Short answer: the Marshall Stanmore III. It ranks #6 of 19 medium powered desktop speakers at $342.86, while The Three II ranks #17 at $400. That is a large gap in measured sound quality in the Stanmore III’s favor, for less money.
One note: the Klipsch The Three II is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore.
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.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stanmore III | Klipsch The Three II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $342.86 each | $400 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #6 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #17 of 19 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, 5.2 | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Marshall Stanmore III:
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn III
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn II
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn I
- Apple HomePod 2nd Gen vs Marshall Stanmore III
- Edifier D12 vs Marshall Stanmore 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Stanmore III: $342.86 each Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Stanmore IV. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we can’t confirm that yet.
Pros: At 4.4 kg, Marshall Stanmore III combines 5” (midrange/woofer), 1x 5” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters with Bluetooth, RCA, 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 Stanmore III review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W (Woofer: 50W, 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 | 13.8” x 8” x 7.4” (350 x 203 x 188 mm) |
| Drivers | 5” (midrange/woofer), 1x 5” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Edifier D12
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Apple HomePod 2nd Gen
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn I
- Marshall Stanmore III vs JBL Authentics 200
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn II
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Acton III
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn III
- See all 15 comparisons
Klipsch The Three II: $400 each Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Klipsch The Three Plus, ranked lower, rated 3.4/5.
Pros: Klipsch The Three II uses 4.5” woofer, 2x 2.25” full-range midranges. Its 4.7 kg, aux input and limited-stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: Its 45Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size. There is no companion app. Discontinued.
Full Klipsch The Three II review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W (Woofer: 30W, Full-range: 2x15W) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11” x 7.3” x 7.3” (280 x 186 x 186 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” woofer, 2x 2.25” full-range midranges |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA, Optical, USB |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Acton II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Klipsch The One II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Stanmore II
- Klipsch The Three II vs Marshall Acton III
- Klipsch The Three II vs JBL Authentics 200
- Klipsch The Three II vs Edifier D12
- Klipsch The Three II vs Audio Pro C5 MkII
- Klipsch The Three II vs Edifier S2000MKIII