Short answer: pick the Emberton III for playtime, the True X Speaker 1A for a soundbar surround role, though neither ranks well in its class. The Marshall Emberton III runs 30 hours, among the best in its class, with a 20 min quick-charge giving 4 hours, but it has a strange echo-like coloration and shallow bass. The Yamaha is the cheaper of the two at $150 against $129.99 yet has an upper-mids peak that makes voices sibilant. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 151 medium speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Earfun Uboom L instead, ranked #1 at $49.79.
Buy the Yamaha True X Speaker 1A. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $20.01 you would save on the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap.
Battery life favors the Marshall Emberton III: rated for 32 hours against 12 hours for the Yamaha True X Speaker 1A.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha True X Speaker 1A | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #107 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #111 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (500 g) | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 3.5” x 3.5” (105 x 90 x 90 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 55mm (2.2”) full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 10W | 20W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Yamaha True X Speaker 1A:
- JBL Charge 6 vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- JBL Flip 7 vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Sony ULT Field 3 vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Yamaha True X Speaker 1A: $150 Amazon eBay
Pros: Doubles as a wireless surround speaker for Yamaha True X soundbars, or a standalone speaker via ‘Solo’ mode. IP67 rated. Clear Voice technology boosts dialogue clarity.
Cons: Not very deep bass, upper mids peak that makes voices sibilant
Full Yamaha True X Speaker 1A review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 3.5” x 3.5” (105 x 90 x 90 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 55mm (2.2”) full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (500 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Tribit Stormbox
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Marshall Emberton II
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Sony ULT Field 3
- See all 10 comparisons
Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, 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. 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
- Marshall Emberton III vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Marshall Emberton II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton III vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XE300
- See all 134 comparisons