The Marshall Acton 3, sold by Marshall as Acton III, is the smallest of Marshall’s three home speakers and the one built for a bedroom, a desk or a small living room. It runs from mains power, plays over Bluetooth 5.2 or a 3.5 mm cable, and has the physical bass and treble knobs Marshall is known for. This page covers the Black finish, with the Marshall script and brass control knobs on the top.
Table of Contents
Marshall Acton 3 Amplifiers: 30W Plus Two 15W
Marshall lists the Acton III amplifiers per driver rather than as one system figure: one 30W Class D amplifier drives the woofer and two 15W Class D amplifiers drive the two tweeters. Added up that makes 60W of amplifier ratings, which is not the same as a continuous RMS output for the speaker as a whole, and Marshall does not publish one.
For loudness Marshall gives a maximum sound pressure level of 95 dB at 1 metre, and the frequency range runs from 45 Hz to 20 kHz from a bass-reflex stereo cabinet. The driver diameters of the Marshall Acton 3 are not published.
Dynamic Loudness at Low Volume
Small rooms mean low listening levels, and that is where most speakers lose their bass. Marshall builds Dynamic Loudness into the Acton III: it adjusts the tonal balance of the sound depending on the volume, so bass and treble stay present when you turn it down late in the evening rather than fading to a thin midrange.
On top of that you can set the bass and treble yourself, either with the two analogue knobs on the top panel of the Marshall Acton 3 or in the Marshall Bluetooth app on iOS and Android.
Acton, Stanmore or Woburn: Pick by Room Size
Marshall’s home speakers are three separate products of different sizes, not colour versions of one speaker. The Marshall Acton 3 measures 260 x 170 x 150 mm and weighs 2.85 kg, small enough for a bedside table, a bookshelf or next to a monitor. The Marshall Stanmore 3 is the next size up with a 50W woofer amplifier, 97 dB maximum output and an extra RCA input; the Woburn III is the largest.
If the speaker will fill a large open-plan living room, the Acton III will be working hard; for a bedroom, a study or a small apartment it is the right size.
Connections and Controls
The Marshall Acton 3 connects over Bluetooth 5.2 with a range of up to 10 metres and is described by Marshall as ready for Bluetooth LE Audio. The only wired input is a 3.5 mm jack, for a laptop, a music player or a TV headphone output.
The top panel carries a power switch, a source button, volume, bass and treble knobs, a play/pause button and a skip control. The Marshall app adds EQ and delivers over-the-air updates, with at least two years of software support stated by Marshall.
Why the Black Acton III
On a desk or bedside table the Black Acton III reads as a small amplifier cabinet rather than a gadget, and it sits comfortably next to a dark monitor, a black turntable or a wooden shelf. Black also forgives dust and fingerprints on the textured surface more than Cream does. The Acton III is also listed on this site in Cream and Brown.
Power, Box Contents and Delivery
The Marshall Acton 3 accepts 100 to 240 V at 50 to 60 Hz, so it works on UAE mains voltage. The box contains the speaker, the mains lead and a user manual.
We deliver the Acton III anywhere in the UAE within 3 business days, with free delivery on orders from AED 300. It carries a 1-year warranty from Totot, defective or non-matching items can be returned within 14 days, and shipping damage should be reported within 48 hours of delivery.
Who This Is Not For
The Marshall Acton 3 has no battery and Marshall lists no water resistance, so it is not a speaker to carry to the garden or the beach. It has no Wi-Fi, so no AirPlay or multi-room grouping over your home network.
There is also no HDMI, no optical input and no RCA input: to use it with a TV you need the TV’s 3.5 mm headphone output or Bluetooth. If you want a wired turntable connection without an adapter, the Stanmore III with its RCA input is the better choice.
Technical Specifications
- Model: Marshall Acton III (Acton 3)
- Colour: Black
- Amplifiers: 1 x 30W Class D (woofer), 2 x 15W Class D (tweeters); sum of per-driver ratings 60W, not a system RMS figure
- Driver system: Stereo, bass-reflex cabinet (driver sizes not published)
- Frequency range: 45 Hz to 20 kHz
- Maximum sound pressure: 95 dB SPL at 1 m
- Sound processing: Dynamic Loudness; adjustable bass and treble
- Bluetooth: 5.2, range up to 10 m, LE Audio ready
- Wired input: 3.5 mm
- Wi-Fi / HDMI / optical / RCA: None
- Controls: Power switch, source button, volume, bass, treble, play/pause, skip
- App: Marshall Bluetooth app, over-the-air updates
- Power: Mains, 100 to 240 V, 50 to 60 Hz (no battery)
- Dimensions: 260 x 170 x 150 mm
- Weight: 2.85 kg
- Water resistance: None listed
- In the box: Speaker, mains lead, user manual
- Warranty: 1-year warranty from Totot
Specifications above are taken from Marshall’s official product page for the Acton III. Full details are published on the Marshall Acton III product page.
FAQ
How many watts is the Marshall Acton 3?
60W is the sum of its amplifier ratings: 30W for the woofer and 2 x 15W for the tweeters. Marshall does not publish a single RMS figure for the whole speaker.
Does the Marshall Acton 3 have HDMI eARC?
No. Its inputs are Bluetooth 5.2 and a 3.5 mm jack only; there is no HDMI, optical or RCA input.
Is the Marshall Acton 3 waterproof?
No. Marshall lists no water resistance, and it runs on mains power with no battery.
Does it work on UAE power?
Yes. Marshall lists 100 to 240 V at 50 to 60 Hz.
What does Dynamic Loudness do?
It adjusts the tonal balance to the volume level, so bass and treble stay audible when you listen quietly.
Can I adjust the sound without the app?
Yes. The bass and treble knobs on the top panel adjust the sound directly.
Browse more in our Portable Speaker range. Every order from Totot carries a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, with our 14-day return policy for defective or non-compliant items, and nationwide UAE delivery.
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