Short answer: the Marshall Acton IV for better sound quality, the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen for the lower price. The Marshall Acton IV ranks #3 of 13 powered desktop speakers, rated 3.7/5, at $329.99. The Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen ranks #10, rated 3.1/5, at $39.99, $290 cheaper.
The Marshall Acton IV is the better-sounding choice. A 4 inch woofer on a 60W amplifier and two 0.75 inch tweeters on 25W each, now with waveguides and a redesigned bass port, and Marshall rates it down to 37Hz. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. The tradeoff: No independent measurements or side by side comparisons against speakers we rank have been published yet, so it can’t be ranked.
Why pick the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: What Hi-Fi rated it 5 stars for sound, calling it expansive for its size with great Alexa integration and an understated look, from a single 44mm front-firing driver. It streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the Marshall Acton IV cannot. The tradeoff: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball.
Buy the Marshall Acton IV if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Acton IV | Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.99 each | $39.99 each |
| Ranked | #3 of 13 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #10 of 13 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 110W (woofer 60W, tweeters 2x 25W) | - |
| App | Yes (Marshall) | Yes (Alexa) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) |
| Cabinet Color | black, cream | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7”H x 10.2”W x 5.9”D (171 x 260 x 150 mm) | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” woofer + 2x 0.75” tweeters with waveguides | 44mm front-firing driver |
| EQ | Yes (bass/treble knobs, app EQ, room calibration) | No |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 38kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB at 1m (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | External AC adapter (DC jack) |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) |
| USB Input | No | No |
| Weight | 5.8 lbs (2.65 kg) | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Streaming Services | - | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Acton IV:
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Marshall Acton IV
- Marshall Acton IV vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Marshall Acton IV vs Google Nest Audio
- Marshall Acton IV vs Apple HomePod Mini
- Marshall Acton IV vs Google Home Speaker
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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 IV: $329.99 each Estimated Amazon eBay
Older models: the Marshall Acton III (rated 3.7/5) and the Marshall Acton II (rated 3.5/5).
Larger model: the Marshall Stanmore IV (estimated 3.8/5).
Pros: A 4 inch woofer on a 60W amplifier and two 0.75 inch tweeters on 25W each, now with waveguides and a redesigned bass port, and Marshall rates it down to 37Hz. Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3, multipoint, Auracast for linking more speakers, and a 3.5 mm aux input. The Marshall app adds EQ and room calibration, and the new M-button jumps to a saved EQ or Spotify Tap.
Cons: No independent measurements or side by side comparisons against speakers we rank have been published yet, so it can’t be ranked. One woofer serves both channels, so its stereo is limited to the tweeters. It needs mains power, has no RCA input (the Stanmore IV adds one), no Wi-Fi streaming and no microphone for voice control.
Full Marshall Acton IV review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 110W (woofer 60W, tweeters 2x 25W) |
| App | Yes (Marshall) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Cabinet Color | black, cream |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7”H x 10.2”W x 5.9”D (171 x 260 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4” woofer + 2x 0.75” tweeters with waveguides |
| EQ | Yes (bass/treble knobs, app EQ, room calibration) |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 38kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB at 1m (Manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 5.8 lbs (2.65 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: $39.99 each Amazon eBay
Pros: What Hi-Fi rated it 5 stars for sound, calling it expansive for its size with great Alexa integration and an understated look, from a single 44mm front-firing driver. It has a room temperature sensor, works as an eero Wi-Fi extender, and includes a mic mute switch alongside dedicated volume and action buttons.
Cons: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball. Engadget’s own head-to-head against the step-up Echo Dot Max found that speaker louder and bassier, from a 2.5-inch woofer and dedicated tweeter versus this speaker’s single small full-range driver. It is mono in a single unit, has no 3.5mm output, no battery, and needs Wi-Fi and an Amazon account for its smart features.
Full Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Alexa) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 44mm front-firing driver |
| EQ | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (DC jack) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Home Speaker
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Apple HomePod Mini
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Nest Audio
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo Pop
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Denon Home 150
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen
- See all 28 comparisons