Short answer: the Marshall Acton II. It ranks #10 of 13 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $195.60; the Klipsch The Three II ranks #12 and costs $400, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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 Klipsch The Three II offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Treble boosted.
Buy the Marshall Acton II. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Klipsch The Three II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 13 powered desktop speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Acton II | Klipsch The Three II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $195.60 | $400 |
| Ranked | #10 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #12 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 | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 10.2" x 6" x 5.9" (260 x 153 x 150 mm) | 11" x 7.3" x 7.3" (280 x 186 x 186 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA, Optical, USB |
| Drivers | 4" (midrange/woofer), 1x 4" midrange, 2x 0.75" Dome tweeters | 4.5" woofer, 2x 2.25" full-range midranges |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Voice Assistants | Yes | - |
| Wifi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Output Power | 50W (Woofer: 25W, Tweeters: 2x12.5W) | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Acton III
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Woburn I vs Klipsch The One II
- Marshall Acton II vs JBL Authentics 200
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Stanmore 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 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
- Marshall Acton II vs Edifier D12
- See all 9 comparisons
Klipsch The Three II: $400 Amazon
Cons: Treble boosted. Not as deep of bass as others.
Full Klipsch The Three II review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 11" x 7.3" x 7.3" (280 x 186 x 186 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5" woofer, 2x 2.25" full-range midranges |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA, Optical, USB |
| Output Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
| Party Mode | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 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
- Klipsch The Three II vs Klipsch The One II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Acton III
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Klipsch The Three II vs JBL Authentics 200
- Klipsch The Three II vs Edifier D12
- Klipsch The Three II vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Klipsch The Three II vs Edifier S2000MKIII