Bluetooth Speakers / Marshall Emberton III vs Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4
Marshall Emberton III vs Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4
Marshall Emberton III
32+ hours, IP67 and 360-degree sound in the most distinctive body here.
Wins overall by 0.8 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.8-point gap makes the Marshall Emberton III the straightforward choice here. 32+ hours, IP67 and 360-degree sound in the most distinctive body here.
The Marshall Emberton III and Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 are both current-generation bluetooth Speaker models, and the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is $100 cheaper than the Marshall Emberton III ($79.99 vs $179.99). On Battery, the Marshall Emberton III leads (9.5 vs 6.5/10) — rated playtime and how it holds up at real listening volume. On Features, the Marshall Emberton III leads (7.0 vs 4.5/10) — app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras. On Sound Quality, the Marshall Emberton III leads (8.0 vs 7.0/10) — tonal balance, clarity and detail. Overall, the Marshall Emberton III scores 7.7/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.9/10 for the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4. 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 | Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 | $79.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2024 |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 32✓ | 14 |
| Water & Dust Rating | IP67 — dust and water, to 1m for 30 minutes | IP67 — dust and water, to 1m for 30 minutes |
| 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 | Ultimate Ears does not publish wattage; maximum SPL is quoted as 87dB |
| Weight (g) | 670 | 420✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 LE with multipoint | 5.2 |
| Drivers | 2x 2-inch 10W full-range drivers plus two passive radiators, in a True Stereophonic 360-degree arrangement | 2x 40mm active drivers plus 2x 46.1 x 65.2mm 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 | Double Up pairs two WONDERBOOM 4 units; it is not cross-compatible with earlier WONDERBOOMs, BOOM, MEGABOOM or HYPERBOOM |
| Speakerphone | Yes | No |
| App EQ | Yes | No |
| Charges Your Phone | No | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black and Brass, Cream | Black, Blue, Pink, Grey |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 6.5 against 6.0 — a 0.5-point margin on low-end weight and extension for the size. If that is what you are buying for, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.5 — a 3.0-point margin on rated playtime and how it holds up at real listening volume. If that is what you are buying for, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.5 — a 1.0-point margin on IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap elsewhere.
Portability
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on weight, size and how easily it travels. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap elsewhere.
Loudness
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 6.5 against 6.0 — a 0.5-point margin on maximum usable volume before it strains. If that is what you are buying for, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 7.0 against 4.5 — a 2.5-point margin on app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Marshall Emberton III and Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 are level here, at 7.5/10 each. performance and features relative to price is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Marshall Emberton III if…
- • Battery matters most to you — the Marshall Emberton III scores 9.5/10 here (rated playtime and how it holds up at real listening volume).
- • Features matters most to you — the Marshall Emberton III scores 7.0/10 here (app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Marshall Emberton III scores 8.0/10 here (tonal balance, clarity and detail).
- • Bass matters most to you — the Marshall Emberton III scores 6.5/10 here (low-end weight and extension for the size).
- • Your main use case is home.
Choose the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 if…
- • Durability matters most to you — the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 scores 9.5/10 here (IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats).
- • You want to spend less — it's $100 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is poolside.
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
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4
Pros
- +It genuinely floats, which matters at a pool or on a boat
- +IP67 plus a 5-foot drop rating — the most rugged small speaker here
- +360-degree sound is more room-filling than a forward-firing design
- +Outdoor Boost is genuinely useful outside
Cons
- −No companion app and no EQ at all
- −No microphone, so it cannot take calls
- −Ultimate Ears publishes no power figure
- −Distorts noticeably when pushed loud
- −Cannot pair with any other Ultimate Ears speaker, only another WONDERBOOM 4
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Marshall Emberton III or Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Marshall Emberton III 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 Battery, the Marshall Emberton III or the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4?+
The Marshall Emberton III scores higher on Battery (9.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — rated playtime and how it holds up at real listening volume.
Which is better for Features, the Marshall Emberton III or the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4?+
The Marshall Emberton III scores higher on Features (7.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the Marshall Emberton III or the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4?+
The Marshall Emberton III scores higher on Sound Quality (8.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — tonal balance, clarity and detail.
Which is better for Durability, the Marshall Emberton III or the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4?+
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 scores higher on Durability (9.5/10 vs 8.5/10) — IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats.
Is the Marshall Emberton III worth the price difference over the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4?+
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is the cheaper option at $79.99 versus $179.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Battery.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Marshall Emberton III is the better fit if you mainly care about home. The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 is the better fit for poolside.
What's the warranty on the Marshall Emberton III vs the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4?+
The Marshall Emberton III ships with a 12-month warranty; the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 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
JBL Go 5 — $49.95
Premium Option
JBL Charge 6 — $199.95
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.