Short answer: the Marshall Stanmore III. It ranks #6 of 19 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $342.86. The Klipsch The Three Plus ranks #18, rated 3.4/5, at $269.99, $72.87 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
What the Marshall Stanmore III does well: At 4.4 kg, Marshall Stanmore III combines 5” (midrange/woofer), 1x 5” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters with Bluetooth, RCA, Aux. Watch for: Bass is limited by its 45Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification.
Why pick the Klipsch The Three Plus: Two 2.25in full-range drivers and a 5.25in woofer with two opposing passive radiators, biamplified with 120W, play far louder than the small tabletop cabinet suggests: TechRadar and Trusted Reviews both found it stayed composed and unstressed at very high volume, with controlled, textured bass and a fairly detailed, communicative midrange. The tradeoff: The tuning leans heavily on bass: TechRadar called it on the warm side of neutral with the treble only just holding its own, and HomeTheaterHifi found the treble turned sharp and piercing at higher volumes.
Buy the Marshall Stanmore III. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $72.87 with the Klipsch The Three Plus does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stanmore III | Klipsch The Three Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $342.86 each | $269.99 each |
| Ranked | #6 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #18 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Klipsch Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No (RCA line input) |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 13.8” x 8” x 7.4” (350 x 203 x 188 mm) | 7”H x 14”W x 8.4”D (178 x 356 x 213 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | - |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux | Bluetooth, Optical, Phono/RCA, USB-C |
| Drivers | 5” (midrange/woofer), 1x 5” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 2x 2.25” full-range drivers, 5.25” long-throw woofer, 2x 5.25” passive radiators |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No | - |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Amplifier Power | 80W (Woofer: 50W, Tweeters: 2x15W) | 120W total |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes (24-bit/96kHz) |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.2 | Yes, 5.3 |
| Maximum SPL | - | 106dB |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | None |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to 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 30, 2026 at 2:57 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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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 16 comparisons
Klipsch The Three Plus: $269.99 each Amazon eBay
Older model: the Klipsch The Three II (ranked higher, rated 3.4/5).
Pros: Two 2.25in full-range drivers and a 5.25in woofer with two opposing passive radiators, biamplified with 120W, play far louder than the small tabletop cabinet suggests: TechRadar and Trusted Reviews both found it stayed composed and unstressed at very high volume, with controlled, textured bass and a fairly detailed, communicative midrange. Inputs cover Bluetooth 5.3, a switchable phono/line RCA input for a turntable, 24-bit/96kHz optical and USB-C playback, and the Klipsch Connect app adds a three-band EQ with presets and a night mode.
Cons: The tuning leans heavily on bass: TechRadar called it on the warm side of neutral with the treble only just holding its own, and HomeTheaterHifi found the treble turned sharp and piercing at higher volumes. Both TechRadar and Trusted Reviews found the built-in phono stage flat and less dynamic than the other inputs, so vinyl sounds its weakest here. Stereo separation is limited by the single cabinet, there is no 3.5mm aux or subwoofer output, and HomeTheaterHifi found the app and volume wheel laggy. ASR’s measurements of the original Klipsch The Three, which used the same driver layout, showed an uneven response, so treat its tonal balance with some caution.
Full Klipsch The Three Plus review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 120W total |
| App | Yes (Klipsch Connect) |
| Aux Input | No (RCA line input) |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7”H x 14”W x 8.4”D (178 x 356 x 213 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.25” full-range drivers, 5.25” long-throw woofer, 2x 5.25” passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Optical, Phono/RCA, USB-C |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB |
| Optical Input | Yes (24-bit/96kHz) |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | None |
| Weight | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons