Short answer: the Sonos Play. It ranks #56 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $299. The Marshall Emberton II ranks #126, rated 2.7/5, at $114, $185 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Marshall Emberton II is the lighter pick. A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling, a very long battery and quick charging. At 1.5 lbs (700 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the Sonos Play cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
The Sonos Play is the better-sounding pick. A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton II lacks. The tradeoff: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Buy the Sonos Play. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $185 with the Marshall Emberton II does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling, a very long battery and quick charging.
A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton II | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.00 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #126 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 80ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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