These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose SoundLink Max ranks #17 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $399; the Marshall Emberton II ranks #127 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $151.99.
The Bose SoundLink Max is the deeper-bass pick. A rugged waterproof speaker with deep bass, a very long real world battery and a port that charges your phone. Its bass reaches about 48Hz before falling 10dB, against 62Hz for the Marshall Emberton II. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton II lacks. Watch for: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange.
The Marshall Emberton II is the longer-running, lighter pick. A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling, a very long battery and quick charging. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 20 for the Bose SoundLink Max. At 1.5 lbs (700 g) it weighs much less than the Bose SoundLink Max at 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg). It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the Bose SoundLink Max cannot. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Max at $399 if you want a large speaker. Buy the Marshall Emberton II at $151.99 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Max | Marshall Emberton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $151.99 |
| Ranked | #17 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #127 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 33ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | 80ms |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 tweeter) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 10.4” x 4.7” x 4.1” (264.7 x 120.1 x 104.9 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” (63.5mm) midrange drivers + 1x 0.79” (20mm) tweeter | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
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