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The Marshall Emberton II is a trendy speaker that builds on the constructive repute of its processor. Whereas there are cheaper audio system on the market,
Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal. No matter your music service of alternative could also be, you may want a strong wi-fi speaker if you wish to play your tunes out loud.
You possibly can go for an AirPlay 2 speaker that runs over your Wi-Fi however when going moveable, Bluetooth is the reply.
Marshall has a wide-ranging lineup of Bluetooth audio system that span massive in-home audio system to compact moveable fashions. The up to date Emberton II skews extra in direction of the latter because the second smallest within the lineup.
A well-known design
Marshall wraps the Emberton II in a rubberized materials meant to copy the enduring materials surrounding its bigger, stage-bound audio system and amps.
As a bonus, this model makes use of new, extra environmentally pleasant supplies. The speaker physique is comprised of fifty % post-consumer recycled plastic. That features previous electronics and water bottles. It additionally boasts the very fact it’s one hundred pc PVC-free.
Apart from the silicone materials on the perimeters, the back and front have metallic grilles with the enduring Marshall script emblazoned on one aspect. This design seems basic, classic, and one thing we would like to tote round.
With the Emberton II, you get IP67 resistance which protects your speaker from mud and water. It may possibly deal with being submerged in as much as a meter of water for half-hour earlier than it will begin to have points.
That makes it nice for a poolside speaker or getting caught within the rain. In our testing, this has proved to be fairly the sturdy speaker.
On prime of the speaker, Marshal has saved with its bodily controls, and we could not be extra happy. Within the heart is a multi-directional brass knob whereas there’s a small energy button positioned on the left.
These buttons are extremely tactile, straightforward to make use of, and are far nicer than the same old mushy-feeling buttons or non-tactile contact surfaces employed by different audio system.
We will not say sufficient about how great these buttons are and that Marshall continues to make use of them whereas different audio system typically begin to low-cost out on the bodily controls.
The brass knob may be pushed entrance to again and aspect to aspect to regulate quantity and transfer between tracks. It may possibly push down to regulate playback.
Positioned on the highest proper is a small LED array. It is a sequence of small crimson rectangles that every characterize 10 % of the remaining battery life.
As soon as extra, Marshall has knocked this out of the park. It seems like an audio meter and is full with a slick animation when the speaker powers on.
Most audio system we see have 4 battery indicators at most and we favor this extra granular strategy. You possibly can extra simply discern how a lot of the 30 hours of battery life you have got remaining.
Inside the Emberton II is a pair of dynamic full-range drivers, every measuring two inches. There are additionally two passive radiators alongside them.
Passive radiators are frequent in compact audio system the place there is not sufficient room for a full vent system that facilitates the low-end frequencies. HomePod mini and the UE Increase are simply two of the numerous audio system that use this method.
The speaker expenses over USB-C with the port positioned on the aspect. You should use any USB-C PD charger or cable you have got round, comparable to these in your Mac or iPad.
Marshall Emberton II — Authentic versus second era
With a really similar-looking design, it may be exhausting to pin down what has modified between generations for the Emberton. Whereas not readily obvious, the Emberton II does have a number of noteworthy enhancements.
The design of the 2 audio system is almost an identical, although that upgraded exterior has a extra pebbled texture than the primary iteration. It is also extra sturdy.
Marshall has moved from an IPX7 score which provides no mud resistance, to IP67 which protects in opposition to small particles comparable to sand. Beachgoers can be overjoyed.
Internally, Marshall has moved to Bluetooth 5.1, up from Bluetooth 5, and the battery has elevated to 30 hours. The primary era Emberton solely had 20 hours of battery life so the brand new mannequin has a 50 % enhance.
Essentially the most vital new function to tout is one which, sadly, many individuals could by no means use. They name it Stack mode and it permits a number of Emberton II audio system to be positioned atop each other to create an enormous wall of audio system.
You possibly can stack a number of audio system directly that every one compound their sound for an much more spectacular expertise. Stacking them reminds us of basic Marshall amps stacked up on the perimeters of a stage,
In fact, this is not very helpful in the event you solely have the one speaker. The almost definitely use case for that is if your folks decide to the identical speaker so you’ll be able to be part of forces when getting collectively.
Marshall Emberton II — Sound efficiency
Kicking on the Marshall Emberton II, it’s immediately recognizable as one of many model’s gadgets. It has this uncooked, rock-inspired tone that we love.
That is not to say that this speaker is barely tuned to rock or guitar-heavy tunes. Every part sounded unbelievable although there wasn’t an enormous enchancment over gen one.
The sound is heat with a big 360-degree soundstage, besting almost all different audio system in its class we have examined. The speaker will get too loud at max quantity when indoors until you have got an exceptionally large indoor area.
There’s first rate bass with the Emberton II, rumbling with our tracks. Now we have examined different audio system with much more bass that stretch past Marshall’s 60Hz restrict, but it surely wasn’t one thing we had points with.
Those that pump extra bass in a design this dimension can get a bit sloppy on the low finish or unnecessarily over-powering. This felt like an excellent center floor with sufficient bass to get the purpose throughout with out the extreme shaking of the speaker.
Our greatest grievance with the audio is that the vocals did begin to really feel barely harsh or over-processed when the audio was topped out.
When listening to our testing playlist, the highs in Glitter and Gold have been tight and crisp whereas vocals have been simply recognizable and clear.
As soon as we turned to World’s Smallest Violin it introduced out the center frequencies effectively and you may discover the transition between all of the devices in the course of the musical breaks.
Rock, jazz, instrumental music, and acoustic tracks all shined greatest, which is true up our alley.
Marshall Join app
In the event you pair the speaker together with your telephone and obtain the free Marshall Join app you’ll be able to unlock extra performance. The app gives helpful info in your speaker and helps you put in firmware updates when obtainable.
The largest function of the app is to tune the speaker with three preset EQs. Sadly, there isn’t any handbook EQ adjustment you’ll be able to management your self.
You possibly can select between Marshall, Push, or Voice choices. Marshall is the model’s signature sound and the one we most well-liked by far.
Voice is nice for audiobooks, podcasts, or any audio the place you need that dialogue enhance. Push emphasizes the treble and bass for a extra sturdy, heavier sound.
In our assessments, Push lowered the soundstage and muddied the mids an excessive amount of, although the bass was a bit improved. We expect Push simply sounded total worse and the trade-off wasn’t price it.
Must you purchase the Marshall Emberton II?
Not everybody goes to like the look of the Marshall Emberton II. We’re massive followers of this retro design that makes use of high-quality supplies, has bodily buttons, and is extraordinarily sturdy.
It is also a fantastic dimension that may effortlessly slip right into a backpack or probably a again pocket. Whereas we would not say it’s light-weight, the audio impresses with its dimension and weight.
The brand new stack mode and EQ instruments are good additions right here and it’s a good step above the last-generation mannequin, however with a decently excessive price ticket, there are extra reasonably priced choices to contemplate in the event you’re happy with the trade-offs in fashion and high quality.
Marshall Emberton II – Execs
- Improved IP67 resistance
- USB-C connectivity
- Steel bodily controls
- Nice audio high quality with Marshall’s signature sound
- App connectivity
- Incredible retro vibes and construct high quality
- Superior battery life
Marshall Emberton II – Cons
- Slight distortion at max quantity
- No granular EQ controls
The place to purchase the Marshall Emberton II
The Marshall Emberton II retails for $169.99 and is out there for buy at Finest Purchase and Amazon.