Marshall Acton III

The Acton III is for those who value design as much as audio performance. It sounds fantastic and looks even better a proper statement piece for music lovers with style.

OVERVIEW

Let us be honest you buy a Marshall speaker as much for the looks as for the sound and the Acton III delivers on both fronts in spades. The iconic script logo textured vinyl covering and brass-coloured control knobs give it a vintage rock-and-roll aesthetic that stands out in any room. But this is not just a pretty face Marshall re-engineered the sound for this generation with a wider soundstage and their Dynamic Loudness feature which adjusts the tonal balance so the music sounds great whether you are listening at whisper-quiet levels or cranking it up. The Placement Compensation switch on the back lets you optimise the sound depending on whether the speaker is placed against a wall or out in the open. Bluetooth 5.2 ensures a stable wireless connection and the analogue knobs for bass treble and volume give you that satisfying tactile control that digital sliders just cannot replicate. It is a wired speaker so you will need to keep it plugged in but for a dedicated home listening setup that doubles as a statement piece it is hard to beat.

KEY FEATURES

- Iconic Marshall design with signature script logo textured vinyl and brass-toned control knobs
- Dynamic Loudness technology maintains balanced sound across all volume levels automatically
- Placement Compensation optimises audio based on whether the speaker is near a wall or free-standing
- Bluetooth 5.2 provides stable high-quality wireless streaming with improved range
- Physical analogue knobs for bass treble and volume offer satisfying tactile control
- Wider soundstage than the Acton II with improved clarity and instrument separation

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

- Speaker Type: 60W Bluetooth home speaker
- Drivers: 30W woofer + 2x 15W tweeters
- Frequency Response: 45-20,000 Hz
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 3.5mm aux RCA
- Dimensions: 260 x 170 x 150 mm
- Weight: 2.85 kg

PROS

+ Design is absolutely iconic it doubles as a piece of decor that sparks conversations
+ Sound quality is rich and detailed with impressive instrument separation for a single-unit speaker
+ Physical bass and treble controls give you direct hands-on EQ adjustment without needing an app
+ Bluetooth 5.2 ensures reliable connectivity with minimal latency
+ Despite the powerful sound the footprint is compact enough for a shelf or sideboard

CONS

- No built-in battery so this is a stay-at-home speaker not a take-anywhere companion
- No Wi-Fi streaming or multi-room capability unlike smart speakers in this price range
- Marshall app features are fairly basic compared to competitors like Sonos or Bose

VERDICT

The Acton III is for those who value design as much as audio performance. It sounds fantastic and looks even better a proper statement piece for music lovers with style.