Short answer: the JBL Authentics 200 for better sound quality, the Marshall Acton III for the lower price. The JBL Authentics 200 ranks #3 of 13 powered desktop speakers at $380. The Marshall Acton III ranks #9 at $227.44, $152.56 cheaper.
What the JBL Authentics 200 offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Bass not as deep as others.
What the Marshall Acton III offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Not as deep bass as competitors.
Buy the JBL Authentics 200 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Marshall Acton III if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Authentics 200 | Marshall Acton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $380 | $227.44 |
| Ranked | #3 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #9 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only) | Bluetooth, Aux |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Drivers | 5" full-range woofer, 2x 25mm tweeters | 4" (midrange/woofer), 1x 4" midrange, 2x 0.75" Dome tweeters |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg | 6.3 lbs / 2.85 kg |
| Wifi | Yes | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 10.5" x 6.8" x 6.6" (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) | 10.2" x 6.7" x 5.9" (260 x 170 x 150 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Passive Radiator | 6" down-firing | - |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (100-240V) | - |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM | - |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) | - |
| Wifi Version | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz) | - |
| Output Power | 90W | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| Aux Input | - | Yes |
| Power Bank | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Acton II vs Klipsch The Three II
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Edifier D12 vs Marshall Woburn III
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Acton III vs Klipsch The Three II
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Authentics 200: $380 Amazon
Cons: Bass not as deep as others. No TWS. No IP rating. Not as loud as others. Not much battery life.
Full JBL Authentics 200 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 10.5" x 6.8" x 6.6" (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" full-range woofer, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only) |
| Output Power | 90W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| Passive Radiator | 6" down-firing |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable (100-240V) |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM |
| TWS | No |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Weight | 9.3 lbs / 4.2 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Wifi Version | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Edifier D12
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Woburn III
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Woburn II
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Woburn I
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Stanmore II
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Acton II
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Klipsch The Three II
Marshall Acton III: $227.44 Amazon
Cons: Not as deep bass as competitors.
Full Marshall Acton III review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 10.2" x 6.7" x 5.9" (260 x 170 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" (midrange/woofer), 1x 4" midrange, 2x 0.75" Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux |
| Output Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs / 2.85 kg |
| Wifi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Acton II
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Marshall Acton III vs Klipsch The Three II
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Woburn I
- Marshall Acton III vs Klipsch The One II
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Woburn III
- Marshall Acton III vs Audio Pro C5 MkII