Short answer: the Edifier D12, and the reviews make it an easy read. Our notes list no cons at all for the D12, which ranks #7 of 29 in its powered desktop class at $179.99. The Acton II has no listed pros, ranks #19 at $195.60, and costs more. The Marshall Acton II is discontinued; its replacement is the Marshall Acton IV.
The Acton II’s complaints are specific. Boosted upper bass without reaching as deep as competitors, boosted highs, and an overall sound our notes describe as mushy. That’s a lot working against a speaker at this price.
The D12 backs up its ranking with a genuine value case. Our notes call it a very good value speaker in this category, and it adds a subwoofer line out for anyone who wants to expand the system later, a feature the Acton II doesn’t offer.
Buy the D12. Between a speaker with no listed flaws and one with no listed strengths, at a lower price, this isn’t a close decision.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A stereo desktop speaker in one box with Bluetooth, aux and RCA inputs, and a lot of sound for the money.
A compact home speaker with classic Marshall styling, aptX Bluetooth, an aux input and bass and treble adjustment.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Edifier D12 | Marshall Acton II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 each | $195.60 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #7 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #19 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 57Hz | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA | Bluetooth, Aux |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Outputs | Subwoofer line out | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Drivers | 2x 4” woofers, 2x 19mm silk dome tweeters | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 14.1” x 6.3” x 8” (359 x 159 x 203.5 mm) | 10.2” x 6” x 5.9” (260 x 153 x 150 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble controls) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 54Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 70W (R/L treble: 15W+15W, R/L mid-bass: 20W+20W) | 50W (Woofer: 25W, Tweeters: 2x12.5W) |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | None |
Watch Them Compared
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