Short answer: the Klipsch Groove, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #105 of 157 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 2.8/5, at $9; the Marshall Emberton III ranks #115, rated 2.7/5, and costs $129.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 157 medium speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Earfun Uboom L instead, ranked #1 at $49.79.
What the Klipsch Groove does well: Pretty balanced sound in a compact, splash-resistant form factor. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. Watch for: Bass doesn’t go as deep as class leaders.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running, tougher choice. 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 8 for the Klipsch Groove. It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Klipsch Groove. It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the Klipsch Groove cannot. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Klipsch Groove. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton III and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Groove | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 9.00 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #105 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #115 of 157 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 5” x 6” x 2.6” (127 x 152 x 67 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3” full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 10W RMS | 20W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Klipsch Groove compares with other leading options:
- Earfun Uboom L vs Klipsch Groove
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Klipsch Groove
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Klipsch Groove
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Klipsch Groove
- Minirig 4 vs Klipsch Groove
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Klipsch Groove: 9.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Pretty balanced sound in a compact, splash-resistant form factor. IPX4 water resistance and ~8 hour battery life make it durable for outdoor and poolside use. 3-inch high excursion full-range driver paired with dual side-firing passive radiators.
Cons: Not stereo. Bass doesn’t go as deep as class leaders. Distortion sets in at higher output levels. Older Bluetooth 4.0 architecture without app EQ.
Full Klipsch Groove review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5” x 6” x 2.6” (127 x 152 x 67 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3” full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
- 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).
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
- 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
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- Marshall Emberton III vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
- See all 134 comparisons