Short answer: the Marshall Emberton III wins on battery life, while the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 is the more water-oriented, floating option, though neither ranks well in its class. Both make meaningful compromises in sound quality, so durability and everyday convenience are the deciding factors. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 164 medium speakers, and the Earfun Uboom L, ranked #2 at $49.79, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Emberton III reaches about 30 hours of playtime and can gain several more hours from a short charge. Its strange echo-like coloration and limited bass depth mean that endurance is its main advantage, not its sonic refinement.
The Boom 4 floats, is IP67 rated, and finally moves to USB-C. It remains a modest update to the older Boom formula, with weak and somewhat thuddy bass plus rising distortion near maximum volume.
Buy the Marshall Emberton III if very long battery life and quick charging outweigh the need for deep bass or high volume.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 if floating waterproof construction, USB-C charging, and app features are your priorities.
Battery life favors the Marshall Emberton III: rated for 32 hours against 15 hours for the Ultimate Ears Boom 4.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton III | Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $149.99 |
| Ranked | #122 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #110 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | - |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) | 1.4 lbs (620 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) | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | Yes (via app) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5).
Smaller model: the Marshall Willen II (rated 4/5).
Larger model: the Marshall Middleton (rated 4/5).
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 | Yes |
| 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 |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
- 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
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- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton III vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
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Ultimate Ears Boom 4: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5).
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. 15 hour battery. Customizable EQ and speaker-pairing via the UE app.
Cons: Not much improvement over the old ones. Weak bass extension and thuddy bass. Gets distorted above 90%
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 2.9” x 2.9” (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57” (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81” x 2.57” (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 85dBC (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (620 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
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