Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Marshall Acton II speaker is a small but powerful speaker with a clean, balanced sound. The Acton II is the little brother of the Stanmore II. It is pretty much identical in looks, just on a smaller scale. It has classic Marshall styling with a textured vinyl exterior and brass plate and knobs on the top of the box. The front has the iconic Marshall logo over mesh with a brass plate at the bottom. The sound comes from three amplifiers (one subwoofer and two tweeters) and features a rear venting bass reflex system. Even though it’s Marshall’s smallest speaker, the sound will definitely fill the room without sounding strained. The Acton II is very versatile. It can be used through Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX for lossless streaming, through streaming apps via Amazon Alexa (such as Pandora or Spotify, etc.), or through an analog connection via a 3.5 mm cable. You can also link multiple Marshall speakers together to play music across your whole home. And whichever way you choose to play your music, you have options on how to control it as well. You can use the Marshall Voice app to control equalizer and volume or you can use the knobs on the speaker itself. Not only does this speaker give you great sound, but you can use it to control other devices or do anything that an Alexa Echo would do (as long as you have an Alexa account). If you don’t have an Alexa account, you’d be better off getting the version of this speaker that doesn’t have Alexa built in. I love Marshall speakers and this one lived up to my expectations for sure!

I did have a Marshall Stanmore II with Alexa preceding this. That was quite the large speaker, and it was fairly hefty. It really was a once you set it up you leave it there kind of speaker. It was certainly by no means a portable speaker. The Acton II with Alexa however is considerably smaller, as you can see by the image with can of soda in front of it. The Stanmore II was much taller quite heavier. The Acton II still delivers that same level of sound as the Stanmore II though so even if you opt for this you won't be missing a whole lot. The Stanmore II had two Tweeters and a Woofer with a total of 80W combined. The wattage here is a fair bit lower though weighing in only at 30W on the Woofer. I personally think the concession is worth the weight and size difference. It's still more or less a set it and leave it speaker though. If you really need portability there are two Marshall Models that will fill that need. I did listen to a few songs, similar one's I tested on the Stanmore II. I will say I was surprised with how loud this small unit gets, though I didn't push it much past half. There's some really good low end to be had in a lot of songs, and there's plenty of highs. My only real complaint with this speaker, and I don't think I mentioned it in my Stanmore II review, but the sound level is a bit odd here. After hitting about 1/3 volume till not quite 2/3 there's not really much middle ground for sound volume. To me on both models it seemed to not change very much. You more or less get quite or loud, there's no in-between. A friend of mine also echoed this with his own findings with the speaker. I think if some tweaking is made, it would go a long ways to providing a better more broader range of a soundstage. Still though, as for aesthetics, these speakers are pretty impossible to beat. Most other speakers are too sporty looking or really gaudy. There's just something timeless about the look of the Marshall line of products.

This is my second Marshall Bluetooth speaker and they continue to nail the design, quality and most importantly the Legendary Sound of Marshall. Love that they have continued with the Retro look of their amps, gorgeous stuff. It is amazing that such rich tunes can be produced, apparently magically from a box of this dimension. The highs and mid-range are crisp and clean, and the bass is deep and true. Spent the afternoon running through some classic Jethro Tull, mainly Ian Anderson’s first album “Stand Up.” Anderson’s music is typically more complex with more movements than you typically find, from his masterful flute to the acoustic to striking back with full rock n’ roll rifts the Acton II never missed a beat. The music that flows and trumpets from the Acton II is no less than you expect from the Legend of Marshall. Cool Highlight Features: - Amazon Alexa built into the box. - Wi-Fi for network connection. - Marshall Bluetooth App “Customize your listening experience.” - Spotify Connect. - Bluetooth 5.0 “Multi-Host Functionality.” - Pairing speakers with Alexa Eco-system. The extensive list of specs will not fit in my review easily, but I would encourage anyone searching for a speaker to take a close look. This speaker is very worthy of a place on the shelve in any room, or all your rooms. Looks good and sounds great. Bottom-line, I have more Bluetooth speakers than I care to count, and all of them except my two Marshalls are sitting in a closet somewhere. The Marshall’s are my go-to everyday system.

