Short answer: the Marshall Woburn I. It ranks #4 of 19 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $500; the B&O Beosound 1 ranks #16, rated 3.5/5, and costs $2,000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Marshall Woburn I does well: A substantial mains-powered stereo speaker with two 5.25-inch woofers, two tweeters, 90W output and physical bass and treble controls. Watch for: Its midrange can be peaky while the upper treble rolls off, and bass reaches only around 50Hz in practice rather than matching deeper modern speakers.
The case for the B&O Beosound 1: At 3.5 kg, B&O Beosound 1 combines 4” woofer, 1.5” full-range driver with Bluetooth and aux. Watch for: Bass is limited by its ~53Hz specification.
One note: the Marshall Woburn I is discontinued, but it still ranks #4 of 19 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Marshall Woburn I. It is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound 1 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Woburn I | B&O Beosound 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $500 each Discontinued | $2000 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #4 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #16 of 19 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | ~53Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Weight | 17.4 lbs (7.9 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 15.7” x 12.1” x 7.9” (400 x 308 x 200 mm) | 6.4” x 12.9” (162 x 327 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | No |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 35Hz - 24.3kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” woofers, Integrated in woofers midrange, 2x 1” tweeters | 4” woofer, 1.5” full-range driver |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Amplifier Power | 90W | 60W total (40W full-range, 20W woofer) |
| 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, 4.2 |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 91dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Marshall Woburn I compares with other leading options:
- Marshall Woburn I vs Marshall Woburn III
- Marshall Woburn I vs Marshall Woburn II
- Marshall Stanmore III vs Marshall Woburn I
- JBL Authentics 200 vs Marshall Woburn I
- Marshall Woburn I vs Marshall Acton 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Woburn I: $500 each Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Woburn III, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: A substantial mains-powered stereo speaker with two 5.25-inch woofers, two tweeters, 90W output and physical bass and treble controls. It supports Bluetooth with aptX plus RCA and 3.5mm aux inputs, so it is a flexible single-box system for a desk, living room or turntable setup. Measured bass extension of ~50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Its midrange can be peaky while the upper treble rolls off, and bass reaches only around 50Hz in practice rather than matching deeper modern speakers. At 7.9kg it is not portable, has no app, Wi-Fi or multi-speaker mode, and this discontinued first-generation model should be checked carefully before buying used.
Full Marshall Woburn I review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 90W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7” x 12.1” x 7.9” (400 x 308 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” woofers, Integrated in woofers midrange, 2x 1” tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 17.4 lbs (7.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
B&O Beosound 1: $2000 each Discontinued eBay
Pros: At 3.5 kg, B&O Beosound 1 combines 4” woofer, 1.5” full-range driver with Bluetooth and aux. Claimed 16 hours (manufacturer specified) battery life, up to 91db and stereo playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Measured bass extension of ~53Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its ~53Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Discontinued.
Full B&O Beosound 1 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W total (40W full-range, 20W woofer) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~53Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 4.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.4” x 12.9” (162 x 327 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” woofer, 1.5” full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 24.3kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples