipoint pairing, and Bose Party mode. Its sound is not a reason to seek it out over a newer model: local notes flag boosted but shallow bass, limited midrange detail, and rolled-off treble, while its eight-hour battery and Micro USB charging now feel dated.
Marshall’s Emberton III is better prepared for daily travel. Its IP67 rating, USB-C charging, 32-hour rated battery life, and quick charging are meaningful advantages over the Bose. The caveat is sonic: reviews note an unnatural echo-like coloration, modest bass extension, and limited maximum volume, so endurance and durability are its strongest arguments rather than measured sound quality.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Color II only if you specifically want its multipoint pairing, speaker pairing, and stereo layout at an attractive used price.
Buy the Marshall Emberton III for a current IP67 portable speaker with dramatically longer battery life and USB-C charging.
If battery life is a priority, the Marshall Emberton III is rated for 32 hours versus 8 hours for the Bose SoundLink Color II.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Marshall Emberton III at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Bose SoundLink Color II, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Color II | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 Discontinued | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #110 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #111 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (600 g) | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
| Strap | - | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM 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
Bose SoundLink Color II: $139.00 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. IPX4 splashproof. Supports multipoint pairing to two devices at once.
Cons: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail. Rolled off treble. Discontinued.
Full Bose SoundLink Color II review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5” x 2.2” (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (600 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Marshall Emberton II
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- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Cabasse Swell
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Sony SRS-XB20
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Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5).
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. Not really any different from the Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- 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
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XE300
- See all 134 comparisons