Bluetooth Speakers / Sonos Move 2 vs Marshall Emberton III
Sonos Move 2 vs Marshall Emberton III
Marshall Emberton III
32+ hours, IP67 and 360-degree sound in the most distinctive body here.
Wins overall by 0.4 points
Quick Verdict
The Marshall Emberton III takes this by a clear 0.4 points. 32+ hours, IP67 and 360-degree sound in the most distinctive body here. The Sonos Move 2 only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Sonos Move 2 and Marshall Emberton III are both closely matched bluetooth Speaker models, and the Marshall Emberton III is $319 cheaper than the Sonos Move 2 ($179.99 vs $499). On Portability, the Marshall Emberton III leads (8.0 vs 4.5/10) — weight, size and how easily it travels. On Durability, the Marshall Emberton III leads (8.5 vs 6.0/10) — IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats. On Bass, the Sonos Move 2 leads (8.0 vs 6.5/10) — low-end weight and extension for the size. Overall, the Marshall Emberton III scores 7.7/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.3/10 for the Sonos Move 2. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Sonos Move 2 | Marshall Emberton III |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 | $179.99 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2024 |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 24 | 32✓ |
| Water & Dust Rating | IP56 — dust-protected and resistant to water jets, but NOT submersible | IP67 — dust and water, to 1m for 30 minutes |
| Floats | No | Not confirmed |
| Power Output (W) | Sonos publishes three class-D amplifiers but no wattage figure | 76W of amplification (2x 38W Class D); note the drivers themselves are rated 2x 10W, and maximum SPL is 90dB at 1m |
| Weight (g) | 3000 | 670✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 LE with multipoint |
| Drivers | Two angled tweeters plus one midwoofer in a sealed enclosure, driven by three class-D amplifiers | 2x 2-inch 10W full-range drivers plus two passive radiators, in a True Stereophonic 360-degree arrangement |
| Stereo & Multi-Speaker Pairing | Stereo pair two Move 2 units over Wi-Fi, plus full multiroom grouping across a Sonos system; there is no Auracast-style Bluetooth chaining | 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 |
| Speakerphone | A far-field microphone array is present for Alexa and Trueplay; Sonos does not document call handling | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Charges Your Phone | Amazon's listing claims USB-C phone charging while a retailer datasheet says it is unavailable — unresolved | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, White, Olive | Black and Brass, Cream |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Sonos Move 2 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Emberton III does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Sonos Move 2 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-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 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on rated playtime and how it holds up at real listening volume. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Move 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.0 — a 2.5-point margin on IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Move 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Portability
The Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 8.0 against 4.5 — a 3.5-point margin on weight, size and how easily it travels. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Move 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Loudness
The Sonos Move 2 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-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 Sonos Move 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 Marshall Emberton III leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Move 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Sonos Move 2 if…
- • Bass matters most to you — the Sonos Move 2 scores 8.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension for the size).
- • Features matters most to you — the Sonos Move 2 scores 8.5/10 here (app EQ, multi-speaker pairing, charge-out and extras).
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).
- • Durability matters most to you — the Marshall Emberton III scores 8.5/10 here (IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats).
- • 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).
- • You want to spend less — it's $319 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Sonos Move 2
Pros
- +Genuine stereo from one box, which nothing else here manages
- +Works as a full Sonos speaker at home and a Bluetooth speaker away from it
- +The battery is user-replaceable, so it should outlast rivals
- +Automatic Trueplay tuning
Cons
- −IP56 is the weakest water rating here — it is not submersible and does not float
- −3kg, so this is portable in the sense of moving rooms rather than going hiking
- −No aux input without a paid Line-In adapter
- −No Auracast
- −Sources disagree on whether it can charge a phone
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Sonos Move 2 or Marshall Emberton III 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 Portability, the Sonos Move 2 or the Marshall Emberton III?+
The Marshall Emberton III scores higher on Portability (8.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — weight, size and how easily it travels.
Which is better for Durability, the Sonos Move 2 or the Marshall Emberton III?+
The Marshall Emberton III scores higher on Durability (8.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — IP rating, drop resistance and whether it floats.
Which is better for Bass, the Sonos Move 2 or the Marshall Emberton III?+
The Sonos Move 2 scores higher on Bass (8.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — low-end weight and extension for the size.
Which is better for Battery, the Sonos Move 2 or the Marshall Emberton III?+
The Marshall Emberton III scores higher on Battery (9.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — rated playtime and how it holds up at real listening volume.
Is the Sonos Move 2 worth the price difference over the Marshall Emberton III?+
The Marshall Emberton III is the cheaper option at $179.99 versus $499. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Portability.
What's the warranty on the Sonos Move 2 vs the Marshall Emberton III?+
The Sonos Move 2 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Marshall Emberton III 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 Xtreme 5 — $399.99
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.