JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Marshall Emberton III

Short answer: the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It ranks #29 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $139.95. The Marshall Emberton III ranks #126, rated 2.7/5, at $129.99, $9.96 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.

The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. Sounds exactly the same as the non-Wifi version. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 10dB, against 62Hz for the Marshall Emberton III. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. The tradeoff: Shouty upper mids.

The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running, lighter option. 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. It is rated for 32 hours of battery against 20 for the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. At 1.5 lbs (673 g) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at 2.2 lbs (1 kg). It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi cannot. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.

Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $9.96 saving on the Marshall Emberton III is not enough to make up the difference.

Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 5 Wifi: $139.95 Amazon $139.95 eBay

Same family: the JBL Charge 5 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 4/5). See every JBL Charge generation.

Pros: Has Wifi. Sounds exactly the same as the non-Wifi version. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).

Cons: Not stereo. Warm sound. Shouty upper mids. Boosted bass. Slightly rolled off treble. Overly expensive. No party mode on the wifi version

Full JBL Charge 5 Wifi review and specifications →

Released	May 2023 (3 years ago)
Amplifier Power	40W
App	Yes
Aux Input	No
Bass Extension (-10dB)	53Hz
Battery Life	20 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth	Yes
Bluetooth Codecs	AAC, SBC
Bluetooth Version	5.3
Built-in Microphone	Yes (dual microphones)
Digital Aux Input	No
Dimensions	8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm)
Drivers	53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter
EQ	Yes (3 band)
Frequency Response	60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
IP Rating	IP67
Maximum SPL	99dB (Manufacturer specified)
Omnidirectional	No
Party Mode	No
Power Bank	Yes (USB-A)
Power Input	USB-C
Stereo	No
Strap	No
Streaming Services	AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music
TWS	Yes
Weight	2.2 lbs (1000 g)
Wi-Fi	Yes

• Links
  • Official JBL Charge 5 Wifi Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 5 Wifi Review - Is Wifi Worth The Upgrade? More from GYMCADDY →
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Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon $129.99 eBay

Older models: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5) and the Marshall Emberton (ranked lower, estimated 2.6/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.

Same family: the Marshall Willen II (smaller model, rated 4/5), the Marshall Middleton II (larger model, rated 4.1/5), the Marshall Stockwell III (larger model, rated 3/5) and the Marshall Kilburn III (larger model, rated 3.8/5).

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. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-10dB).

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 Marshall Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.

Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →

Released	Aug 2024 (2 years ago)
Amplifier Power	20W
App	Yes
Aux Input	No
Bass Extension (-10dB)	62Hz
Battery Life	32 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth	Yes
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
Party Mode	Yes (Marshall Stack)
Power Bank	No
Power Input	USB-C
Stereo	Yes
Strap	No
TWS	No
Weight	1.5 lbs (673 g)

• Links
  • Official Marshall Emberton III Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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