JBL
JBL Charge 5
$179.95Cheaper
Released 2021
Best Portable Speakers · head-to-head
JBL Charge 5 vs Marshall Emberton III
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. JBL Charge 5 is cheaper at $179.95. Every spec and price links to its source.
Marshall
Marshall Emberton III
$179.99
Released 2023
Which is better: the JBL Charge 5 or Marshall Emberton III?
The Marshall Emberton III wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The JBL Charge 5 is the cheaper at $179.95. Get the Marshall Emberton III for the stronger spec sheet, the JBL Charge 5 to spend less.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | JBL Charge 5 | Marshall Emberton III |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $179.95 | $179.99 |
| Brand | JBL | Marshall |
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Battery hr | 20 | 32 |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Drivers | 1×90mm woofer + 1×20mm tweeter + 2 passive radiators | 2×2-inch full-range + 2 passive radiators |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Weight (lb) | 2.12 | 1.48 |
| Stereo pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Aux (in) | No | No |
| Release | 2021 | 2023 |
Sources — JBL Charge 5: manua.ls (verified 2026-06-15). Marshall Emberton III: marshall.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the JBL Charge 5 and Marshall Emberton III?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Battery hr: JBL Charge 5 20 vs Marshall Emberton III 32
- Drivers: JBL Charge 5 1×90mm woofer + 1×20mm tweeter + 2 passive radiators vs Marshall Emberton III 2×2-inch full-range + 2 passive radiators
- Bluetooth: JBL Charge 5 5.1 vs Marshall Emberton III 5.3
- Weight (lb): JBL Charge 5 2.12 vs Marshall Emberton III 1.48
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
JBL Charge 5
Three whitelisted testers (Tom's Guide, TechRadar, SoundGuys) covered the exact JBL Charge 5 hands-on; only Tom's Guide took instrument measurements. All praise balanced, bass-forward sound, loud output, IP67 ruggedness, and a 20-hour battery with USB-A power-bank charging, while flagging audible distortion once you push past ~60% volume. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Balanced, bass-forward sound that punches above the speaker's size; Long ~20-hour battery life plus USB-A power-bank charging; IP67 dust/waterproof rugged build for outdoor use.
Flagged: Audible distortion at high volume (past ~60% / at max); Dropped the 3.5mm aux jack from the Charge 4; Weak or absent app EQ/sound controls.
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, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Exceptional battery life (30-32 hours, far beyond category norm); Rugged, distinctive Marshall-amp design and build; Impressively loud and punchy sound for its small size.
Flagged: Weak/scooped mid-range; sound harshens and bass distorts at high volume; No customizable EQ (only three fixed presets); No 3.5mm aux input.