Short answer: the Harman Kardon Luna 2 for better sound quality, the Marshall Emberton III for the lower price. The Harman Kardon Luna 2 ranks #22 of 138 medium speakers at $199.95. The Marshall Emberton III ranks #101 at $159.99, $39.96 cheaper.
What the Harman Kardon Luna 2 gets right: Articulate, spacious midrange with precise imaging and instrument separation. Tight, well-controlled bass from the 62mm x 82mm woofer and passive radiator despite the compact body, and it stays cleaner at volume than pricier rivals like the Sonos Play. Watch for: Treble can sound bright and edgy, and it loses more output off-axis than some rivals. Some listeners hear mid-range rattling on certain tracks, similar to sibling JBL models. 12-hour battery life trails category leaders like the JBL Charge 6, which doubles it.
The case for the Marshall Emberton III: 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. The tradeoff: 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.
Buy the Harman Kardon Luna 2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Marshall Emberton III if the price matters more than sound quality.
Battery life favors the Marshall Emberton III: rated for 32 hours against 12 hours for the Harman Kardon Luna 2.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Luna 2 | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $159.99 |
| Ranked | #22 of 138 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #101 of 138 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes (4 presets + custom) | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs / 735 g | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 8.5" x 3.3" x 3.2" (216 x 84 x 81 mm) | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 62mm x 82mm woofer with passive radiator, 20mm tweeter | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 40W (25W woofer + 15W tweeter) | 20W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Harman Kardon Luna vs Tribit Stormbox
- Harman Kardon Luna vs W-King D320
- JBL Charge 6 vs Marshall Emberton III
- Marshall Emberton III vs Harman Kardon Esquire 2
Prices on this page were last checked September 1, 2026 at 2:15 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
Harman Kardon Luna 2: $199.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Articulate, spacious midrange with precise imaging and instrument separation. Tight, well-controlled bass from the 62mm x 82mm woofer and passive radiator despite the compact body, and it stays cleaner at volume than pricier rivals like the Sonos Play. IP67 rated, and two units pair via AirTouch for true stereo sound.
Cons: Treble can sound bright and edgy, and it loses more output off-axis than some rivals. Some listeners hear mid-range rattling on certain tracks, similar to sibling JBL models. 12-hour battery life trails category leaders like the JBL Charge 6, which doubles it. Single unit is not stereo (1.1 driver layout).
Full Harman Kardon Luna 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.5" x 3.3" x 3.2" (216 x 84 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 62mm x 82mm woofer with passive radiator, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (4 presets + custom) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 40W (25W woofer + 15W tweeter) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs / 735 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- What Hi-Fi?: Harman Kardon Luna 2 review
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Sonos Play & Harman Kardon Luna 2 - listening test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Harman Kardon Luna 2 UNBOXING vs HK Luna Short Test More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Storytripper HD: Harman Kardon Luna vs Luna 2 More from storytripperhd →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs JBL Charge 5
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs JBL Flip 7
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs JBL Flip 6
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs JBL Charge 6
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- Harman Kardon Luna 2 vs Soundcore Motion 300
- See all 29 comparisons
Marshall Emberton III: $159.99 Amazon eBay
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 |
- 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 75 comparisons