Selected Comparisons
For this comparison, I listen to them at or near maximum volume to test how loud they can get, and none of them seem to suffer much at maximum.
I use the HiFi EQ mode in the RETRO BOX, and the Balanced sound style in the Soundcore 3; the Marshall Emberton I have here is the first version and does not have EQ like the newer versions.
ANKER Soundcore 3
Technical & Design
The Soundcore 3 is a compact Bluetooth speaker with 16W Stereo Sound, delivering 2 × 8W to each of its two full-range titanium drivers; a dual passive radiator is included to enhance bass response.
The Soundcore 3 has a Frequency Response of 70 Hz to 40,000 Hz and Bluetooth Version 5.0 with up to 15m / 50ft range. The body is IPX7 water-resistant and can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
There is a companion app called Soundcore to edit the DSP settings in the Soundcore 3 and access other features.
Its Battery Capacity is 6,700 mAh, with up to 24 hours of playtime depending on volume and audio content. It takes about 4 hours to charge fully via its USB-C port.
The Soundcore 3 has a compact, rectangular shape with smoothly rounded edges and a utilitarian look. It is surrounded by a rubberized finish, with a metal grill covering most of its front. On top are its controls.
It has dimensions of 174 × 60 × 57 mm (6.85 × 2.36 × 2.24 in) and weighs 372 g (0.82 lbs).
Performance
At maximum volume, both the Soundcore 3 and RETRO BOX remain clean and have about the same loudness, except that the Soundcore has a slight bass boost, making the bass punchier, though their bass extension is about the same.
RETRO BOX sounds more neutral and balanced between the bass, midrange, and treble, while the Soundcore 3 sounds slightly warmer and bassier.
In terms of soundstage, RETRO BOX sounds more spacious, throwing sound towards the sides, while the Soundcore 3 is more front-focused.
Even when walking around the room, I can feel the RETRO BOX has more spaciousness in the vocals and instruments.
However, when I’m seated directly in front, the Soundcore 3 delivers more apparent stereo effect and imaging due to its front-firing drivers. The RETRO BOX also has a stereo effect and a larger soundstage, but the imaging is more diffuse.
Marshall Emberton
Technical & Design
The Emberton features two 2″ 10W full-range drivers and two passive radiators with two 10W Class-D amplifiers, a frequency range of 60 Hz to 20 kHz, and a maximum SPL of 87 dB @ 1 meter.
It features Bluetooth 5.0 with up to 10m / 30ft range, a Battery Life of 20+ hours, and a Charging time of 3 hours to full charge; 20-minute quick charge yields 5 hours of playtime) via its USB -C charging port.
Other features include water resistance with an IPX7 rating (fully waterproof, submersible up to 1 meter for 30 minutes), dimensions of 68 x 160 x 76 mm (2.68 x 6.30 x 2.99 inches), and a weight of 0.7 kg (1.5 lbs.)
The Emberton is a brick-shaped Bluetooth speaker with a rubberized top and finish, and grilles on the front and back. The top control is a multi-directional brass knob for power, play/pause, skip, volume, and Bluetooth pairing.
Additionally, a row of LEDs on top indicates the battery level.
Performance
Although both the Emberton and the RETRO BOX are similarly sized in terms of their acoustic chambers, the Emberton manages to cram in bigger drivers and a more powerful amplifier.
Thus, when played at maximum volume, the Emberton is about 6 dB louder, which is a substantial difference.
In terms of tonality, the Emberton sounds warmer with slightly more bass extension and weight, but not by much.
The RETRO BOX sounds more neutral in comparison, with clearer vocals and treble air.
Both have bidirectional firing drivers, which means both have a larger-than-usual soundstage.
However, while the RETRO BOX fires to the left and right, the Emberton fires to the front and back, giving a big advantage to the RETRO BOX in terms of stereo effects when set in front.
My Verdict
I had so much fun with the FiiO RETRO BOX. It’s a fun, decorative product that evokes memories of those PCs and other devices from the 80s and early 90s, especially in this off-white variant.
I like that the RETRO BOX is very easy to use, as I never needed the manual to get it going after unboxing. Though I needed to consult the manual for the more elaborate functions, they are very easy to understand and remember.
Additionally, the sound is good and competitive to other Bluetooth speakers with similar driver size and amplifier power. I like its neutral sound with good clarity and treble extension.
If there is one thing that I wish FiiO would improve, it is that I wish the tape deck door worked like a real tape deck.
One where the door only opens by less than 45 degrees and the tape, or in this case the DAP, is placed in the door itself. It is automatically set in the proper place and alignment when the door is closed.
The DAP loading and removal style in the RETRO BOX, where the flimsy door opens wide and the DAP is manually placed snugly, is slightly difficult, even when using the eject button on the back to remove my M33 R2R.
I find this process a little daunting, especially since I often use the DAP; I need easy, quick loading and ejection, like on a real tape deck mechanism mentioned above.
Nonetheless, I think the FiiO RETRO BOX offers competitive sound and is a worthy, fun addition to the FiiO M33, M21, and JM21 series of DAPs, especially when bought at a lower price during a sale.
FiiO RETRO BOX Technical Specifications
- Drivers: 2 × 40 mm full-range drivers
- Acoustic Design: 2+2 architecture consisting of two full-range drivers and two passive radiators housed in separate independent chambers.
- Output Power: 5.3W × 2 continuous output
- Frequency Response: 65 Hz – 20 kHz.
- Sound Presets: Built-in DSP featuring 4 audio modes: HiFi, Retro, Pop, and Warm/Thick.
- Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 6.0.
- Bluetooth Codecs: Supports high-resolution LDAC and standard SBC audio codecs.
- USB DAC Mode: Plug-and-play driverless UAC 1.0 support.
- USB DAC Sampling Rates: Supports 44.1 kHz / 48 kHz / 96 kHz at 16/24/32-bit audio.
- Battery Configuration: 2 × 18500 lithium-ion batteries
- Battery Life: Approximately 10.5 hours of continuous playback
- Charging Interface: USB Type-C port
- Power Requirements: DC 5V ≥ 2A input.
- Charging Time: Around 2.5 hours.
- Dimensions: 8 mm × 98.8 mm × 76.0 mm
- Weight: Roughly 683 grams (without a digital player docked).
- Color Schemes: Available in Black and White matte finishes.
- Additional Hardware: Integrated microphone for hands-free calling, built-in shoulder strap/lanyard attachment points.
- App Customization: Full ecosystem settings adjustment available via the FiiO Control App.
