Marshall Acton III, Stanmore III and Woburn III: New bluetooth speaker

June is apparently the month of Bluetooth speakers. After Sony introduced three new models at an affordable price , a pair of hi-fi speakers followed with the KEF LSX II. Now, traditional manufacturer Marshall also announces the third generation of its iconic home speakers. We have all the info on the Marshall Acton III, Stanmore III and Woburn III.

Marshall Acton III, Stanmore III and Woburn III in detail

Under the motto “Bring the big stage home” traditional manufacturer Marshall presents the now third generation of its home line-up of Bluetooth speakers for home use. The new models are to be characterized above all by an even broader and clearer sound image.

This is made possible primarily by new, outwardly angled tweeters and revised waveguides, for a consistently solid sound. Clear highs and thunderous basses are supposed to be offered, but whether the fundamental tone still comes across as quite bass-heavy has yet to be proven.

Technically, the two models Marshall Acton III and Stanmore III cover a frequency range from 45 Hz to 20,000 Hz, while the largest of the bunch – the Woburn III – even reaches down to 35 Hz.

All three bass-reflex speakers rely on the manufacturer’s iconic “rock ‘n’ roll design” and come in Marshall’s signature black color scheme complete with gold accents.“The Built-in Dynamic Loudness feature adjusts the tonal balance of the sound, ensuring your music sounds brilliant at any volume,” Marshall promises.

Adding to the mix is a novel Placement Compensation feature designed to correct for reflective surfaces near the speakers that could affect the sound. Sounds appealing on paper – hopefully not just an empty advertising promise.

How do the Marshal Bluetooth speakers sound?

In terms of size and technology, there are of course significant differences between the Marshall Acton III, Stanmore III and Woburn III. The Acton speaker is the smallest of the bunch, measuring 260 x 170 x 150 mm and weighing 2.85 kg.

The Stanmore III positions itself in the middle with 4.25 kg and dimensions of 350 x 203 x 188 mm. While the massive Marshall Woburn III weighs in at a whopping 7.25 kg and measures 400 x 317 x 203 mm.

All three Bluetooth speakers offer stereo sound, but of course differ in terms of the built-in amplifiers. For example, the Acton III relies on a 30-watt class D amplifier for the bass speaker, as well as two 15-watt class D amplifiers for the tweeters.

In the Stanmore, the bass amplifier in particular turns out to be significantly larger at 50 watts, while the top model Marshall Woburn III combines a 90-watt class D amplifier with two 15-watt midrange and two additional 15-watt tweeters.

There’s also differences in the maximum volume or sound pressure peg. This is at 95 dB (Acton III), 97 dB (Stanmore III) and 100.5 dB (Woburn III). All home speakers also have analog controls in common, with which bass and treble can be adjusted separately to create the preferred sound.

Bluetooth and other features

Wirelessly, all three Marshall home speakers radio via Bluetooth 5.2 and thus achieve a maximum range of around 10 meters with low latency. Via the companion app, the Bluetooth speakers can also be updated with Over the Air (OTA) updates and are said to be particularly future-proof.

“This future-proof technology delivers the best possible audio quality, increases streaming range and improves audio synchronization,” promises the manufacturer. Also to follow soon is a multi-stream feature that lets you connect to multiple speakers from one device, as well as a new Bluetooth feature, Auracast, that lets you receive Auracast audio broadcasts from other devices.

Those who prefer to use classic headphones can also connect them via 3.5mm jack on all three speakers. Wi-Fi connectivity or voice control, however, do not offer the devices. In addition, all three home speakers are not waterproof and are therefore intended solely for indoor use.

Prices and availability

The three new Bluetooth speakers in the Home series are available now directly from the manufacturer. The Marshal Acton III has an MSRP of 269.00 euros. You can secure the Marshall Stanmore III for 369.00 euros and the Marshall Woburn III is priced at 569.00 euros. All three speakers will be available in black color from June 23, 2022. Other colorways are expected to follow in the fall of this year.