Short answer: the Bogasing M5. It ranks #52 of 135 medium speakers by sound quality at $47.99; the Marshall Emberton II ranks #99 and costs $157.86, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
In favor of the Marshall Emberton II: It offers 30 hours of battery life, among the best in its class, with a 20 minute quick charge adding 4 hours, plus an IP67 rated, durable rubbery build using 50% recycled plastic. The downside: it has a strange, unnatural echo-like sound coloration with bass that doesn’t go as deep as competitors, isn’t technically a 360 degree speaker since it only fires front and rear, and isn’t very loud.
Bogasing M5’s strengths: It’s compact enough for a backpack side pocket at under 1.7 lb, offers up to 30 hours of battery life, and charges over USB-C with no proprietary cable to lose. The tradeoff: its front/rear driver configuration needs bass mode for the flattest response, and it sounds thin in the midrange with hot treble and rolled off bass in the default mode.
Buy the Bogasing M5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton II | Bogasing M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $157.86 | $47.99 |
| Ranked | #99 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #52 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | 61Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 80ms | - |
| Max Volume | 88dB | 96dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | - |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 700 g | 1.7 lbs / 757 g |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 6.3" x 3" x 2.8" (160 x 76 x 71 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 30W system |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | - |
| Built in Microphone | No | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No (front/rear drivers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| USB Playback | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Emberton II: $157.86 Amazon
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.
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.
Full Marshall Emberton II review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 80ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | 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 | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 700 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bogasing M5: $47.99 Amazon
Pros: Compact enough for a backpack side pocket at under 1.7 lb. Up to 30 hours of battery life. USB-C charging - no proprietary cable to lose.
Cons: Front/rear driver configuration. Use bass mode for the flattest response. Sounds thin in the midrange. Hot treble and rolled off bass in default mode. Treble a bit rolled off in bass mode.
Full Bogasing M5 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 61Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 3" x 2.8" (160 x 76 x 71 mm) |
| Drivers | 30W system |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Stereo | No (front/rear drivers) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 757 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons