Short answer: the Marshall Stanmore II for better sound quality, the Marshall Acton III for the lower price. The Marshall Stanmore II ranks #7 of 13 powered desktop speakers at $300. The Marshall Acton III ranks #9 at $227.44, $72.56 cheaper.
What the Marshall Stanmore II offers: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class. Watch for: Not very deep bass.
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.
Buy the Marshall Stanmore II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Marshall Acton III if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stanmore II | Marshall Acton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $227.44 |
| Ranked | #7 of 13 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #9 of 13 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 | Yes | - |
| Wifi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Output Power | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Klipsch The One II
- Edifier D12 vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Woburn II
- Audio Pro C5 MkII vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Acton II vs Marshall Stanmore II
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Stanmore II: $300 Amazon
Cons: Not very deep bass. No battery. No water rating.
Full Marshall Stanmore II review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| 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) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux, Optical |
| Output Power | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Yes |
| Weight | 10.3 lbs / 4.65 kg |
| Wifi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Woburn I
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Woburn II
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Acton II
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Marshall Woburn III
- Marshall Stanmore II vs JBL Authentics 200
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Klipsch The Three II
- Marshall Stanmore II vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- See all 9 comparisons
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 Klipsch The Three 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