Short answer: the Audio Pro C5 MkII for better sound quality, the Marshall Acton II for the lower price. The Audio Pro C5 MkII ranks #1 of 13 powered desktop speakers at $300. The Marshall Acton II ranks #10 at $195.60, $104.40 cheaper.
What the Marshall Acton II offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Boosted upper bass, not as deep bass as competitors.
What the Audio Pro C5 MkII offers: Pretty neutral sound. Watch for: No battery
Buy the Marshall Acton II if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Audio Pro C5 MkII if sound quality matters more than the price.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Marshall Acton II. It ranks near the bottom of the 13 powered desktop speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Acton II | Audio Pro C5 MkII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $195.60 | $300 |
| Ranked | #10 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #1 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg | 5.3 lbs / 2.4 kg |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 10.2" x 6" x 5.9" (260 x 153 x 150 mm) | 9.8" x 5.1" x 5.9" (250 x 130 x 150 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux | Bluetooth, Wifi, RCA |
| Drivers | 4" (midrange/woofer), 1x 4" midrange, 2x 0.75" Dome tweeters | 4" woofer, 2x 0.75" tweeters |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| TWS | No | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes | - |
| Wifi | No | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Output Power | 50W (Woofer: 25W, Tweeters: 2x12.5W) | 41W (2x8W + 25W) |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer line out |
| Power Input | - | AC Power cord |
| Streaming Services | - | Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast |
| Wifi Version | - | IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Edifier D12 vs Marshall Woburn II
- Edifier D12 vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Edifier D12 vs JBL Authentics 200
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Acton III
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Acton II: $195.60 Amazon
Cons: Boosted upper bass, not as deep bass as competitors. Boosted highs. Sounds mushy.
Full Marshall Acton II review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 10.2" x 6" x 5.9" (260 x 153 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" (midrange/woofer), 1x 4" midrange, 2x 0.75" Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux |
| Output Power | 50W (Woofer: 25W, Tweeters: 2x12.5W) |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg |
| Wifi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier D12 vs Marshall Acton II sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Acton II sound.DEMO
- Danny Pops: Marshall Acton 2 vs Klipsch The One 2 - which sounds better?
- One-month hobbyist: Klipsch The One ii vs Marshall Acton ii Sound Battle
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Acton 2 vs Marshall Kilburn 2
- Reddit Search for Marshall Acton II Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Acton II vs Klipsch The Three II
- Marshall Acton II vs Klipsch The One II
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Woburn II
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Woburn III
- Marshall Acton II vs JBL Authentics 200
- See all 9 comparisons
Audio Pro C5 MkII: $300 Amazon
Pros: Pretty neutral sound. Wifi
Cons: No battery
Full Audio Pro C5 MkII review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 9.8" x 5.1" x 5.9" (250 x 130 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" woofer, 2x 0.75" tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Wifi, RCA |
| Output Power | 41W (2x8W + 25W) |
| Outputs | Subwoofer line out |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially |
| Streaming Services | Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs / 2.4 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Wifi Version | IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz) |
| 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
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Edifier D12
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs JBL Authentics 200
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Woburn III
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Woburn II
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Acton III
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Klipsch The Three II
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Klipsch The One II