Short answer: the Marshall Emberton III, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #126 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality (rated 2.7/5) at $129.99 and is still sold new; the Zealot S61 ranks #172 (rated 2.0/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 175 medium speakers; for better sound, the EarFun Uboom L ranks #2 at $49.79.
The Marshall Emberton III is the better-sounding option. 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Zealot S61 lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Zealot S61. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
What the Zealot S61 does well: 20W output, IPX7 waterproof, exceptional 40-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.2, TWS stereo pairing, compact 1.5 lbs (665 g) design, single full-range driver, built-in microphone, AUX input, USB-C charging. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. Watch for: Sounds like a soup can, no bass at all.
Buy the Marshall Emberton III. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Zealot S61 is discontinued.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Emberton III | Zealot S61 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $20 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #126 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #172 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | - |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) | 1.5 lbs (665 g) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) | 4.1” x 4.1” x 6.7” (103 x 103 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators | 66mm full-range |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No (single full-range driver) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 20W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Marshall Emberton III vs EarFun Uboom L
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- Soundcore Motion+ vs Marshall Emberton III
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Marshall Emberton III
- Marshall Emberton III vs Minirig 4
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 $129.99 eBay
Older models: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5) and the Marshall Emberton (ranked lower, estimated 2.6/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Same family: the Marshall Willen II (smaller model, rated 4/5), the Marshall Middleton II (larger model, rated 4.1/5), the Marshall Stockwell III (larger model, rated 3/5) and the Marshall Kilburn III (larger model, rated 3.8/5).
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 Marshall Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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
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Zealot S61: $20 Discontinued eBay
Pros: 20W output, IPX7 waterproof, exceptional 40-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.2, TWS stereo pairing, compact 665g design, single full-range driver, built-in microphone, AUX input, USB-C charging
Cons: Sounds like a soup can, no bass at all. Weird frequency response all over. Discontinued and no longer sold new.
Full Zealot S61 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 4.1” x 6.7” (103 x 103 x 170 mm) |
| Drivers | 66mm full-range |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No (single full-range driver) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (665 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons