Finding the best Bluetooth speaker is like choosing the right career in college. Unless you have an idea, in this case, brand preference, there is not enough time or money to try them all. So when Marshall, a coveted premium audio brand for both musicians and music lovers, launched the Emberton, a portable Bluetooth speaker, I couldn’t resist. The compact speaker has been my faithful companion until a few weeks ago, when Marshall sent me review units of his newest speakers, the Emberton II. I also put in my hands the Willen, an even more portable newcomer.
I will compare the two models to help you decide which, if any, is right for your needs. What I will say from the beginning is that Marshall’s audio tuning skill is shown here in full, as both speakers have a big impact on their size. You also get the iconic Marshall aesthetic, complete with brass accents and synthetic leather, and the novelty of this pair is a useful feature for various speakers for stereo sound.
While these may not be the most feature-rich or powerful options for money, the Willen and Emberton II are top-notch speakers for those who want a portable wireless sound.
Marshall Emberton II
WHAT IS?
A portable Bluetooth speaker
PRICE?
$ 169 ($ 235.99) ($ 236)
PROS
Powerful and balanced audio; Stylish design, IP67 waterproof, long battery life, support for various speakers
CONS
A bit expensive, no AAC or aptX, no 3.5mm jack, no speaker microphone
Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo
Price Marshall Willen and Emberton II
Marshall twins are premium products and are priced as such. The smaller Willen costs $ 119 ($ 165), while the larger and more powerful Emberton II costs $ 169 ($ 235). Please note that the letter is $ 20 ($ 28) more expensive than the previous version.
Iconic, miniaturized design
In a sea of soft and awkward Bluetooth speakers, the Marshall Emberton II and the Willen are a refreshing and stylish duo. Musicians who have used Marshall’s amplifiers and cabinets will smile at the familiar design elements. A copper Marshall logo with the classic italic lettering stands out prominently in the center of a black grille.
Marshall Emberton II (left) and Willen (right) (Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo)
The new gold-on-black scheme looks luxurious, but I miss the contrasting white lettering and silver grille of the original Emberton. Either way, these are some of the best looking Bluetooth speakers on the market. And this design is aided by a new rubber-inspired leather outer casing that looks and feels great.
Size should be an important factor when choosing between these two speakers. The Cuboid-shaped Emberton II is compact but fairly sturdy, measures 6.3 x 3 x 2.7 inches and weighs 1 kg. For comparison, the diminutive Willen only measures 4 x 4 x 1.6 inches and weighs 19.28 g. These are the numbers. In the hand, the Emberton II feels dense, while the Willen is something you could easily transport on a flight to hear it in a hotel room. Both speakers are IP67 water resistant, so don’t worry about accidental splashes or a little rain.
Intuitive controls
Aside from the shape, a design difference between the Emberton and the Willen is the size and location of their respective controls. At the top of the Emberton II is a D-shaped circular pad that allows you to change controls by pressing down on the top, bottom, or side. The smaller Willen uses a front thumb stick that you use instead of squeezing. Both are functional and provide great tactile feedback; however, the small button on the Willen can be a bit tricky to move, as it is aligned with the front of the speaker.
Marshall Willen (Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo)
Using these control buttons to adjust the volume and playback is intuitive. Holding down the button for a few seconds turns the speakers on and off (I would prefer a quick press from a dedicated power button, but go for it). Swipe up for louder, down for quieter, left to play the current track, left twice for the previous track, or right for the next track. Rapid pressure plays and pauses the tracks. At the top of these speakers is a nice battery indicator with red LEDs and a circular Bluetooth pairing button.
You want earnings on features
For whatever reason, the Willen has a microphone, while the larger Emberton II does not, meaning you will only receive calls to the smaller, less expensive model. It seems an unnecessary omission given the extra space in the Emberton II. Perhaps Marshall believes the Willen can act as a conference call system for use in the office or on a WeWork. Still, I would say that speaker functionality is just as important in the Emberton II, as this larger model is a good computer speaker for remote workers.
