Tag: Speaker

Marshall Emberton III Bluetooth Speaker

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Disclaimer: We received this product as a review sample but all thoughts and opinions are our own

Let’s talk about the Marshall Emberton III Bluetooth speaker. If you’re familiar with the Marshall brand, you already know they embrace a rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic, and the Emberton III is no exception, resembling a mini guitar amp, earning full marks for style. The classic black and brass design is timeless, looking just as at home on your coffee table as it does out in the wild. That’s key because you’re buying this speaker as much for its visual appeal as its sound quality.

Speaking of sound, the Emberton III delivers an impressive performance for its size. It won’t shake the room, but for a compact speaker, it packs a punch. The bass is rich without being muddy, and the highs are clear and crisp. It avoids the common pitfall of small speakers where everything turns into a flat mess at high volumes. Does it rival professional studio monitors? No, but that’s not the point, you’re not mixing tracks in your bathroom, you just want great sound while you shower. Maybe the Emberton III is overqualified for such casual listening, but that’s part of the fun.

The battery life is a respectable 30 hours on a full charge, and it only takes 2 hours to recharge and the simple 10-bar LED gauge keeps you aware of the remaining battery.

The IP67 rating means it’s dustproof and water-resistant. While I wouldn’t suggest tossing it in a pool, it can handle sawdust in the garage or a splash from a drink on the patio without missing a beat.

Control-wise, the brass joystick on top lets you adjust volume and skip tracks with a tactile, old-school feel, like turning a radio dial, which is far more satisfying than a touchscreen. It features Bluetooth 5.1 with Bluetooth LE support, and in my tests, it maintained a stable connection throughout the house. The speaker also comes with a companion app, and whilst not essential, it does offer firmware updates, EQ settings, and battery management.

So final thoughts? The Marshall Emberton III is like that tool in your workshop you don’t necessarily need but really want. It’s not the cheapest option, but you’re paying for the cool factor as much as the audio quality. It’s got style, it’s tough and has enough sonic oomph sound to keep you energised while working on those endless DIY projects.

Is it overkill for casual listening? Probably. Would I still recommend it? Absolutely. Because sometimes, you just want to blast some tunes and feel like you’re backstage at Woodstock – even if in reality you’re just doing a spot of DIY in the garage!!

RRP £149.99

Edifier MF200 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Birthday Gifts, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, Tech

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own

We live in a world where most people use electronic devices for entertainment and a good quality set of speakers can really enhance the experience. Edifier is a well-known audio brand that produce a wide range of speakers and are known for their high-quality audio and sleek designs. They recently sent me the MF200 portable speaker, and I was really impressed with both the build quality and sound.

At 490 grams it isn’t heavy, but it is well built and the solid aluminium construction gives a luxury feel to the speaker. It is a simple device and comes with a USB-C input / charging cable and a handy cloth bag for taking it out and about.

At one end of the speaker is a USB-C connection, used for both charging and as an input source and a 3.5mm socket for the AUX input. On the other end is the power switch which doubles as an input selector. There are three options for connecting to the speaker, Bluetooth 5.0, the 3.5mm AUX socket and the USB-C connection for smartphones and PCs. (Edifier does say that it is PC only, but I’ve had no problems connecting my Android phone).

On the front panel are three discreet touch / push controls to adjust the volume, skip tracks or pause playback.

Once connected the sound quality is excellent, producing a rich sound with no distortion, even at full volume and the soft rubber feet efficiently prevent vibrations moving through to the furniture. Internally there are two 4w 36mm full-range drivers and whilst they’re not going to shake the foundations, they’re great as a portable speaker.

This speaker is not just for connecting to your smartphone, it makes a great option for anybody who’s fed up with sub-par sounds from their laptop, just connect and play!

If using the speakers wirelessly, you should get up to 10 hours of use from the built-in 2200mAh high-capacity lithium battery.

I’m really pleased with this speaker, it has a quality feel that is matched by the clear sound of its speakers and its distinctive triangular design looks great wherever I take it.

RRP £69.99