Marshall Upgrades Acton IV and Stanmore IV Retro Styled Bluetooth Speakers

Marshall built its reputation on guitar amplifiers used by everyone from rock legends to garage bands still waiting for the neighbors to appreciate the setlist. In recent years, however, the company has expanded well beyond the stage with portable Bluetooth speakers, party speakers, headphones, and its first soundbars, the Heston 120 and Heston 60.

That consumer audio push now continues with the Marshall Acton IV and Stanmore IV, the latest fourth-generation models in the company’s home Bluetooth speaker lineup.

Both speakers retain Marshall’s familiar guitar amplifier styling while adding upgraded tweeters, redesigned bass ports, Dynamic Loudness processing, Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast and LC3 support, a revised brass control panel, a customizable M button, and more replaceable components.

The Acton IV and Stanmore IV will compete for attention with premium home speakers from Sonos, JBL, and Denon, although Marshall continues to place greater emphasis on Bluetooth connectivity, physical controls, analog inputs, and visual appeal than on a fully integrated Wi-Fi multi-room ecosystem.

Let’s take a closer look at what has changed.

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Acton IV and Stanmore IV Shared Features and Upgrades

Brass Control Panel: Marshall’s familiar brass control panel returns with an improved media jog dial, its signature power switch, and tactile knobs for volume, bass, and treble. A new customizable M button provides instant access to personalized EQ settings or Spotify Tap.

Connectivity: Both speakers include RCA and 3.5 mm AUX inputs for physical sources such as CD players and turntables, although an external phono preamp may be required depending on the model. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth with LDAC support, along with Auracast through Marshall’s Heddon streaming hub.

Acoustic Design: Both speakers feature redesigned, downward-firing aerodynamic bass ports, allowing them to sit closer to a wall without significantly compromising bass performance. Upgraded tweeters are also intended to deliver a wider soundstage.

Dynamic Loudness: Marshall’s Dynamic Loudness processing automatically adjusts the tonal balance at different listening levels, helping the speakers maintain a fuller and more consistent sound at both low and high volumes.

Marshall App: Both speakers provide access to the Marshall App, which not only allows users to adjust EQ, but also provides a room calibration option to better optimize speaker sound in your space. 

Repairability: Both speakers are designed to support the replacement of selected external components, which should help extend their useful life rather than sending the entire speaker to the dumpster when one part fails.

Sustainability: The Acton IV and Stanmore IV incorporate FSC-certified wood and recycled materials as part of Marshall’s broader sustainability efforts.

Pro Tip: Although both speakers are compact enough to move from room to room, they require AC power and do not include built-in batteries. That is the reason Marshall classifies them as home speakers rather than portable models.

Marshall Acton IV vs. Stanmore IV: Key Differences

Although the Marshall Acton IV and Stanmore IV share many of the same features, their differences in size, bass extension, and maximum output may determine which model is better suited to your listening space.

Size and Weight: 

• The Acton IV is the more compact of the two, measuring 260 x 171 x 150 mm (10.24 x 6.73 x 5.91 inches) and weighing 2.65 kg (5.84 pounds). Its smaller footprint makes it better suited to bedrooms, kitchens, offices, and other modestly sized spaces.
• The larger Stanmore IV measures 350 x 203 x 185 mm (13.78 x 7.99 x 7.28 inches) and weighs 3.99 kg (8.79 pounds). That additional cabinet volume makes it the more appropriate choice for larger rooms or listeners who want greater scale and bass output.

Woofer Size: The Acton IV uses one 4-inch woofer and two 0.75-inch tweeters with waveguides. The Stanmore IV uses the same tweeter configuration but steps up to a larger 5-inch woofer.

Audio Performance: The Stanmore IV’s larger woofer and cabinet allow it to reach slightly deeper, with a claimed frequency response of 36 Hz to 38 kHz, compared with 37 Hz to 38 kHz for the Acton IV. It also reaches a higher maximum output of 97 dB SPL at one meter, versus 95 dB for the Acton IV. The Acton IV should be more than sufficient for smaller spaces, while the Stanmore IV is designed to deliver greater bass weight and room-filling output.

Comparison

The Bottom Line 

The Marshall Acton IV and Stanmore IV stand out by combining the company’s unmistakable guitar-amplifier styling with tactile controls, analog inputs, modern Bluetooth support, and a more repairable design. They are aimed at listeners who want a powered home speaker that looks like part of the room rather than another anonymous black box.

The smaller Acton IV is better suited to bedrooms, offices, and kitchens, while the Stanmore IV offers greater scale and bass output for larger spaces. Neither model includes HDMI ARC, USB audio, a phono stage, or a built-in battery, so buyers looking for TV integration, network streaming, or portable operation will need to look elsewhere. Another thing to keep in mind is that even though both speakers are compact, they require AC power to operate so there is no built-in battery system for portable “on-the-go” use. However, Marshall does offer the Killburn III, which is a great portable Bluetooth speaker option, both visually and audibly. 

Price & Availability

The Acton IV ($329) and Stanmore IV ($429) are available in Black or Cream on Marshall’s official website and select retailers.

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