Marshall Willen (Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo)
Another attractive feature found only on the Willen is a rubber mounting strap on the back. Pulling one end out and up, take it off the speaker so you can slide the band over a backpack strap or bike handle. The strap is small and so flexible, so you’ll have trouble holding the speaker to wider surfaces.
Emberton II grabs the crown of sound
The Emberton II and Willen offer a powerful sound that fills the room for their respective sizes. Pumping the sound through two full-range two-inch controllers and two passive radiators, the Emberton II has a rich, full-bodied sound stage, with decent, surprisingly sharp bass.
As expected, the Emberton II is the sound champion. It surpasses the Willen in all the sound signature, delving into the bass and providing a softer and more balanced midrange and treble. The Willen, to be clear, is an impressive speaker for its size, but the compromised low range means that certain genres have no puncture.
Marshall Willen (Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo)
On heavy bass tracks like Jessie Reyez’s “FRAUD,” the Emberton II brought heavy noise to the lower end. In comparison, the bass of the Willen sounded like the blow of a block of wood. Although missing the bass in the Willen, the Emberton II darkened the mid-range a bit, resulting in a more inflated sound. It’s subtle and overall this track sounded great on the larger model.
Switching to a reduced melody predictably reduced the sound differences between these two speakers. Listening to James Vincent McMorrow’s “Cavalier,” Willen held on, effortlessly interpreting this indie track with heavy treble with precise clarity and sharpness. Without interrupting the lower end, the Emberton II did an equally excellent job, providing more balance but less vocal emphasis than the little brother.
Marshall Willen (Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo)
Rock, EDM and hip-hop are simply more enjoyable in the Emberton II. The Willen exceeds its size, but these genres reveal the limitations of its single two-inch controller and dual passive radiators. “Mr. Brightside” is a great test for any speaker given the cacophony of electric tones that overlap the soft voice of Brandon Flowers. thin and fragile.
Marshall Emberton (left) and Emberton II (right) (Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo)
That said, the vocals were clear and present and the guitar sounds didn’t become a full mess like they do with laptop speakers. This is where having an additional speaker helps the Emberton II deliver a more balanced and complete sound stage. Once again, the Emberton favors a darker, more surrounding tone, but not to the point that the higher voices and frequencies drowned out.
The sound quality does not degrade to low volume levels on any of the speakers, so these are suitable for listening to them up close or playing more relaxed background music.
Battery mode and battery life
When it’s time to start dancing, several Willen and Emberton II speakers can be combined for a more immersive sound. Marshall calls it “Battery Mode” and starts by pressing the Bluetooth button three times on the first speaker and twice on the connected speaker. I connected the Willen to the Emberton II on the first try, and the twins joined forces to get a nice stereo sound.
Marshall application (Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo)
The Emberton II and Willen support Bluetooth 5.1 and the SBC codec, but not the AAC or AptX found in modern iPhones and Android phones. Connectivity was strong: I didn’t find any interruptions even with the speakers in front of my 1,000-square-foot rental playback device.
The Marshall Bluetooth app (available for iOS and Android) is simple and easy to use. Attaching the speakers was very easy – just turn them on, open the app, and follow the on-screen instructions. Once paired, the speakers have access to air updates, basic EQ presets (Marshall, Push, Voice) and a guide on how to use Stack mode.
Marshall Emberton II (Photo: Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo)
The battery life of both models is excellent. The Willen lasts an estimated 15 hours with a charge that is three hours longer than the JBL Flip 6. The Bose SoundLink Micro only lasts six hours, while the SoundLink Flex lasts 12 hours. However, these are only estimates and your mileage will vary depending on volume levels. The Emberton II has 30 hours of battery life, 10 more than the previous model and twice as much as the EU Boom 3.
Should you buy the Emberton II and the Willen?
Having enjoyed owning the original Emberton, I have no hesitation in recommending the updated model, which improves battery life, the ability to connect multiple speakers, and application support to adjust settings. The Emberton II is a beautiful, well-built Bluetooth speaker with a compact design and powerful balanced sound quality.
I wish Marshall, of all companies, would have included a 3.5mm jack for cable playback, and the lack of a microphone on this model, but not the Willen, is a headache. It is also …