Short answer: the Marshall Acton III. It ranks #11 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $225; the JBL Cove M1 ranks #18, rated 3.6/5, and costs $229.95, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Marshall Acton III: A compact home speaker with classic Marshall amp styling, Bluetooth and an aux input for a small room or desk. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Cove M1 lacks.
Why pick the JBL Cove M1: A compact Wi-Fi home speaker that RTINGS found sounds much like the Sonos Era 100, with enough bass rumble to keep music full-bodied and enough output to fill a small room without compressing the bass. It streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the Marshall Acton III cannot. Watch for: Voices can sound muffled from behind it, and Alexa is the only voice assistant.
Buy the Marshall Acton III. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Cove M1 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
A compact home speaker with classic Marshall amp styling, Bluetooth and an aux input for a small room or desk.
A compact Wi-Fi home speaker that RTINGS found sounds much like the Sonos Era 100, with enough bass rumble to keep music full-bodied and enough output to fill a small room without compressing the bass.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Acton III | JBL Cove M1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $225.00 each | $229.95 each |
| Ranked | #11 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #18 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | - |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) | 3.6 lbs (1.65 kg) |
| App | Yes | Yes (JBL One) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 10.2” x 6.7” x 5.9” (260 x 170 x 150 mm) | 7.2”H x 4.9”W x 4.9”D (183 x 124 x 124 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | - |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 20kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-A (MP3 playback, US version) |
| Drivers | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 1x 4” woofer, 3x 0.75” tweeters |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| TWS | No | - |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 110W RMS |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | - | AC mains |
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