Short answer: the JBL Pulse 6. It ranks #49 of 164 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $329.95. The Marshall Emberton III ranks #122, rated 2.7/5, at $129.99, $199.96 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The JBL Pulse 6 is the better-sounding option. A 63.8mm woofer on 30W RMS and a 16mm tweeter on 10W RMS, with JBL rating the response down to 42Hz, well below the Pulse 5’s 58Hz. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. The tradeoff: No independent measurements or tested reviews have been published yet, so its real bass extension, loudness and tonal balance can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running, lighter pick. 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 12 for the JBL Pulse 6. At 1.5 lbs (673 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Pulse 6 at 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg). It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Pulse 6. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the JBL Pulse 6. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $199.96 you would save on the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Pulse 6 | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.95 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #49 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #122 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 40W RMS (30W woofer, 10W tweeter) | 20W |
| App | JBL One | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Capacity | 34Wh (7.2V, 4722mAh) | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C, lossless) | No |
| Dimensions | 10.4”H x 5.2”W x 4.2”D (264 x 132 x 106 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.8mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg) | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Pulse 6:
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- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Pulse 6
- Minirig 4 vs JBL Pulse 6
- Minirig 3 vs JBL Pulse 6
- Minirig 2 vs JBL Pulse 6
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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 Pulse 6: $329.95 Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Pulse 5 (ranked higher, rated 3.7/5).
Pros: A 63.8mm woofer on 30W RMS and a 16mm tweeter on 10W RMS, with JBL rating the response down to 42Hz, well below the Pulse 5’s 58Hz. IP68 makes it fully dustproof and submersible, a step up from the Pulse 5’s IP67. The 360° light show now runs over an illuminated carry handle too, with 16 themes, a double-tap bedside lamp and a Sunset Mode sleep timer in the JBL One app. Bluetooth 6.0 with SBC, AAC and LC3, lossless playback over USB-C, and Auracast for stereo pairing or linking PartyBox speakers and PartyLight Sticks.
Cons: No independent measurements or tested reviews have been published yet, so its real bass extension, loudness and tonal balance can’t be compared with ranked speakers. It plays in mono from one woofer and one tweeter, so a single unit gives no stereo separation. Battery life is rated at only 12 hours from its 34Wh pack, charging takes up to 4.5 hours, and the USB-C port can’t charge a phone. There is no strap, only the built-in handle.
Full JBL Pulse 6 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W RMS (30W woofer, 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | JBL One |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Capacity | 34Wh (7.2V, 4722mAh) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C, lossless) |
| Dimensions | 10.4”H x 5.2”W x 4.2”D (264 x 132 x 106 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.8mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
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Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5).
Smaller model: the Marshall Willen II (rated 4/5).
Larger model: the Marshall Middleton (rated 4/5).
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 Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| 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
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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