Short answer: the Marshall Emberton III. It ranks #99 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $129.99; the Sony SRS-XB30 ranks #104 and costs $199, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Marshall Emberton III: 30 hour battery life - among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. The tradeoff: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
What the Sony SRS-XB30 gets right: IPX5 rated. The catch: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20.
Buy the Marshall Emberton III. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB30 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony SRS-XB30. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton III | Sony SRS-XB30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $199 |
| Ranked | #99 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #104 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 673 g | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W | 20W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Max Volume | - | 95dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Marshall Emberton II
- Marshall Emberton II vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Soundcore Flare 2 vs B&O Beosound Explore
- Marshall Emberton II vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Marshall Emberton III
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon
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.
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. Not really any different from the Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 673 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Emberton III vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Marshall Emberton II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Marshall Emberton III vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Marshall Emberton III vs Beats Pill 2024
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Marshall Emberton III vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
Sony SRS-XB30: $199
Pros: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume).
Cons: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
Full Sony SRS-XB30 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons