Short answer: the Marshall Woburn III, if you are buying new. The Marshall Woburn I ranks higher than the Marshall Acton III (#4 vs #11 of 29 powered desktop speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Marshall Woburn III, is rated 4.1/5 at $599.99 and is still sold new.
Why pick the Marshall Woburn I: A substantial stereo home speaker with physical bass and treble knobs, aptX Bluetooth and RCA and aux inputs, now discontinued but worth buying used. It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the Marshall Acton III lacks. 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.
What the Marshall Acton III does well: A compact home speaker with classic Marshall amp styling, Bluetooth and an aux input for a small room or desk. The tradeoff: Bass is limited by its 45Hz to 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification.
Buy the Marshall Woburn III, the replacement for the discontinued Marshall Woburn I; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Acton III.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Woburn I | Marshall Acton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $500 each Discontinued | $298.99 each |
| Ranked | #4 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #11 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | - |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | - |
| Weight | 17.4 lbs (7.9 kg) | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
| App | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 15.7” x 12.1” x 7.9” (400 x 308 x 200 mm) | 10.2” x 6.7” x 5.9” (260 x 170 x 150 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux | Bluetooth, Aux |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” woofers, Integrated in woofers midrange, 2x 1” tweeters | 4” (midrange/woofer), 1x 4” midrange, 2x 0.75” Dome tweeters |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Amplifier Power | 90W | 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 |
| Power Bank | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Marshall Woburn I: reviews by Danny Pops.
- 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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