Short answer: the Marshall Stanmore III. It ranks #6 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $388.99. The Marshall Acton III ranks #11, rated 3.7/5, at $298.99, $90 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Bass is the recurring complaint on both. Our notes flag the Stanmore III as not as good sounding as the older Stanmore II, with not enough bass and distortion at higher volumes. The Acton III’s own note is shorter but points at the same weakness: not as deep bass as competitors. Neither speaker is a bass powerhouse, and the higher price of the Stanmore III does not buy its way out of that complaint.
What the extra money on the Stanmore III does buy: a larger 5 inch woofer and midrange driver against the Acton III’s 4 inch equivalents, 80W of total output versus 60W, and an RCA input in addition to Bluetooth and aux that the Acton III doesn’t have. It is also noticeably heavier at 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) versus 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) for the Acton III, and about 3.5 inches taller and deeper.
Everything else matches: both use Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC only, a bass/treble EQ, no battery, no IP rating, and the same partially stereo layout with a single woofer.
Buy the Marshall Acton III if you want the smaller footprint and lower price, and can live with the same bass limitations either speaker has.
Buy the Marshall Stanmore III if you need the bigger drivers, the extra power headroom, or the RCA input for a wired source.
Want more options? Browse the full 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stanmore III | Marshall Acton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $388.99 each | $298.99 each |
| Ranked | #6 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #11 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 13.8” x 8” x 7.4” (350 x 203 x 188 mm) | 10.2” x 6.7” x 5.9” (260 x 170 x 150 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux | Bluetooth, Aux |
| Drivers | 5” (midrange/woofer), 1x 5” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | - |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
| 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 | No | 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 III: reviews by 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.
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