Short answer: the Marshall Acton III. It ranks #9 of 19 medium powered desktop speakers against the Stanmore II’s #10, and it costs less while still being available new.
Both speakers share the same weakness in their notes: bass that does not go as deep as competitors in this class, so neither is the pick if deep bass is the priority.
On paper the Stanmore II is the bigger speaker. It runs 80W across a 5.25” woofer, two 2” midranges, and two 0.75” dome tweeters, against the Acton III’s 60W into a single 4” driver, one additional 4” midrange, and two 0.75” dome tweeters. It also adds aptX support where the Acton III is SBC only. Both are aux-in only with no battery and both list as partially stereo with a single shared woofer.
Buy the Acton III since it is the current model, costs less, and gives up nothing the Stanmore II still does better.
Buy the Stanmore II only if you find one at a steep discount and specifically want the larger driver array and aptX support, and you are comfortable buying a discontinued model.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stanmore II | Marshall Acton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 each Discontinued | $250.03 each |
| Ranked | #10 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #9 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | - |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 10.3 lbs (4.65 kg) | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 13.8” x 7.9” x 7.3” (350 x 200 x 185 mm) | 10.2” x 6.7” x 5.9” (260 x 170 x 150 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux, Optical | Bluetooth, Aux |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” midranges, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Voice Assistants | None | - |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Amplifier Power | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes, 5.2 |
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 29, 2026 at 3:43 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 Stanmore II: $300 each Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Stanmore IV. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we can’t confirm that yet.
Pros: Marshall Stanmore II uses 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” midranges, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters. Its 4.65 kg, aux input and limited-stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 55Hz specification. Discontinued.
Full Marshall Stanmore II review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.8” x 7.9” x 7.3” (350 x 200 x 185 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” midranges, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux, Optical |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | None |
| Weight | 10.3 lbs (4.65 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Stanmore II vs JBL Authentics 200
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Acton II
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Woburn I
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Klipsch The Three II
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Woburn II
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Woburn III
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- See all 10 comparisons
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 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
- Marshall Acton III vs Sonos Era 100
- See all 16 comparisons