Short answer: the Marshall Emberton II if sound quality matters most, the Xdobo X8 if price matters most. The Marshall Emberton II ranks #103 of 142 medium speakers at $159.99. The Xdobo X8 ranks #125 at $35, $124.99 cheaper.
What the Marshall Emberton II offers: 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. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Not very loud.
What the Xdobo X8 offers: A compact 860g speaker with a useful practical feature set: IPX5 splash resistance, USB-C charging, aux and microSD playback, speakerphone and TWS pairing. Reviews consistently find it surprisingly loud and full-bodied for the size, making it a plausible inexpensive outdoor/background-music option. Watch for: The single full-range driver is the limitation. Reviews note a harsh midrange, rolled-off treble and audible distortion, while bass extension is only about 65Hz. It can play loud, but it does not have the clarity or control for attentive listening.
Buy the Marshall Emberton II when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Xdobo X8 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Skip the Xdobo X8 if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 142 medium speakers.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Marshall Emberton II is rated for 30 hours, the Xdobo X8 only 15 hours.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton II | Xdobo X8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.99 | $35 |
| Ranked | #103 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #125 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | ~65Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 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) | 1.9 lbs (860 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| 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) | 8.7" x 3.7" x 2.8" (220 x 95 x 72 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 66mm full-range driver |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 60W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Emberton II: $159.99 Amazon eBay
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.
Full Marshall Emberton II review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs JBL Flip 5 & Soundcore Boost - true stereophonic 🤓
- Passione Speaker: Bass Test Marshall Emberton 2 vs Emberton 3
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Xdobo X8: $35 eBay
Pros: A compact 860g speaker with a useful practical feature set: IPX5 splash resistance, USB-C charging, aux and microSD playback, speakerphone and TWS pairing. Reviews consistently find it surprisingly loud and full-bodied for the size, making it a plausible inexpensive outdoor/background-music option. Measured bass extension of ~65Hz (-10dB).
Cons: The single full-range driver is the limitation. Reviews note a harsh midrange, rolled-off treble and audible distortion, while bass extension is only about 65Hz. It can play loud, but it does not have the clarity or control for attentive listening.
Full Xdobo X8 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~65Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 3.7" x 2.8" (220 x 95 x 72 mm) |
| Drivers | 66mm full-range driver |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.9 lbs (860 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons