Short answer: the Stanmore III if you want a new speaker with a warranty, the Stanmore II if you can find one used and prioritize sound over convenience. The Stanmore III ranks #12 of 29 medium powered desktop speakers at $300. The Stanmore II ranks #6 at $388.99, $88.99 cheaper, but it is discontinued and only available secondhand. The Marshall Stanmore II is discontinued; its replacement is the Marshall Stanmore IV.
The sound quality verdict actually favors the older speaker. The Stanmore III’s own cons list states plainly that it is “not as good sounding as the Stanmore II” and calls out insufficient bass and distortion at higher volumes. The Stanmore II’s complaints are milder: shallow bass and no water resistance, but nothing about distortion. Measured bass extension backs this up too: the Stanmore II reaches 55Hz at -10dB, a number the Stanmore III does not have published.
What changed between generations:
- Lost aptX support. The Stanmore II supports SBC and aptX; the Stanmore III dropped aptX and only does SBC, despite bumping Bluetooth from 5.0 to 5.2.
- Lost the optical input. The Stanmore II can take an optical TV connection in addition to Bluetooth, RCA, and Aux. The Stanmore III drops optical entirely.
- Lost TWS pairing. The Stanmore II can pair with a second Marshall speaker for true wireless stereo; the Stanmore III cannot.
- Driver layout changed. The Stanmore II uses a 5.25” woofer with two 2” midranges and two 0.75” tweeters. The Stanmore III swaps in a single 5” woofer, one 5” midrange, and the same two 0.75” tweeters, a simpler four-driver layout instead of five.
Everything else matches: both run the same 80W amplifier configuration, both have bass/treble EQ in the app, and both lack a battery or any IP rating.
Buy the Stanmore III if you want a speaker you can order new today with a warranty and don’t mind losing aptX, optical, and TWS pairing.
Buy the Stanmore II if you find a good used unit and want the optical input, aptX, and the sound the Stanmore III’s own review says it can’t quite match.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A home speaker with classic Marshall styling, aptX Bluetooth, RCA, aux and optical inputs, and bass and treble controls.
A mid size home speaker with classic Marshall amp styling, Bluetooth, and RCA and aux inputs for a turntable or other source.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stanmore II | Marshall Stanmore III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 each Discontinued | $388.99 each |
| Ranked | #12 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #6 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 | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Weight | 10.3 lbs (4.65 kg) | 9.7 lbs (4.4 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) | 13.8” x 8” x 7.4” (350 x 203 x 188 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux, Optical | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” midranges, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 5” (midrange/woofer), 1x 5” 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) | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |
Watch Them Compared
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