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I’ll be honest here, the Bluetooth speaker market is a mess. Everyone's got one, everyone touts theirs as the best, you can get one for $10, or splurge on one for $1,500. So, where do you go to buy one? Who do you trust? A good bluetooth speaker is a companion, akin to a dog, who you don't have to feed, or walk, and it just plays music. So yeah, you’re understandably feeling the shopping pressure, but I'm here to make this real easy for you.
There is one bluetooth speaker that stands out amongst the rest; it has the sound quality, the fashion sense, and the rugged power necessary for any adventure. That speaker is the Marshall Emberton II. The second of its royal line, it's far more exquisite and refined than its earlier sibling. Chances are you’ve heard of Marshall, or at least seen a speaker or two on that artsy coffee shop's bookshelf. Now you can be that artsy bookshelf, wherever and whenever you want.
The original Emberton I was a great speaker, but the II is near perfect. It’s affordable, sounds great, looks great, and is one of the easiest grab and go choices I’ve ever used. The sound from this little vintage-looking beast is booming, clear and has ruined a lot of other Bluetooth speakers for me. The audio is so clean, crisp, and my biggest gripe with the industry, not remarkably bass heavy. This one is not muddy booming, and instead actually lets you, you know, hear the music. The Embertone II is so crisp, that podcasts are crystal clear on it, even while I’m listening to it in the shower. My Emberton II has probably eaten enough head steam, from my unventilated bathroom, and my daily 45 minute shower— because I am a ghoulish human—and is still in great shape. It’s loud enough for nearly any space you’d want a Bluetooth speaker for, without sacrificing quality.
Marshall speakers have always gotten one, crucial, thing right and that's the art of the matter. The speakers looks beautiful, so not only is it useful, but it also doubles as décor. Leaving your mini amp-esk speaker on a bookshelf, until you want to pick it up and go. The speaker looks, and feels like a quality piece of technology. The Embertone II comes in two colorways, black and brass, and my personal favorite, cream, giving you that perfect classic look for any interior design style.
Finally, the battery life. This thing must run off of steam and suds, because I rarely have to charge it. Even when I do, it charges in no time. The Speaker is slated to have over 30 hours of play time, and I'll tell you, I absolutely believe it. In addition to its power survival, the Emberton is rugged, and I mean rugged. This thing has survived water, rain, dirt, mud, and more drops than I care to admit. Not a scuff, scratch, or broken piece. Marshall really has created something special, something that looks so fragile, and yet is so powerful. Now $170 isn't cheap for a speaker as we've come to know them, but for a speaker that looks this good and will last as long as this, it's near highway robbery. It’s the last Bluetooth speaker you’ll need, that is until the Emberton III.
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