Short answer: the Marshall Emberton II, if you are buying new. The Minirig 2 ranks higher than it (#9 vs #123 of 164 medium speakers, 4.3/5 vs 2.7/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Marshall Emberton II is still sold new at $144.99.
The Minirig 2 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 10dB, against 62Hz for the Marshall Emberton II. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 95dB at full volume, against 88dB for the Marshall Emberton II. It is rated for 40 hours of battery against 30 for the Marshall Emberton II. Watch for: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating.
The Marshall Emberton II is the tougher pick. 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. It is rated IP67 against Splash resistant for the Minirig 2. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Minirig 2. The tradeoff: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Marshall Emberton II, since the Minirig 2 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 2 | Marshall Emberton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $140 Discontinued | $144.99 |
| Ranked | #9 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #123 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary USB cable | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Yes |
| TWS | Yes (cable) | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (488 g) | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 150ms (1 speaker) / 500ms (2 speakers stereo) | 80ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Drivers | 70mm speaker driver | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 15W | 20W |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” (102 x 76 mm) (diameter x height) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Strap | - | No |
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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
Minirig 2: $140 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Minirig 4, ranked higher, rated 4.3/5.
Pros: Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 54Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating. App is buggy. Wireless TWS pairing is buggy. A bit expensive. Has reliability issues more often than any other speaker. Discontinued; Minirig’s current lineup is the Minirig 4, Subwoofer 4 Ultra and Finite MR-79.
Full Minirig 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 15W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX |
| Bluetooth Latency | 150ms (1 speaker) / 500ms (2 speakers stereo) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” (102 x 76 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 70mm speaker driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary USB cable |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (cable) |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (488 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Marshall Emberton II: $144.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Emberton III, ranked higher, rated 2.7/5.
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.
Full Marshall Emberton II review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 80ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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