# Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) vs Marshall Emberton III: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) (Bose) and Marshall Emberton III (Marshall) among portable speakers. Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) is the cheaper of the two at $159.

## Side by side

| Spec | Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) | Marshall Emberton III |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $159 | $179.99 |
| Brand | Bose | Marshall |
| Released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Battery hr | 12 | 32 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Drivers | — | 2×2-inch full-range + 2 passive radiators |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Weight (lb) | 1.291 | 1.48 |
| Stereo pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Aux (in) | No | No |

## Key differences

- Battery hr: Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) 12 vs Marshall Emberton III 32
- Weight (lb): Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) 1.291 vs Marshall Emberton III 1.48

## What reviewers say

**Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)** — Two whitelisted testers (SoundGuys, TechRadar) reviewed this exact model and both did hands-on testing. Both praise clean, balanced, detailed sound and the rugged IP67 build, but flag minimal upgrades over the 1st Gen, limited EQ options (only four presets), and unremarkable battery life. SoundGuys' standardized 80dB/1m test measured just 7 hours 3 minutes against Bose's 12-hour claim. (2 sourced reviews.)

**Marshall Emberton III** — Two whitelisted outlets (Tom's Guide, TechRadar) hands-on tested the Emberton III over several weeks. Both praise class-leading battery life (30-32 hours vs a ~20-hour category norm), the rugged Marshall-amp styling, and impressively loud, punchy sound for the small size. Both flag the same core limitation: mids get de-emphasized and the sound turns harsh with bass distortion when pushed loud, plus there is no custom EQ (only three fixed presets) and no aux input. (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen): https://www.bose.com/p/speakers/bose-soundlink-flex-portable-speaker-2nd-gen/SLFLXII-SPEAKERWIRELESS.html (bose.com, verified 2026-06-15)
- Marshall Emberton III: https://www.marshall.com/us/en/product/emberton-iii (marshall.com, verified 2026-06-15)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/portable-speakers/bose-soundlink-flex-2-vs-marshall-emberton-iii/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) ($159) vs Marshall Emberton III ($179.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/portable-speakers/bose-soundlink-flex-2-vs-marshall-emberton-iii/
License: CC BY 4.0.