Short answer: the Marshall Acton III. It ranks #11 of 29 medium powered desktop speakers against the Stanmore II’s #12, and it costs less while still being available new. The Marshall Stanmore II is discontinued; its replacement is the Marshall Stanmore IV. If you are buying new, get the Marshall Stanmore IV.
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.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stanmore II | Marshall Acton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 each Discontinued | $298.99 each |
| Ranked | #12 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #11 of 29 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 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Marshall Stanmore II: reviews by DSAUDIO.review and Storytripper HD.
- Marshall Acton III: reviews by Danny Pops.
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.
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Marshall Acton III compares with other leading options: