Short answer: the Tribit Stormbox 2. It ranks #80 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $70; the Marshall Emberton III ranks #99 and costs $129.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Marshall Emberton III side: 30 hour battery life, among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
What the Tribit Stormbox 2 gets right: A little better sounding than the Stormbox 1, less of a rolled off treble. The tradeoff: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton III and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton III | Tribit Stormbox 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $70 |
| Ranked | #99 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #80 of 136 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 | 1.3 lbs / 593 g |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 6.3" x 2.7" x 3" (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2" full-range cone drivers + 2x 2" passive radiators | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No (front/rear drivers) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Output Power | 20W | 34W RMS |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 200ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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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 Teufel Rockster Go
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton III vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
- See all 22 comparisons
Tribit Stormbox 2: $70 Amazon
Pros: A little better sounding than the Stormbox 1, less of a rolled off treble. Keep Xbass on for best frequency response.
Cons: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Full Tribit Stormbox 2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Latency | 200ms |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 2.7" x 2.7" (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 34W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Stereo | No (front/rear drivers) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 593 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox 2 - sound test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox 2 - wow is this deliberate? 🤔 More from alanrossreviews →
- Storytripper HD: Tribit Micro 2 vs Tribit STormBox 2 vs Tribit StormBox Mini More from storytripperhd →
- Reddit Search for Tribit Stormbox 2 Review
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