Short answer: the Marshall Acton III. It ranks #9 of 13 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $227.44; the Klipsch The Three II ranks #12 and costs $400, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Marshall Acton III offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Not as deep bass as competitors.
What the Klipsch The Three II offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Treble boosted.
Buy the Marshall Acton III. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Klipsch The Three II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Klipsch The Three 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 III | Klipsch The Three II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $227.44 | $400 |
| Ranked | #9 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #12 of 13 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 |
| Wifi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Output Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Woburn I vs Klipsch The One II
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Acton II vs JBL Authentics 200
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Acton III
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Acton III: $227.44 Amazon
Cons: Not as deep bass as competitors.
Full Marshall Acton III review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| 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) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux |
| Output Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs / 2.85 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 Acton III vs Marshall Acton II
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Woburn I
- Marshall Acton III vs Klipsch The One II
- Marshall Acton III vs Marshall Woburn III
- Marshall Acton III vs JBL Authentics 200
- Marshall Acton III vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
Klipsch The Three II: $400 Amazon
Cons: Treble boosted. Not as deep of bass as others.
Full Klipsch The Three II review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| 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) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA, Optical, USB |
| Output Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
| Party Mode | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 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
- Klipsch The Three II vs Klipsch The One II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Acton II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Stanmore III
- 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 Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Klipsch The Three II vs Edifier S2000MKIII


