Short answer: the JBL Charge 4. It ranks #50 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $119.95; the Marshall Emberton III ranks #99 and costs $165.04, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Charge 4 offers: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. IPX7 rated and floats. ~20 hour battery life; wirelessly links with 100+ JBL Connect+ speakers. Watch for: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver. Boosted bass, top a little rolled off, warm sound. Not as loud as a Charge 3.
What the Marshall Emberton III offers: 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. Watch for: 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 JBL Charge 4. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton III and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Marshall Emberton III is rated for 32 hours, the JBL Charge 4 only 20 hours.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 4 | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.95 Discontinued | $165.04 |
| Ranked | #50 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #99 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 30W RMS | 20W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| App | - | Yes |
| EQ | - | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
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- JBL Charge 4 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Tribit Xsound Mega vs Marshall Emberton III
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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
JBL Charge 4: $119.95 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. IPX7 rated and floats. ~20 hour battery life; wirelessly links with 100+ JBL Connect+ speakers.
Cons: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver. Boosted bass, top a little rolled off, warm sound. Not as loud as a Charge 3. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 4 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 30W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Reddit Search for JBL Charge 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- JBL Charge 4 vs Bose Soundlink Revolve
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- JBL Charge 4 vs Bose Soundlink Revolve+
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Marshall Emberton III: $165.04 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
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- 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 74 comparisons