On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop
receives plenty of high-mid presence to keep its attack punchy, and we also hear
perhaps a little more of the vinyl hiss and crackle that’s usually relegated to the
background. The sub-bass synth hits are a little too deep for the Emberton to
deliver—it doesn’t distort, but even at moderate levels, these hits aren’t terribly
powerful. The drum loop gets some beefed-up bass depth, however, and once
again, at maximum volume, things thin out. The vocals on this track are
delivered cleanly and clearly, without much added sibilance.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ “The Gospel
According to the Other Mary,” actually sound fantastic at top volumes. The DSP
doesn’t do much damage here, with the lower-register instrumentation
sounding full and rich in its anchoring role, while the higher-register brass,
strings, and vocals remain crisp and clear. At more moderate levels, the bass
steps forward a bit, but not in a way that overwhelms the mix.
CONCLUSIONS
Tiny, stylish, waterproof, and with more power than you’d expect from a
speaker this small, the Marshall Emberton is an ideal travel companion. In this
price range, however, it has some serious competition, including the excellent
new Sony SRS-XB33 ($150) and the JBL Charge 4 ($140), both of which are
more powerful, but also much larger. For less money, the Sony SRS-XB23
($100) is also a strong option. Ultimately, your decision comes down to style
and portability. If powerful audio is key for you, other waterproof models bring
more bass and volume to the party. But if you like the Marshall aesthetic and
want something really compact, the Emberton won’t disappoint.
TIM GIDEON
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE (^) I AUGUST 2020