Short answer: the Marshall Acton III, for the better rating and lower price. It ranks #9 of 19 powered desktop speakers against the Three II’s #17 of 19 and costs $149.97 less, pairing a 4 inch woofer with dual dome tweeters in a 2.85kg cabinet. The Klipsch The Three II adds aptX Bluetooth plus RCA, optical and USB inputs in a heavier 4.7kg cabinet, but shares the limited bass reach and has no companion app.
Acton III pairs a 4” woofer with dual dome tweeters in a 2.85kg cabinet, but its Bluetooth is limited to SBC and its 45Hz-20kHz spec points to modest bass extension for the class.
The Three II uses a 4.5” woofer and dual full-range midranges in a heavier 4.7kg cabinet, adding aptX Bluetooth plus RCA, optical and USB inputs a wired setup can use, though it shares the Acton III’s limited bass reach and has no companion app.
Buy the Marshall Acton III for the better rating and lower price. Buy the Klipsch The Three II (while stock lasts) if the extra optical, USB and RCA inputs matter for a wired setup.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Acton III | Klipsch The Three II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250.03 each | $400 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #9 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #17 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 10.2” x 6.7” x 5.9” (260 x 170 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 | 45Hz - 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 |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Amplifier Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.2 | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Marshall Acton III compares with other leading options:
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Woburn III vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Woburn II
- Marshall Woburn I vs Marshall Acton III
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Acton III
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Acton III: $250.03 each Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Acton IV. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we can’t confirm that yet.
Pros: At 2.85 kg, Marshall Acton III combines 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters with Bluetooth, Aux. Ac-powered operation and limited-stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Bass is limited by its 45Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification.
Full Marshall Acton III review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.2” x 6.7” x 5.9” (260 x 170 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Marshall Acton III vs JBL Authentics 200
- Marshall Acton III vs Edifier D12
- Marshall Acton III vs Denon Home 250
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Acton III vs Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker
- Marshall Acton III vs Apple HomePod 2nd Gen
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Woburn I
- See all 16 comparisons
Klipsch The Three II: $400 each Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Klipsch The Three Plus, ranked lower, rated 3.4/5.
Pros: Klipsch The Three II uses 4.5” woofer, 2x 2.25” full-range midranges. Its 4.7 kg, aux input and limited-stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Its 45Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size. There is no companion app. Discontinued.
Full Klipsch The Three II review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA, Optical, USB |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Acton II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Klipsch The One II
- 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 Marshall Stanmore III
- Klipsch The Three II vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Klipsch The Three II vs Edifier S2000MKIII