These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Bose SoundLink Max ranks #17 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $399; the Marshall Emberton III ranks #126 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $179.99.
The Bose SoundLink Max is the deeper-bass choice. 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 III. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. The tradeoff: Big peak in the upper bass, dipped midrange and lots of peaks and dips above the midrange.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running, lighter option. A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling and a very long battery, plus quick charging. It is rated for 32 hours of battery against 20 for the Bose SoundLink Max. At 1.5 lbs (673 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 III at $179.99 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 III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $179.99 |
| Ranked | #17 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #126 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) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 116ms | - |
| 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 (673 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 | 5.3 |
| 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 cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
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