I have owned a Marshall Stanmore since it first hit the shelves and I am still getting compliments on it to this day and it fills our living room / kitchen (open concept home) with awesome sound. Now that I am semi-retired (ugh, don't know if that is a good thing or not yet), I have more time to catch up with the stack of books I have been meaning to read but I need music in my library. I HAVE to have music when I read, been that way since high school (I could just run the music through my head and what I was reading at the time would come back to me). I initially thought about switching out the Acton II for the Stanmore because it has all the latest bells and whistles but after doing some A-B testing of the two, the Acton II can't fill our living room / kitchen area with nearly enough sound as the Stanmore. That isn't necessarily surprising since the Acton II is much smaller, but audio engineers have done some pretty impressive things with speakers and headphones these days. With that being said, the Acton II is PHENOMENAL in my library, which is a much smaller room with lower ceilings. Setting it up so that the rear of the speaker faces a corner (like you do with a subwoofer in an entertainment system) really brings out an impressive amount of bass from this thing. I know that saying it is in my library probably brings up thoughts of classical music but really I'm reading to 70's & 80's rock. When I get sick of my own playlists from my phone I can switch to Amazon Music via Alexa to play whatever I'm in the mood for at that time. The only knock I can really give to the Acton II is that the microphone isn't nearly as good at picking up my requests as those in some of the dedicated Alexa items. Sometimes it states that it 'seems like I'm whispering but it thinks I asked for....', and it is usually correct but it is a bit of a delay that can be annoying at times. Trust me, I am not whispering, but perhaps it's placement in relation to my recliner isn't the best so it may not be all the speaker's fault. I know they bill this as a multi-room system, but since I only have one of these and my Stanmore doesn't have that functionality, I can't really speak to that functionality. Hmmmm.... maybe I need to convince the wife to let me upgrade that to a Stanmore II! All-in-all I'm very happy with the Acton II and would recommend it without reservation for those who want a stylish and great-sounding speaker for an office, bedroom, library or any smaller contained room. If they need something for a larger or more open space, I would definitely say they should stick to the Marshall family of speakers (because they are all awesome looking and sound great), but go for something with a bit more power.

I already own the exceptional Marshall Kilburn II portable speaker and have several Echo devices in my home. With that in mind, I was anxious to try the new Acton II with Alexa baked in. There’s also a version with Google Assistant if that’s your choice, but it’s one or the other, not both. This is by far the best wireless Alexa speaker that I have yet to see and hear. So far it’s been flawless in responding to the voice prompt, so it gives all the power of the Echo ecosystem along with superb sound. Finally, Alexa can give you music that truly enjoyable to listen to. As far as appearance, you’ll either love the retro Marshall styling or go “whatever”. Regardless of that, you will be impressed with the build quality and the sound coming from this modest-sized box. You start the setup by downloading the Marshall Voice app to a phone or tablet. Make sure you get the correct app! It will guide you through connecting to your WIFI and to Amazon. It also controls volume and has equalizer functions. The app is OK, but it can be slow to react and could use some polishing. There are controls on the unit for switching inputs, volume, treble, bass, pause/play and mike on/off. These are totally electronic since all these functions can be adjusted wirelessly as well. The is no on/off switch. The assumption must be that just like other Echo devices, it will always be plugged in and on. Also included with the top mounted controls is an AUX in jack. You can’t be a Marshall device without a nod to its guitar amp ancestry. Unfortunately, they no longer include that cool, coiled cable. The sound is rich with amazing bass. I had some trouble getting the mid-range presence as good as my Kilburn. The bass is very full, and I would caution against pushing it much. It’s just not needed and may start muddying the midrange which was my balancing problem. At medium volume, it will fill a living room with amazingly clean, clear, full range music. If you really need to blast yourself, you can push the volume to a level that will amaze you, especially for its very modest size. It still sounds very good, but I felt it lost a little of its signature preciseness. Marshall continues to push amazing music with deep, full bass as well as clear mids and highs out of a small package.

If you’ve been around music, you know the Marshall Stack is a favorite piece of equipment for musicians. Why? It accurately produces sound and it’s tough. I am very impressed with the sound and build quality of the Marshall Acton II speaker. There are three nice sized dials with illuminated levels on the top to control volume, bass and treble. Metal play/pause , microphone (for voice control/Alexa) and input selection buttons are nearby as well. It was easy to set-up, it connects via WiFi, Bluetooth or mini. headphone jack. 5 blue leds on the front of the speaker convey status (Amazon messages and when Alexa is listening and responding). I tossed my old Echo dot. I really love this device.

The Acton ll packs a nice punch that is almost comparable to its big brother the Stanmore ll. Just like the Stanmore ll, the Acton ll doesn’t distort even at top volume. Listening to Metallica Unforgiven, Coldplay Midnight and a Chris Cornell cover of Sinead O’ Connors Nothing compares 2 you, will show you the Acton’s depth. I’ve got Bluetooth speakers bigger than this without the clarity and depth. It’s not gonna rattle any pictures off the wall but just like it’s big brother this little thing has room/small house filling sound. Soon Marshall will update the Alexa line of speakers to connect together so you can do multi room audio. There’s just certain designs that are timeless and the classic Marshall amp design is one. The Acton ll has competition with Bluetooth speakers that sound nearly as good or maybe even better to some people, what the competition doesn’t have is the Marshalls looks. I use Alexa on my Acton ll and Stanmore ll to do simple functions such as playing music and such, so I can’t speak of how Alexa is with broader functionality on them. So, for what I need, Alexa works perfectly on them. If you want a Bluetooth speaker that has excellent sound and looks, the Marshall line is where you need to look.

