Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2. It ranks #80 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90; the Marshall Emberton II ranks #129, rated 2.7/5, and costs $151.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The JBL Flip Essential 2 is the better-sounding, lighter choice. A compact, affordable waterproof speaker that gets fairly loud for its size and connects to two phones at once. At 1.1 lbs (520 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Marshall Emberton II at 1.5 lbs (700 g). The tradeoff: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the JBL Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight.
The Marshall Emberton II is the longer-running option. A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling, a very long battery and quick charging. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 10 for the JBL Flip Essential 2. It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the JBL Flip Essential 2 cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Flip Essential 2 lacks. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the JBL Flip Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton II and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | Marshall Emberton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $151.99 |
| Ranked | #80 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #129 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 20W |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| TWS | No | No |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 80ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Flip Essential 2: reviews by Speaker Fan, Angelicaaudio and AudioTribe.
- Marshall Emberton II: reviews by Alan Ross and Passione Speaker.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Flip Essential 2: