Short answer: the Marshall Stanmore III. It ranks #6 of 29 medium powered desktop speakers at $388.99, while The Three II ranks #24 at $400. That is a large gap in measured sound quality in the Stanmore III’s favor, for less money. The Klipsch The Three II is discontinued; its replacement is the Klipsch The Three Plus.
The driver layouts explain a lot of the gap. The Stanmore III runs a 5-inch woofer, a second 5-inch midrange, and two 0.75-inch dome tweeters at 80W total. The Three II uses a smaller 4.5-inch woofer paired with two 2.25-inch full-range midranges at 60W, a setup with less cone area and less dedicated high-frequency handling. Its own notes flag limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size, the same 45Hz to 20kHz spec the Stanmore III also carries but backs with more power and driver area.
The Three II still has an edge in physical connectivity. It adds optical and USB inputs on top of Bluetooth, aux and RCA, while the Stanmore III sticks to Bluetooth, RCA and aux only. The Three II also supports aptX over Bluetooth, where the Stanmore III is limited to SBC. Neither speaker has a companion app worth mentioning: the Stanmore III has one, the Three II does not.
Buy the Marshall Stanmore III for meaningfully better measured sound quality at a lower price, with an app included.
Buy the Klipsch The Three II only if you specifically need its optical or USB input and can find one secondhand, since it’s no longer sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stanmore III | Klipsch The Three II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $388.99 each | $400 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #6 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #24 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 13.8” x 8” x 7.4” (350 x 203 x 188 mm) | 11” x 7.3” x 7.3” (280 x 186 x 186 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA, Optical, USB |
| Drivers | 5” (midrange/woofer), 1x 5” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 4.5” woofer, 2x 2.25” full-range midranges |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Amplifier Power | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Marshall Stanmore III: reviews by Storytripper HD.
- Klipsch The Three II: reviews by DSAUDIO.review.
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.
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