Short answer: the Sonos Play. It ranks #56 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $299. The Marshall Emberton III ranks #125, rated 2.7/5, at $179.99, $119.01 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running, lighter 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 24 for the Sonos Play. At 1.5 lbs (673 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. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
The Sonos Play is the better-sounding choice. 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 III 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 $119.01 with the Marshall Emberton III 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 and a very long battery, plus 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 III | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #125 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 | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| 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 cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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