Short answer: the Tronsmart T8. It ranks #54 of 182 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $49.99; the Marshall Emberton II ranks #129, rated 2.7/5, and costs $151.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Tronsmart T8 is the better-sounding pick. An affordable waterproof speaker with upward firing drivers that spread sound around, plus lights, app EQ, an aux input and stereo pairing. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Marshall Emberton II lacks. The catch: Against the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor, listeners in Mateusz Cholewa’s comparison found the T8 harsh and tiring, and Techder Audios’ test showed the Xiaomi Sound Party with deeper, heavier bass.
The Marshall Emberton II is the longer-running option. A tough waterproof speaker with Marshall styling, a very long battery and quick charging. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 18 for the Tronsmart T8. The tradeoff: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Tronsmart T8. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton II and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Tronsmart T8 | Marshall Emberton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $151.99 |
| Ranked | #54 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #129 of 182 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 20W |
| App | Yes (Tronsmart) | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours | - |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators | 2x 2” full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (app) | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) | 1.5 lbs (700 g) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 80ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Tronsmart T8: reviews by Mateusz Cholewa, Techder Audios and Jagist.
- Marshall Emberton II: reviews by Alan Ross and Passione Speaker.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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