Marshall, famous for its stylish, vintage-inspired audio products, has just released two exciting new Bluetooth speakers – the Emberton III and Willen II. These sleek speakers offer powerful sound in a compact form and feature improved connectivity options, making them perfect for on-the-go music lovers.
Emberton III: Keeping the best and adding more
The Emberton III keeps the much-loved features of its predecessor, the Emberton II, but adds some impressive upgrades. One of its standout features is Marshall's True Stereophonic, which delivers 360° omnidirectional sound, meaning you'll hear your music clearly from every angle. The new model also improves battery life, offering over 32 hours of playtime – ideal for long trips or outdoor events.
Louder than before, the Emberton III reaches a sound level of 90 dB SPL at a distance of 1 metre. It's also designed to withstand the elements with an IP67 rating, making it resistant to dust and water. Whether at the beach, camping, or just relaxing at home, this speaker is built to handle it all. Plus, adding a built-in microphone allows you to take hands-free calls easily.
Willen II: Smaller but still mighty
The Willen II may be smaller, but it doesn't compromise sound quality. This compact speaker features a single 2-inch dynamic driver and delivers mono audio, making it perfect for personal use or small gatherings. The Willen II is incredibly portable, measuring just 10.1 x 10.1 x 4.3 cm and weighing a mere 360g, allowing you to take it anywhere without hassle.
Despite its small size, the Willen II packs an impressive punch with a sound level of 88 dB SPL at 1 metre. It also boasts over 17 hours of playtime, ensuring your music won't be interrupted during the day. Like the Emberton III, it is IP67-rated for water and dust resistance, ensuring it can handle a variety of environments.
Auracast support and future upgrades
Emberton III and Willen II have upgraded Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth LE, which support Auracast, an exciting new technology. Auracast allows multiple devices to broadcast from the same audio source, meaning you can share your music with an unlimited number of compatible speakers and earbuds within a range of up to 100 metres.
While Marshall already offers its own Stack Mode technology for sharing audio between its speakers, Auracast has the advantage of being a Bluetooth standard. This means it can work with other brands' Auracast-enabled products, offering a level of compatibility that wasn't possible before. However, Auracast isn't currently enabled on these speakers, but Marshall promises that a future over-the-air (OTA) firmware update via the Marshall Bluetooth app will unlock this feature.
It's important to note that Auracast-compatible devices are still relatively limited. Big names like JBL, Sennheiser, and Samsung are leading the charge with Auracast support, but it still needs to become widely available across all audio products.
Marshall's Emberton III and Willen II will be available in classic colour options: black and brass and cream. The Willen II retails for S$179, while the Emberton III retails for US$169 in the US. Local pricing for the Emberton III in Singapore is yet to be confirmed, but based on its predecessor, it is expected to be around S$299.
Both speakers will be available in Singapore by the end of September, and you can purchase them from TC Acoustic's website.
