Short answer: the Tronsmart T8. It ranks #52 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $49.99; the Marshall Emberton II ranks #111, rated 2.7/5, and costs $159.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Tronsmart T8 does well: Two upward firing drivers, a woofer and two passive radiators spread sound evenly around the speaker, so placement matters less. The tradeoff: 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 case for the Marshall Emberton II: 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. The catch: 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.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tronsmart T8 | Marshall Emberton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $159.99 |
| Ranked | #52 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #111 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| 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 |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Tronsmart T8:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Tronsmart T8
- JBL Charge 6 vs Tronsmart T8
- JBL Flip 6 vs Tronsmart T8
- JBL Flip 7 vs Tronsmart T8
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Tronsmart T8
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Tronsmart T8: $49.99 Best Buy Tronsmart eBay
Pros: Two upward firing drivers, a woofer and two passive radiators spread sound evenly around the speaker, so placement matters less. In AudioPro Reviews’ and Dresser’s comparisons most listeners preferred it to the JBL Flip 6, JBL Flip 7 and Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 for its fuller body and less fatiguing treble, and Audioreviews.org found it stayed clean at maximum volume. It is rated for 40W, with IPX7 waterproofing, an 18 hour battery rating, app EQ, lights, a volume wheel, aux input, TF card playback, a lanyard and stereo pairing.
Cons: 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. Josh’s Gadgets and More preferred the cheaper Vortex Blast for smoother highs and deeper bass. Bass is rated only down to 56Hz.
Full Tronsmart T8 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Tronsmart) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours at 50% volume, lights off (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 3.2”W x 3.2”D (218 x 82 x 82 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x upward firing full-range drivers + 1x woofer + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (app) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (lanyard) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (0.80 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- AudioPro Reviews: Tronsmart T8 vs JBL Flip 6 | Which one sounds BETTER?
- Dresser: JBL Flip 7 vs Tronsmart T8 Bluetooth speaker sound test
- Dresser: Tronsmart T8 vs UE mega boom 3 sound test
- Mateusz Cholewa: Tronsmart T8 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor & Opinion in Subtitles More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Techder Audios: Xiaomi Sound Party 50w VS Tronsmart T8 More from techderaudios →
- Techder Audios: Xdobo X8 IV VS Tronsmart T8
- Josh’s Gadgets and More: Tronsmart T8 vs Vortex Blast
- Audioreviews.org: Tronsmart T8 Portable Bluetooth 5.3 Speaker Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Tronsmart T8 vs Tribit Stormbox Flow
- Tronsmart T8 vs JBL Charge 4
- Tronsmart T8 vs W-King D320
- Tronsmart T8 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- Tronsmart T8 vs Soundcore 3/Soundcore Select 2
- Tronsmart T8 vs Earfun Uboom Slim
- Tronsmart T8 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- Tronsmart T8 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- See all 33 comparisons
Marshall Emberton II: $159.99 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
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs Marshall Stockwell 2 - little guy goes louder?? 🤓 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex vs Minirig MK3 and Marshall Emberton - best bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Flip 6 vs Marshall Emberton review - mono or pseudo surround sound? 🤷♀️
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs JBL Flip 5 & Soundcore Boost - true stereophonic 🤓
- Passione Speaker: Bass Test Marshall Emberton 2 vs Emberton 3
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Emberton II vs Marshall Emberton III
- Marshall Emberton II vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Marshall Emberton II vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Marshall Emberton II vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton II vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Marshall Emberton II vs Soundcore Flare 2
- Marshall Emberton II vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Marshall Emberton II vs W-King D8 Mini
- See all 134 comparisons