Short answer: the Audio Pro C5 MkII. It ranks #1 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 4.5/5) at $325 and is still sold new; the Marshall Acton II ranks #19 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Marshall Acton II’s replacement, the Marshall Acton IV, is rated 3.7/5 at $329.99.
What the Marshall Acton II does well: A compact home speaker with classic Marshall styling, aptX Bluetooth, an aux input and bass and treble adjustment. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Audio Pro C5 MkII lacks.
The Audio Pro C5 MkII is the better-sounding pick. An excellent sounding medium home speaker, with fairly neutral sound, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming, and an RCA input for a turntable. It streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the Marshall Acton II cannot. It links with other speakers (AirPlay 2 multi-room), which the Marshall Acton II cannot.
Buy the Audio Pro C5 MkII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Marshall Acton II is discontinued, so it is only available used.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Acton II | Audio Pro C5 MkII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $195.60 each Discontinued | $325 each |
| Ranked | #19 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #1 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| 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 | None | - |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Amplifier Power | 50W (Woofer: 25W, Tweeters: 2x12.5W) | 41W (2x8W + 25W) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer line out |
| Power Input | - | AC Power cord |
| Streaming Services | - | Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Marshall Acton II: reviews by DSAUDIO.review, Danny Pops and Storytripper HD.
- Audio Pro C5 MkII: reviews by Smart Home Sounds and Storytripper HD.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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