Marshall has a distinct and rich design in their speakers which is why I have been wanting one for years! The Acton II comes with its awesome speaker design and Amazon Alexa which I thought was a great compliment to my home. The built in assistant makes the speaker unassumingly helpful while not looking fussy on my cabinet. The microphone picks up my voice from a good distance and is clear when confirming what I directed. The range of sound fills the room to the quality and parameters that I set because of the dials for treble and bass which is great. I went from playing Elvis’ “Stand by Me” and to Marshmallow for a little fun, and finally some Manchester Orchestra for the guitar riffs and acoustics. The aesthetics and feel of the speaker are a good piece of art to sit in a room. It looks like it is a vintage piece of equipment but brings out the soul of music and with Alexa built-in, you can shop and order without the speaker standing out like a sore thumb. A quick side note, you can download the Marshall application that helps you tailor your speaker from your phone so that was a huge plus! I can’t wait for my next dinner with friends to play some music in the background and get people chatting!

The Marshall Voice Speaker with Alexa is a simple and brilliant concept. For those looking for the classic look of a Retro speaker with current functionality, look no further. This speaker is right out of the Marshall guitar amp/speaker catalog but with blu-tooth music and amazon in mind. The look is simple with a leather wrapped case and sound controls on top of a front firing speak. To aid in the bottom end sound, there is a port in the rear. Once you plug in the unit you are prompted to follow the quick start guide to complete the speaker setup with Alexa. So simple and easy. There are three sources that can be used for music, Blu-tooth, Aux and Wi-Fi from Alexa. Each source sounds great and using Alexa with Pandora and Spotify couldn’t be easier. On top of the unit there is a volume, bass, treble, microphone, play/pause button, source button and Aux plug receptacle. Very basic set up with great sound. This speaker will fill a small room with powerful clear sound that will not disappoint. This is a very easy product to recommend for anyone.

Wow, this little speaker packs a mighty punch with deep bass and crisp highs. Elegant design and Alexa enabled with a killer app experience makes this a top buy and gives Bose and other speaker makers a moment of pause.

I own the older Marshall Kilburn wireless speaker, which sounds great and super reliable. This newer version has more EQ adjustments when you use the app to fine tune. Full of tone and volume. However, this speaker is not batter powered. Don’t plan on using this without a ‘wall wart’.

This was a present for my friend. She had been talking about this for a very long time, so I got this for her present. She absolutely loves it. I checked the sound at her place and understood why she likes it. Great sound, easy to use.

Got this for my kid for Xmas, sounds good & has the look & feel of old Marshall heads & cabinets. She really loves it. Plugged it in immediately to charge so we could hear it. Came quick even during Covid Xmas.

Nice and crisp sound! Easy to set up! However, the speaker has to stay plugged in... but I am satisfied overall about my purchase.

This compact speaker is the perfect accessory for any room or even on its own! The sound quality is really good too, definitely impressed.

It is beautiful! Sound is amazing I bought this so reasonable price on cyber monday I like it!

This is the first Marshall Speaker I’ve owned, and I’m spoiled with this brand. I’m a classical music fan and the sound of each instrument in an orchestra is clear and vibrant. Sometimes I like a little more Bass and I was a little leery of turning it up on the speaker. I shouldn’t have been. The bass has no distortion and absolutely no speaker vibration whatsoever! I am a happy camper. The auxiliary jack is a huge plus! I can listen to my music or even audio books from my cell phone through the speaker using Bluetooth. I also have the Marshall Action II connected to my wireless router for Wi-Fi streaming when I want it. The Marshall Action II can also connect to Alexa which it makes it convenient to change what I’m listening to. Alexa can also connect to home smart devices, but I don’t have any of those, so I don’t how well it works. Alexa also works from a good distance away, so if I’m in another room and want to change what I’m listening to, I can just tell Alexa what I want. The only problem with Alexa is that I need to speak very clearly so that it can understand what it is I’m requesting. The built-in microphone does work better than others that I’ve used for Alexa. There are 2 15w tweeters and 1 30w woofer making this one powerful little speaker. I can even drown out the gardeners, which is always a big plus. The tweeters and woofer combined elevate the clarity of sound (whether instrumental or vocal music) to another level. My audio books sound better through the Marshall Action II than my tablet! I downloaded the corresponding Marshall Voice app on my cell phone so that I can fine tune my sounds thru the app instead of having to get up and use the analog dials on the speaker. Unfortunately, there isn’t an app for my laptop, but the Marshall Action II speaker does connect to Spotify and other audio apps on my laptop through Bluetooth. I recommend this speaker to anyone that has limited space but wants great surround sound.

Very good speaker quality. Warm tones which is to be expected from Marshall soeakers

Great experience!!!, my experience is that the Marshall - Acton II Voice Wireless Speaker meets expectations

Really cool little speaker. Great sound. It brings back some fun musical experiences.