Short answer: the JBL Authentics 200 for better sound quality, the Marshall Acton II for the lower price. The JBL Authentics 200 ranks #3 of 13 powered desktop speakers at $380. The Marshall Acton II ranks #10 at $195.60, $184.40 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 JBL Authentics 200 offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Bass not as deep as others.
Buy the Marshall Acton II if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the JBL Authentics 200 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 | JBL Authentics 200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $195.60 | $380 |
| Ranked | #10 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #3 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | 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 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room) |
| TWS | No | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Wifi | No | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Output Power | 50W (Woofer: 25W, Tweeters: 2x12.5W) | 90W |
| Passive Radiator | - | 6" down-firing |
| Power Input | - | AC Power Cable (100-240V) |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa MRM |
| Wifi Version | - | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz/5GHz) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Acton III
- Edifier D12 vs Klipsch The Three II
- Marshall Acton III vs Klipsch The Three II
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Acton II vs Klipsch The Three II
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 Edifier D12
- See all 9 comparisons
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 III
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Klipsch The Three II