Short answer: the Marshall Emberton III, if you are buying new, though neither ranks well in its class. The Marshall Emberton ranks higher than the LG Xboom Go PL5 (#138 vs #146 of 175 medium speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Marshall Emberton III, is rated 2.7/5 at $129.99 and is still sold new. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 175 medium speakers, and the EarFun Uboom L, ranked #2 at $49.79, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
What the LG Xboom Go PL5 does well: 18 hour battery life; IPX5 rated. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Emberton lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton lacks. It links with other speakers (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers), which the Marshall Emberton cannot. The catch: Barely any bass.
The Marshall Emberton is the longer-running, tougher pick. Two full range drivers fire in stereo with a wide, enveloping soundstage, and RTINGS found its mids and treble balanced for clear vocals. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 15 for the LG Xboom Go PL5. It is rated IPX7 against IPX5 for the LG Xboom Go PL5. The catch: Little low bass and it does not get very loud.
Buy the Marshall Emberton III, the replacement for the discontinued Marshall Emberton; it is rated higher for sound quality than the LG Xboom Go PL5.
Worth knowing: the Marshall Emberton has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.4 to 2.9, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| LG Xboom Go PL5 | Marshall Emberton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #146 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #138 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers Estimated |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 71Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (640 g) | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.1” x 3.1” (201 x 79 x 79 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) | No |
| App | Yes (LG XBOOM App) | No |
| EQ | Yes (via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 20W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Marshall Emberton:
- Marshall Emberton vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Marshall Emberton vs Marshall Emberton III
- Marshall Emberton vs Marshall Emberton II
- Sonos Roam 2 vs LG Xboom Go PL5
- Marshall Emberton II vs LG Xboom Go PL5
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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
LG Xboom Go PL5: $179.00 Amazon $179.00 eBay
Same family: the LG Xboom Go PL7 (larger model, rated 2.4/5).
Pros: 18 hour battery life; IPX5 rated. LED lights sync to music via the LG XBOOM app; Wireless Party Link connects up to 100 speakers. USB-C charging. Measured bass extension of 71Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Barely any bass. 14kHz peak, bright on top. Soundboost mode makes the top end even harsher.
Full LG Xboom Go PL5 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
| App | Yes (LG XBOOM App) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 71Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.1” x 3.1” (201 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (640 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs B&O Beosound Explore
- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs Harman Kardon Esquire 2
- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs Marshall Emberton II
- See all 38 comparisons
Marshall Emberton: $169.99 Discontinued Estimated eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Emberton III, ranked higher, rated 2.7/5, released Aug 2024. See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Pros: Two full range drivers fire in stereo with a wide, enveloping soundstage, and RTINGS found its mids and treble balanced for clear vocals. IPX7 waterproof with a tough silicone and metal build. Up to 20 hours of battery with USB-C charging. Compact and light at 700 g.
Cons: Little low bass and it does not get very loud. No app, EQ or sound adjustments. Cannot pair with a second speaker, unlike the Marshall Emberton II. No aux input or speakerphone. Discontinued, replaced by the Marshall Emberton II.
Full Marshall Emberton review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Danny Pops: Marshall Emberton Review - One of the best yet! More from DannyPops →
- Danny Pops: Marshall Emberton II Review! Compared to Marshall Emberton Original
- Danny Pops: BOSE SOUNDLINK FLEX VS MARSHALL EMBERTON… WOW!
- Danny Pops: BLIND BLUETOOTH SPEAKER TEST - Marshall Emberton VS Bose Soundlink Flex VS JBL Flip 5
- Danny Pops: Marshall EMBERTON vs EVERYTHING (almost)
- RTINGS: Marshall Emberton Review More from Rtings.com →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons