Marshall Emberton II
Score: 89/100
Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen
Score: 86/100Rankings
The Emberton II delivers long-lasting battery life, rugged IP67 protection and 360° true stereophonic sound in a stylish, compact package, but lacks a microphone, aux input and advanced codecs.
The 2nd-gen Bose SoundLink Flex adds Bluetooth 5.3, aptX support and a programmable shortcut button while retaining the rugged IP67 build and 12-hour battery of the original. Sound is bass-forward and the PositionIQ sensor fine-tunes EQ, but the lack of an aux port, modest EQ depth and the need for the Bose app keep it from being a complete all-rounder.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
30 hoursbest | 12 hours | |
| ↓ lower better | 3 hoursbest | 4 hours |
10 metersbest | 9 meters | |
| ↓ lower better | 118 gbest | 589 g |
20 wattsbest | — | |
50.8 mm | 60 mmbest | |
60 Hzbest | — | |
20,000 Hzbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Audio Performance(1) | ||
Driver Size (mm) | 50.8 mm | 60 mm |
Connectivity(4) | ||
Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
Bluetooth Range (meters) | 10 meters | 9 meters |
Supported Audio Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX |
Built‑in Microphone | false | true |
Battery & Power(2) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 30 hours | 12 hours |
Charging Time (hours) | 3 hours | 4 hours |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (g) | 118 g | 589 g |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the rich, full-range sound, rugged build and long battery, while criticizing the missing microphone, limited codec support and DSP-induced sound changes at high volume.
Everyday users love the impressive sound quality, extended battery life and durable design, though they note the absence of a speakerphone and occasional DSP-related tonal shifts.
“Sounds incredible for its size - deep bass and clear mids.”
“Survived pool drops, beach sand, and rain - still works perfectly.”
“Wish there was an AUX port for older devices.”
Professional reviewers rate the SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) between 7.4 and 8.0 out of 10, praising its IP67 durability, strong bass and modern Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX, while noting limited EQ options, lack of substantial hardware changes and a slightly mushy button feel.
Everyday users love the powerful sound, waterproof floating capability and the convenient shortcut button, but repeatedly request an AUX input, richer EQ controls and the ability to charge phones.
