Short answer: the JBL Authentics 200. It ranks #10 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 3.7/5) at $199.95 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.
The case for the Marshall Acton II: A compact home speaker with classic Marshall styling, aptX Bluetooth, an aux input and bass and treble adjustment. It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the JBL Authentics 200 lacks.
The JBL Authentics 200 is the deeper-bass option. A retro styled Wi-Fi speaker that plays surprisingly loud and runs Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time. Its bass reaches about 50Hz before falling 10dB, against 56Hz for the Marshall Acton II. It streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the Marshall Acton II cannot. It links with other speakers (Wi-Fi multi-room), which the Marshall Acton II cannot. Watch for: Bass not as deep as others.
Buy the JBL Authentics 200. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Marshall Acton II is discontinued, so it is only available used.
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Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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
| Marshall Acton II | JBL Authentics 200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $195.60 each Discontinued | $199.95 each |
| Ranked | #19 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #10 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 10.2” x 6” x 5.9” (260 x 153 x 150 mm) | 10.5” x 6.8” x 6.6” (266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux | Bluetooth, Wifi, Aux, USB (US only) |
| Drivers | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 5” full-range woofer, 2x 25mm tweeters; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator; 6-inch down-firing passive radiator |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| TWS | No | No |
| Voice Assistants | None | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz)) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Amplifier Power | 50W (Woofer: 25W, Tweeters: 2x12.5W) | 90W |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | - | AC Power Cable (100-240V) |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Marshall Acton II: reviews by DSAUDIO.review, Danny Pops and Storytripper HD.
- JBL Authentics 200: reviews by Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More and Danny Pops.
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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