Short answer: the Marshall Acton III. It ranks #11 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $298.99. The Klipsch The Three Plus ranks #25, rated 3.4/5, at $274.99, $24 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Marshall Acton III is the better-sounding option. 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 Klipsch The Three Plus lacks.
The case for the Klipsch The Three Plus: A retro tabletop speaker with a built in phono input for a turntable, plenty of volume and optical and USB-C inputs. The catch: The tuning leans heavily on bass: TechRadar called it on the warm side of neutral with the treble only just holding its own, and HomeTheaterHifi found the treble turned sharp and piercing at higher volumes.
Buy the Marshall Acton III. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $24 you would save on the Klipsch The Three Plus does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Acton III | Klipsch The Three Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $298.99 each | $274.99 each |
| Ranked | #11 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #25 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No (RCA line input) |
| 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) | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) |
| App | Yes | Yes (Klipsch Connect) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 10.2” x 6.7” x 5.9” (260 x 170 x 150 mm) | 7”H x 14”W x 8.4”D (178 x 356 x 213 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux | Bluetooth, Optical, Phono/RCA, USB-C |
| Drivers | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 2x 2.25” full-range drivers, 5.25” long-throw woofer, 2x 5.25” passive radiators |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| TWS | No | - |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Amplifier Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 120W total |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes (24-bit/96kHz) |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | - | 106dB |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | None |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Marshall Acton III: reviews by Danny Pops.
- Klipsch The Three Plus: reviews by TechRadar, Trusted and HomeTheaterHifi.
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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