Marshall’s Emberton III and Willen II speakers get microphones and Auracast

By Simon Cohen Published August 21, 2024

Marshall has updated its two most portable Bluetooth speakers with bigger batteries and Auracast functionality, which makes it easier to share audio between multiple speakers. The Marshall Emberton III ($170) and Willen II ($120) are available for preorder in two colors (black and cream) on August 19 and will be offered globally at multiple retailers starting August 26.

The Emberton III keeps the same weight and shape as its predecessor, but brings slightly more powerful sound and increased battery life. The Emberton III has a claimed 32-plus hours of playtime, up slightly from the Emberton II‘s 30 hours. As before, the speaker is effectively water and dustproof with an IP67 rating. It also floats, making it a good poolside companion.

But perhaps the biggest change is the addition of a microphone for voice calls. Mics were once standard on many Bluetooth speakers, but the feature began to disappear in new models between 2019-2023. They’ve since started to make a return, with many 2024 speakers like the Sony ULT Field 1 and Beats Pill including the feature.

Also new for the Emberton III is Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast compatibility. Though it won’t be available at launch, Marshall says that Auracast replaces the company’s existing Stack Mode, and lets the Emberton III act as an audio sharing source for any other nearby Auracast-capable Marshall speakers.

The Willen II also gets a battery bump from 15 hours to 17-plus hours. Its size and shape are a bit bigger than the original Willen, though its signature mounting strap remains on the back.

The Willen II is also IP67, and like its larger sibling, it gets a microphone for voice calls. It’s also slated to receive the post-launch firmware upgrade to enable LE Audio and Auracast.

Editor’s note: an earlier version of this story claimed that the Emberton III was slightly bigger than the Emberton II.