Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It ranks #11 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $395. The Marshall Emberton III ranks #125, rated 2.7/5, at $179.99, $215.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running pick. A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling and a very long battery, plus quick charging. It is rated for 32 hours of battery against 18 for the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
The B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen is the better-sounding pick. A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel. It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $215.01 with the Marshall Emberton III does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling and a very long battery, plus quick charging.
A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton III | B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 | $395.00 |
| Ranked | #125 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | - |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) | 1.2 lbs (558 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 5.2”W x 5.2”D x 1.8”H (133 x 133 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators | 3.5mm aluminium driver + 0.75 inch silk dome tweeter |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | Pointing up |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 60W total (2x 30W Class D) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 90ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
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