Short answer: the Marshall Emberton II for better sound quality, the Dayton Audio Boost for the lower price, though neither ranks well in its class. The Marshall Emberton II ranks #127 of 179 medium speakers, rated 2.7/5, at $151.99. The Dayton Audio Boost ranks #153, rated 2.4/5, at $29.98, $122.01 cheaper. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 179 medium speakers, and the EarFun Uboom L, ranked #2 at $49.79, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Marshall Emberton II is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling, a very long battery and quick charging. Its bass reaches about 62Hz before falling 10dB, against 87Hz for the Dayton Audio Boost. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 6 for the Dayton Audio Boost. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Dayton Audio Boost lacks. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
The Dayton Audio Boost is the lighter option. A small, cheap soda can sized waterproof speaker with stereo pairing, microSD playback and an aux input. At 0.9 lbs (426 g) it weighs much less than the Marshall Emberton II at 1.5 lbs (700 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton II lacks. The tradeoff: Some midrange peaks, treble slightly rolled off.
Buy the Marshall Emberton II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Dayton Audio Boost if the price matters more than sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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
| Marshall Emberton II | Dayton Audio Boost | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $151.99 | $29.98 |
| Ranked | #127 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #153 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 80ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | - |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) | 0.9 lbs (426 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 3.5” x 3.5” x 4.3” (88.9 x 88.9 x 109.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 1.5” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 70W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Emberton II: