The world of home audio has evolved dramatically in recent years, with two distinct paths emerging: ultra-portable Bluetooth speakers and sophisticated smart home audio systems. The $169 Marshall Emberton II and $429 Sonos Era 300 perfectly illustrate these diverging approaches, each excelling in their intended use cases while occasionally overlapping in functionality.
Released in mid-2022, the Marshall Emberton II builds on its predecessor's success by adding multi-speaker pairing and extending battery life to an impressive 30 hours. It maintains the brand's iconic styling while incorporating modern features like USB-C charging and IPX67 water resistance - meaning it can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes without damage.
The Sonos Era 300, launched in early 2023, represents a significant leap forward in home audio technology. It's the first Sonos speaker designed specifically for spatial audio (think surround sound in a single speaker) and Dolby Atmos, which adds height to the sound field - imagine hearing rainfall from above or a helicopter flying overhead in movies.
The Emberton II employs what Marshall calls "True Stereophonic" - an innovative approach to creating stereo separation from a compact speaker. Two 2-inch drivers and passive radiators work together to project sound in multiple directions, creating an impressive soundstage for its size. While it won't shake the walls with bass, it delivers clean, balanced audio that works well for outdoor gatherings or desktop listening.
The Era 300 operates on another level entirely. Its unique hourglass design houses six precisely-angled drivers, including an upward-firing speaker for Atmos effects. The speaker uses advanced digital signal processing (DSP) and room correction technology called Trueplay, which uses the speaker's microphones to analyze your room's acoustics and adjust the sound accordingly. This results in remarkably detailed audio that adapts to your space.
Here's where the philosophical differences become stark. The Emberton II keeps things simple with Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity and basic controls. You can pair two speakers for stereo sound, but that's about as complex as it gets - and that's entirely by design. It's meant to be grab-and-go simple.
The Era 300 offers a full suite of modern connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, AirPlay 2, and even a USB-C port for line-in connections (with an optional adapter). It integrates with Amazon Alexa for voice control and works seamlessly with other Sonos speakers for multi-room audio. You can even use two Era 300s as rear surrounds with a Sonos Arc or Beam soundbar for a legitimate Dolby Atmos home theater setup.
I've found the Emberton II shines in situations where portability and durability matter most. It's perfect for:
The Era 300 excels in permanent installations where audio quality is paramount:
While the Emberton II isn't designed for home theater use, the Era 300 offers some compelling possibilities. Two Era 300s paired with a Sonos Arc soundbar create a legitimate 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos system (meaning 7 surround channels, 1 subwoofer channel, and 4 height channels). The upward-firing drivers in both the Arc and Era 300s create a convincing dome of sound that brings movies to life.
The Emberton II improved upon its predecessor with:
The Era 300 introduces several firsts for Sonos:
At $169, the Emberton II delivers premium portable audio at a mid-range price point. It's not the cheapest portable speaker, but its build quality, battery life, and sound performance justify the cost.
The $429 Era 300 represents a significant investment, but its versatility and sound quality make it competitive with traditional bookshelf speakers and amplifier combinations that could cost significantly more. The ability to expand into a whole-home audio system adds long-term value.
Choose the Marshall Emberton II if:
Choose the Sonos Era 300 if:
Both speakers excel at their intended purposes - the key is matching those purposes to your specific needs. The Emberton II offers fantastic portable audio with no complications, while the Era 300 delivers premium sound quality with extensive features for those willing to invest in their home audio experience.
| Marshall Emberton II | Sonos Era 300 |
|---|---|
| Price - Initial Investment | |
| $169 - Mid-range for portable speakers | $429 - Premium home audio pricing |
| Primary Use Case - Determines if product meets your needs | |
| Portable outdoor/travel speaker | Permanent home speaker with smart features |
| Sound Architecture - Impacts audio quality and coverage | |
| 2x 2" full-range drivers + 2 passive radiators | 6 drivers: 4 tweeters (including upward-firing) + 2 woofers |
| Connectivity Options - Flexibility for different sources | |
| Bluetooth 5.1 only | WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, AirPlay 2, USB-C line-in (with adapter) |
| Smart Features - Integration capabilities | |
| Basic app control, no voice assistants | Voice control, multi-room audio, Trueplay room correction |
| Durability - Environmental resistance | |
| IP67 water/dust resistant, portable design | Indoor-focused design, no water resistance |
| Battery Life - Portability factor | |
| 30+ hours, USB-C charging | No battery, requires AC power |
| Size & Weight - Placement flexibility | |
| 0.7 kg, highly portable | 4.47 kg, meant for permanent placement |
| Multi-Speaker Features - Expandability | |
| Stack Mode for stereo pairing | Full home theater integration, multi-room audio |
| Audio Formats - Content compatibility | |
| Standard stereo | Dolby Atmos, spatial audio, high-resolution audio |
| Room Size Suitability - Coverage area | |
| Small to medium spaces, outdoor areas | Medium to large rooms, whole-home coverage |
| Setup Complexity - Time investment | |
| Simple Bluetooth pairing | More complex network setup, room calibration |
The Sonos Era 300 is significantly better for home theater use. It can be paired with Sonos soundbars for Dolby Atmos surround sound, while the Emberton II isn't designed for home theater applications.
The Marshall Emberton II costs $169, while the Sonos Era 300 is priced at $429, a $260 difference reflecting their different capabilities and target markets.
The Emberton II is specifically designed for outdoor use with IP67 water resistance. The Era 300 is primarily an indoor speaker and shouldn't be exposed to weather.
The Sonos Era 300 offers superior sound quality with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos support. The Emberton II provides good portable audio but can't match the Era 300's advanced audio capabilities.
The Era 300 can connect to a TV through a Sonos soundbar setup. The Emberton II cannot connect directly to a TV as it's Bluetooth-only.
The Sonos Era 300 excels at multi-room audio with WiFi connectivity and Sonos ecosystem integration. The Emberton II only offers basic speaker pairing through Stack Mode.
Only the Era 300 supports voice assistants (Amazon Alexa). The Emberton II has no voice assistant capabilities.
The Emberton II offers 30+ hours of battery life. The Era 300 requires constant AC power as it's not battery-powered.
The Sonos Era 300 can be used as rear surround speakers with Sonos soundbars. The Emberton II cannot be used in a surround sound setup.
The Era 300 offers more streaming options with WiFi, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth. The Emberton II is limited to Bluetooth streaming only.
The Era 300 requires the Sonos app for setup and advanced features. The Emberton II has an optional app but can function without it.
For portable use, the Emberton II offers good value at $169. For home theater and whole-home audio, the Era 300 justifies its $429 price with superior features and flexibility.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: techradar.com - dreamwaveus.com - crutchfield.com - soundguys.com - gadgets360.com - rtings.com - youtube.com - youtube.com - youtube.com - shop.ash-asia.com - crutchfield.com - gadgetstyler.com - youtube.com - avstore.in - rtings.com - notebookcheck.net - audiosciencereview.com - whathifi.com - digitaltrends.com - sonos.com - sonos.com - youtube.com - soundguys.com - schaeferstv.com - en.community.sonos.com - bestbuy.com - youtube.com - sonos.com
