Mis à jour le 10 March 2023.
The small Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee Bluetooth speaker rounds off the British manufacturer’s range of portable speakers and is situated in between the Marshall Willen and the Marshall Kilburn 2. This vintage-looking model is reminiscent of the brand’s guitar amplifiers and promises up to 20 hours of autonomy. With its IPX7 certification and ultra-compact format, it is designed for portable use. Available for €179, will the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee Bluetooth speaker manage to reproduce the iconic Marshall sound?
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee: packaging & accessories
The Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee portable Bluetooth speaker comes in an elegant cardboard box. The latter also contains a USB-A to USB-C charging cable and a quick start guide.
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee: presentation
Design
To celebrate its 60th anniversary, British manufacturer Marshall has released a special finish for three of its flagship products: the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee Bluetooth speaker we’re reviewing today, the Marshall Motif A.N.C True Wireless earbuds and the Marshall Monitor II A.N.C Bluetooth headphones. With the Diamond Jubilee representing the celebration of sixty years of existence, it is only natural that these limited editions would be inspired by the occasion. As a result, the Marshall Emberton speaker has an all-black look. On the top, the usual golden control button is replaced by a replica black diamond. The latter allows you to adjust the volume and navigate through your music tracks.
The Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee speaker has inherited the unique esthetic of the brand’s guitar amplifiers. An instantly recognizable and iconic design that is part of the British company’s DNA. Beyond its all-black appearance combining simplicity and elegance, the texture of the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee Bluetooth speaker’s chassis is the same as the rest of the range. The rock ‘n’ roll look of this speaker is really very appealing.
This device is designed to be used on the go, and Marshall set out to design an ultra-compact, high-performance speaker. At only 16cm long, 7.6cm wide and 6.8cm high, it fits easily into a backpack. However, a strap would have been a nice addition for this portable speaker. Its size makes it even more compact than direct rivals, such as the Cabasse Swell and Bose SoundLink Flex. The Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee Bluetooth speaker can be easily carried from one room to another and can even be used outside thanks to its IPX7 rating. It has a robust and waterproof structure, so you can use it by the pool or at the beach. It can even be fully immersed in water for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter, which limits the risk of damage should it fall into the pool or bathtub.
Battery life
As for the battery, here again, the British manufacturer hits hard. The Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee portable Bluetooth speaker has a very long battery life of up to 20 hours. The device is capable of providing playing music at sustained volume throughout an entire evening without faltering. The battery is rechargeable via the USB-C port located on the right side of the speaker and using the cable included in the box. However, we regret the absence of an AC adapter. It takes about 3 hours for the battery to be fully charged. A quick charge of 20 minutes is enough to enjoy 5 hours of autonomy. A real advantage during improvised parties.
Acoustic design
The Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee portable Bluetooth speaker has a stereo design with two 2” full-range drivers paired with two passive radiators. These drivers promise a pure and precise sound. They also cover a frequency range from 60Hz to 20kHz. To ensure excellent control, each of the speaker’s drivers has its own 10W digital amplifier module. It therefore benefits from a total power of 20 watts. Moreover, the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee is equipped with the brand’s proprietary True Stereophonic technology to deliver sound over 360°. Consequently, each user can enjoy an optimal reproduction, no matter where they are in the room.
Controls
The top panel of the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee portable Bluetooth speaker features a control interface. The button takes the shape of a diamond, in reference to the name of the edition. It allows you to turn the speaker on, adjust the volume, pause playback and skip tracks. A separate button lets you activate the Bluetooth pairing. A LED indicates when a device is connected to the speaker. To start the pairing procedure, simply press the dedicated button for three seconds. The LED will then begin to flash. Finally, a light indicator lets you check the battery status in real time. It is a shame, however, that the speaker isn’t compatible with the Marshall Bluetooth app.
Bluetooth and connectivity
Designed for portable use, the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee benefits from Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. Thanks to its range of about 10 meters, it is possible to enjoy great freedom of movement whilst still being able to control your playlist. This wireless connection lets you play music from online streaming services such as Qobuz, Spotify and Deezer. Furthermore, a wireless Bluetooth connection means that you can play audio files stored on the internal memory of a smartphone, tablet or computer. However, it is disappointing that Marshall has forgone WiFi and AirPlay 2 compatibility. Regarding connectors, a USB-C port present on the side of the speaker is exclusively dedicated to charging.
