Short answer: the Edifier D12. It ranks #7 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $179.99; the Marshall Acton III ranks #11, rated 3.7/5, and costs $225, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Marshall Acton III does well: A compact home speaker with classic Marshall amp styling, Bluetooth and an aux input for a small room or desk. The catch: Bass is limited by its 45Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification.
Why pick the Edifier D12: A stereo desktop speaker in one box with Bluetooth, aux and RCA inputs, and a lot of sound for the money. Watch for: Bass is limited by its 57Hz specification.
Buy the Edifier D12. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Acton III and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A compact home speaker with classic Marshall amp styling, Bluetooth and an aux input for a small room or desk.
A stereo desktop speaker in one box with Bluetooth, aux and RCA inputs, and a lot of sound for the money.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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 III | Edifier D12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $225.00 each | $179.99 each |
| Ranked | #11 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #7 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 10.2” x 6.7” x 5.9” (260 x 170 x 150 mm) | 14.1” x 6.3” x 8” (359 x 159 x 203.5 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble controls) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 54Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA |
| Drivers | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 2x 4” woofers, 2x 19mm silk dome tweeters |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Amplifier Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 70W (R/L treble: 15W+15W, R/L mid-bass: 20W+20W) |
| 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 | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 57Hz |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer line out |
| Power Input | - | AC Power cable |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
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