Short answer: the Marshall Stanmore III for better sound quality, the Marshall Acton II for the lower price. The Marshall Stanmore III ranks #8 of 13 powered desktop speakers at $379. The Marshall Acton II ranks #10 at $195.60, $183.40 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 Marshall Stanmore III offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Not as good sounding as the Stanmore II.
Buy the Marshall Acton II if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Marshall Stanmore III 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 | Marshall Stanmore III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $195.60 | $379.00 |
| Ranked | #10 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #8 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 | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg | 9.7 lbs / 4.4 kg |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 10.2" x 6" x 5.9" (260 x 153 x 150 mm) | 13.8" x 8" x 7.4" (350 x 203 x 188 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux |
| Drivers | 4" (midrange/woofer), 1x 4" midrange, 2x 0.75" Dome tweeters | 5" (midrange/woofer), 1x 5" midrange, 2x 0.75" Dome tweeters |
| 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) | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| Power Input | - | AC Power cord |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Stanmore II
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Acton III
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Acton II vs JBL Authentics 200
- 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 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
- Marshall Acton II vs Edifier D12
- See all 9 comparisons
Marshall Stanmore III: $379.00 Amazon
Cons: Not as good sounding as the Stanmore II. Not enough bass. Distorts at higher volumes.
Full Marshall Stanmore III review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 13.8" x 8" x 7.4" (350 x 203 x 188 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (midrange/woofer), 1x 5" midrange, 2x 0.75" Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux |
| Output Power | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs / 4.4 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
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn I
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn II
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Klipsch The Three II
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Klipsch The One II
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Edifier D12