Short answer: the Marshall Woburn III. It ranks #2 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality (rated 4.1/5) at $599.99 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 Woburn III is the big, full-range Marshall. A 6-inch woofer, two midranges and two tweeters on 150W play in stereo to 100.5dB, with bass reaching about 45Hz before falling 10dB. It adds HDMI ARC and RCA inputs, so it doubles as a TV speaker. At 16.4 lbs (7.44 kg) it is a room speaker, not a shelf filler.
The Acton II is the smaller, discontinued Marshall. A 4-inch woofer, a midrange and two tweeters on 50W reach about 56Hz before falling 10dB, and it supports aptX and has an aux input with bass and treble knobs. It is only available used.
Buy the Marshall Woburn III. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Marshall Acton II is no longer sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Acton II | Marshall Woburn III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $195.60 each Discontinued | $599.99 each |
| Ranked | #19 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #2 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | ~45Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 16.4 lbs (7.44 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) | 15.7” x 12.5” x 8” (400 x 317 x 203 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 35Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux | Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, RCA, Aux |
| Drivers | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 6” woofer, 2x 2” midranges, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Voice Assistants | None | - |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Amplifier Power | 50W (Woofer: 25W, Tweeters: 2x12.5W) | 150W (Woofer: 90W, Midrange: 2x15W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| 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 | Yes |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | - | AC Power cord |
| Maximum SPL | - | 100.5dB @ 1m |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Marshall Acton II: reviews by DSAUDIO.review, Danny Pops and Storytripper HD.
- Marshall Woburn III: reviews by Danny Pops 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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