Short answer: the Soundcore 2. It ranks #106 of 175 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $29.99; the Marshall Emberton III ranks #126, rated 2.7/5, and costs $129.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Soundcore 2 is the lighter choice. At 0.7 lbs (318 g) it weighs much less than the Marshall Emberton III at 1.5 lbs (673 g). It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running choice. 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. It is rated for 32 hours of battery against 24 for the Soundcore 2. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Soundcore 2 lacks. It charges over USB-C rather than Micro USB. The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Soundcore 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton III and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore 2 | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #106 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #126 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (318 g) | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Drivers | 2x 38mm fullrange | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 6.6” x 1.9” x 2.2” (168 x 47 x 56 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 12W | 20W |
| App | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Soundcore 2 compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore 2 vs EarFun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Soundcore 2
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Soundcore 2
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Soundcore 2
- Soundcore 2 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
Soundcore 2: $29.99 Amazon $29.99 eBay
Newer model: the Soundcore 3, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Jan 2021. It adds app control and adjustable EQ, but drops the aux input. See every Soundcore 2 and 3 generation.
Pros: Soundcore 2 uses 2x 38mm fullrange. Its 318 g, claimed 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IPX7 protection, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Its 70Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment.
Full Soundcore 2 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 12W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.6” x 1.9” x 2.2” (168 x 47 x 56 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 38mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (318 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore 2 vs Tribit Stormbox 2
- Soundcore 2 vs LG Xboom Grab
- Soundcore 2 vs Tribit Xsound Surf
- Soundcore 2 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Soundcore 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
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- Soundcore 2 vs Tribit Xsound Go
- Soundcore 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- See all 140 comparisons
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
- 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 Sony SRS-XB20
- Marshall Emberton III vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton III vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
- See all 141 comparisons