Short answer: the Marshall Emberton III, if you are buying new. The Minirig 2 ranks higher than it (#9 vs #122 of 164 medium speakers, 4.3/5 vs 2.7/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Marshall Emberton III is still sold new at $129.99.
The Minirig 2 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer. Its bass reaches about 54Hz before falling 10dB, against 62Hz for the Marshall Emberton III. At 1.1 lbs (488 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Marshall Emberton III at 1.5 lbs (673 g). It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. The tradeoff: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating.
The Marshall Emberton III is the tougher choice. 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. Watch for: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Marshall Emberton III if you want one new; the Minirig 2 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 2 | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $140 Discontinued | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #9 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #122 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) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (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 (673 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 150ms (1 speaker) / 500ms (2 speakers stereo) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 70mm speaker driver | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” 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 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Minirig 2 compares with other leading options:
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- Minirig 2 vs Minirig 4
- Minirig 2 vs Minirig 3
- B&O Beosound A1 vs Minirig 2
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 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
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