These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Bose SoundLink Plus ranks #25 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $179; the Marshall Emberton III ranks #126 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $179.99.
What the Bose SoundLink Plus does well: A waterproof mid size speaker with vibrant sound, booming bass, clean mids, a long battery and premium build. The tradeoff: Boosted thuddy bass, but not as deep as the SoundLink Flex and you should probably just buy one of those instead if you want a Bose.
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 Plus. At 1.5 lbs (673 g) it weighs much less than the Bose SoundLink Plus at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Bose SoundLink Plus lacks. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Plus at $179 for a large speaker, or the Marshall Emberton III at $179.99 for 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 Plus | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $179.99 |
| Ranked | #25 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #126 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 3.4” (231 x 99 x 86 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 2.5” (63.5mm) woofer + 1x ~0.78” (20mm) tweeter + 4x passive radiators | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Amplifier Power | - | 20W |
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