Short answer: the ULT Field 3, and it costs less too. It ranks #102 of 142 medium speakers against the Emberton III’s #60, a 42 place gap, while costing $22.03 less.
The Emberton III’s biggest weakness is its sound signature. Its cons describe a strange, unnatural echo-like coloration and bass that is not as deep as competitors, on top of not being very loud. Its own notes add that it is not really any different from the Emberton II except for slightly reduced treble. The ULT Field 3 has real flaws too, sounding a bit hollow and a bit boosted in the treble, but that measures as a smaller step down than what the Emberton III’s cons describe.
The ULT Field 3 has one notable design quirk worth knowing before you buy. Its custom EQ and its ULT bass-boost button cannot be used together: turning on ULT disables the EQ, and the cons note that bass is very weak with ULT off. In practice that means picking one or the other rather than combining them, and even so the speaker reportedly lost to the JBL Charge 6 in a side-by-side comparison despite being the larger unit.
What the ULT Field 3 adds:
- A 10-band app EQ, well beyond the Emberton III’s 3 fixed presets.
- TWS pairing and USB-C power bank output, both missing on the Emberton III.
- AAC and LDAC Bluetooth codecs, versus the Emberton III’s SBC only.
What the Emberton III keeps in its favor: a longer 32 hour battery rating against the ULT Field 3’s 24 hours, plus a smaller, lighter, omnidirectional design.
Buy the ULT Field 3 for the better overall sound and the lower price, keeping in mind the EQ-versus-ULT-button tradeoff.
Buy the Emberton III only if the smaller omnidirectional shape and longer battery life outweigh its documented sound coloration for you.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton III | Sony ULT Field 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $160.03 | $138.00 |
| Ranked | #102 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 142 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) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 10.1" x 4.4" x 3.1" (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 27W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sony ULT Field 3 compares with other leading options:
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- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Minirig 4
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 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 III: $160.03 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. Not really any different from the Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Sony ULT Field 3: $138.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated, dustproof and water resistant. 24 hour battery life. App with 10-band EQ. Party Connect with up to 100 speakers. USB-C in/out for charging your phone.
Cons: Sounds a bit hollow, a bit boosted in the treble. Custom EQ and the ULT bass-boost button can’t be used together - turning on ULT disables the EQ. Bass is very weak with ULT off. Lost to the JBL Charge 6 in a side-by-side comparison despite being the larger speaker.
Full Sony ULT Field 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 27W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1" x 4.4" x 3.1" (256 x 113 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 20mm tweeter + 1x 86mm x 46mm woofer |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Bose Soundlink Mini
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