Bluetooth Speakers / Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Boom 2
Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Boom 2
Soundcore Boom 2
80W with a real subwoofer for $100 — the most bass per dollar here.
Wins overall by 0.4 points
Quick Verdict
The Soundcore Boom 2 is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.4 points. 80W with a real subwoofer for $100 — the most bass per dollar here.
The Marshall Emberton III and Soundcore Boom 2 are both current-generation bluetooth Speaker models, and the Soundcore Boom 2 is $80 cheaper than the Marshall Emberton III ($99.99 vs $179.99). On Bass, the Soundcore Boom 2 leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — low-end weight and extension for the size. On Portability, the Marshall Emberton III leads (8.0 vs 6.0/10) — weight, size and how easily it travels. On Loudness, the Soundcore Boom 2 leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — maximum usable volume before it strains. Overall, the Soundcore Boom 2 scores 8.1/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.7/10 for the Marshall Emberton III. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Marshall Emberton III | Soundcore Boom 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 | $99.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2024 |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 32✓ | 24 |
| Water & Dust Rating | IP67 — dust and water, to 1m for 30 minutes | IPX7 — water only, with no dust rating |
| Floats | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Power Output (W) | 76W of amplification (2x 38W Class D); note the drivers themselves are rated 2x 10W, and maximum SPL is 90dB at 1m | 80 |
| Weight (g) | 670✓ | 1700 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 LE with multipoint | 5.3 (some current listings claim 6.0, suggesting a possible hardware revision) |
| Drivers | 2x 2-inch 10W full-range drivers plus two passive radiators, in a True Stereophonic 360-degree arrangement | 2.1-channel — one subwoofer, two tweeters and two LED-lit passive radiators |
| Stereo & Multi-Speaker Pairing | Bluetooth multipoint is confirmed; Auracast was promised via firmware because the unit is LE Audio-ready, and a dedicated two-unit stereo mode is not documented by Marshall | PartyCast 2.0 chains up to 100 speakers, plus TWS dual pairing for true stereo |
| Speakerphone | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Charges Your Phone | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black and Brass, Cream | Black, Green |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Boom 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Soundcore Boom 2 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-point margin on low-end weight and extension for the size. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.5 — a 1.0-point margin on rated playtime and how it holds up at real listening volume. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Boom 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Boom 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Portability
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on weight, size and how easily it travels. If that is what you are buying for, the Soundcore Boom 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Loudness
The Soundcore Boom 2 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on maximum usable volume before it strains. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Soundcore Boom 2 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Soundcore Boom 2 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Marshall Emberton III if…
- • Portability matters most to you — the Marshall Emberton III scores 8.0/10 here (weight, size and how easily it travels).
- • Your main use case is portable or home.
Choose the Soundcore Boom 2 if…
- • Bass matters most to you — the Soundcore Boom 2 scores 9.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension for the size).
- • Loudness matters most to you — the Soundcore Boom 2 scores 8.5/10 here (maximum usable volume before it strains).
- • Features matters most to you — the Soundcore Boom 2 scores 8.5/10 here (app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras).
- • Value matters most to you — the Soundcore Boom 2 scores 9.0/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $80 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Marshall Emberton III
Pros
- +32+ hours is exceptional for a speaker this size
- +True Stereophonic gives real 360-degree presentation
- +IP67 dust and water rating
- +The most distinctive design in the category, and built to match
Cons
- −No USB charge-out
- −No aux input
- −Auracast support still depends on firmware that may not have shipped
- −Marshall does not document a true two-unit stereo pairing mode
- −The 76W figure is amplifier rating, not driver output — do not compare it directly to JBL's numbers
Soundcore Boom 2
Pros
- +80W with a real subwoofer — by far the most bass for the money here
- +Floats despite its size, and 24 hours of playback
- +9-band custom EQ in the Soundcore app
- +Doubles as a power bank for your phone
Cons
- −No dust rating, only IPX7
- −No 3.5mm aux input
- −SBC codec only
- −1.7kg makes it a carry-to-the-party speaker rather than a throw-in-a-bag one
- −Anker's own materials and current listings disagree on the Bluetooth version
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Marshall Emberton III or Soundcore Boom 2 better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Soundcore Boom 2 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Bass, the Marshall Emberton III or the Soundcore Boom 2?+
The Soundcore Boom 2 scores higher on Bass (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — low-end weight and extension for the size.
Which is better for Portability, the Marshall Emberton III or the Soundcore Boom 2?+
The Marshall Emberton III scores higher on Portability (8.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — weight, size and how easily it travels.
Which is better for Loudness, the Marshall Emberton III or the Soundcore Boom 2?+
The Soundcore Boom 2 scores higher on Loudness (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — maximum usable volume before it strains.
Which is better for Features, the Marshall Emberton III or the Soundcore Boom 2?+
The Soundcore Boom 2 scores higher on Features (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras.
Is the Marshall Emberton III worth the price difference over the Soundcore Boom 2?+
The Soundcore Boom 2 is the cheaper option at $99.99 versus $179.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Bass.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Marshall Emberton III is the better fit if you mainly care about portable or home. The Soundcore Boom 2 is the better fit for party or poolside.
What's the warranty on the Marshall Emberton III vs the Soundcore Boom 2?+
The Marshall Emberton III ships with a 12-month warranty; the Soundcore Boom 2 ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) — $159.00
Premium Option
Marshall Emberton III — $179.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.