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee: key specifications
- Total power of 20 watts
- 2 x 2” full-range drivers
- IPX7 certification
- 360° sound
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Spotify, Deezer, Qobuz and Tidal
- 20-hour battery life
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 160 x 76 x 68mm
- Weight: 0.7kg
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee: listening conditions
The speaker is very easy to set up, although an on/off button would have been more intuitive. After pressing the central control button, the speaker turns on to the sound of the British company’s iconic guitar riff. A fun detail that you can also enjoy when turning the speaker off. Then, by pressing the dedicated button for a few seconds, the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee speaker appears in the list of devices to pair. The pairing was done very quickly and intuitively. For this test, we listened to Hi-Res music streamed from Qobuz and podcasts on Spotify.
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee: listening impressions
Marshall’s sound signature was recognizable from the first notes. Despite its very compact format, the British manufacturer has produced a Bluetooth speaker capable of delivering powerful lows. The bass produced by the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee portable speaker was generous considering its size. This was even more noticeable at higher volumes. The absence of distortion meant the sound was pleasant and smooth.
With Franz Ferdinand’s song Take Me Out, the speaker offered a balanced sound with a nice extension in the lows. The bass was powerful and well controlled. There was no unpleasant distortion. The vocals and timbres were accurate. These characteristics were confirmed while listening to several more rock songs. In another style with Gaël Faye’s song Chalouper, the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee Bluetooth speaker offered a very convincing listening experience, with a clear and natural restitution. However, we noticed an accentuation of the bass which sometimes caused the sound to be unbalanced, and the highs were sometimes a little harsh. It is a pity that the speaker is not compatible with the dedicated app in order to use an equalizer.
Placed in the center of the room, the Marshall Emberton speaker provided a 360° sound reproduction. The True Stereophonic technology was very effective. We tried several listening positions around the device and noticed no difference in the sound. The sound perception remained the same and the listening experience was consistent for all the listeners in the room. The size/power ratio of this limited edition speaker was impressive. As a result, the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee is a perfect choice for an indoor dinner party with a dozen guests.
The podcast we listened to had a panel of four speakers. The soundstage was well-structured and coherent. The voices filled the space. However, we would have liked a clearer stereo reproduction. The separation of the left and right channels was barely noticeable. Lastly, during our review, we also watched videos on YouTube to see if the speaker suffered from any delay. There was a slight delay when the videos were launched. The synchronization occurred after a few seconds, providing a smooth and pleasant video playback.
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee vs Sonos Roam
Available for €199, the Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker has the advantage of offering a WiFi connection, multi-room connectivity and voice control. Equipped with more technologies, its bass reproduction is just as effective. The American manufacturer’s very comprehensive control app is a significant difference with the British model. However, its battery life is more limited: 10 hours compared to the Marshall speaker’s 20 hours The True Stereophonic technology developed by Marshall ensures a 360° diffusion, something the Sonos Roam portable speaker doesn’t offer. In terms of design, it is the complete opposite of the Marshall Emberton, with a much plainer look.
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee vs Cabasse Swell
Slightly wider (18.5cm compared to 16cm), the Cabasse Swell speaker is aptX compatible. Sold for €189, the French manufacturer’s only portable model benefits from stereo pairing with a second speaker. This powerful speaker is equipped with four drivers and a digital amplification of 60W. It offers a balanced and precise sound in the lows, as well as the highs. The bass is impressive with this Bluetooth speaker, whose frequency response ranges from 55Hz to 22kHz. Once again, the British speaker has a longer battery life, with the Cabasse Swell only offering 10h. For the design, we can make the same observation as before. The Marshall’s vintage style is very different from the Cabasse’s more contemporary look.
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee: who is it for?
The Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee speaker is designed for fans of energetic, modern music who love bass-heavy tracks. Completely portable, it is the perfect companion to accompany music lovers throughout the house and even outdoors. Lightweight and compact, it can be placed anywhere thanks to its iconic vintage design. It is a beautiful object to be proudly displayed, a true fashion accessory for retro aficionados.
Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee: conclusion
In typical Marshall fashion, the Marshall Emberton Diamond Jubilee Bluetooth speaker offers powerful, well-controlled bass. The lack of compatibility with the Marshall Bluetooth control app, however, prevents it from offering equally impressive highs. Elegant with the iconic Marshall amp design, it is enhanced by the black finish of the limited edition Diamond Jubilee. Despite its trendy semi-precious appearance, this small Bluetooth speaker is truly portable. Its long battery life is a real asset, as is its IPX7 certification. The True Stereophonic technology ensures an efficient and uniform 360° sound transmission.
We liked
- The iconic Marshall design
- The deep lows
- The ultra-compact format
- The long battery life
We would have liked
- A mains adapter
- A carry strap
- Compatibility with the Marshall app
