Marshall refreshes its Acton and Stanmore speakers with better bass and repairability

Marshall has refreshed two of its most popular wireless speakers. The company has officially unveiled the Acton IV and Stanmore IV, bringing a series of meaningful upgrades that go beyond simply making them louder. While improved bass and cleaner sound are part of the package, Marshall is also making a welcome push toward repairability, allowing owners to replace several external components instead of replacing the entire speaker.

Better sound, smarter design

Both speakers feature upgraded tweeters, redesigned internal acoustics, and newly engineered bass ports that Marshall says deliver cleaner vocals, wider sound dispersion, and more powerful low frequencies. The Acton IV packs a 4-inch woofer alongside two tweeters, while the larger Stanmore IV steps up to a 5-inch woofer for bigger rooms and deeper bass. Both models also include Dynamic Loudness, which automatically adjusts the tonal balance as the volume changes, helping music retain its character even at lower listening levels.

Marshall has also packed in a few practical quality-of-life upgrades. A new Placement Compensation feature can optimize the sound based on where the speaker is positioned, while Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast support makes it easier to broadcast audio to multiple compatible speakers. The Stanmore IV also retains HDMI ARC, allowing it to double as a TV speaker, while Marshall’s companion app lets users fine-tune the EQ, manage speaker placement, and receive future software updates.

The physical design has been refined as well. The power cable now exits from the bottom instead of the rear, allowing both speakers to sit flush against a wall. More importantly, components such as the front grille, control knobs, and speaker feet can now be replaced if they become damaged, which is a welcome step toward extending the speakers’ lifespan instead of replacing the entire unit.

More connected than ever

On the connectivity front, both speakers support Bluetooth Auracast, making it easier to synchronize music across multiple compatible speakers. They’re also compatible with Marshall’s Heddon Wi-Fi streaming hub, which enables direct streaming from services like Spotify Connect and TIDAL, while Apple Music playback still requires a connected smartphone.

The Acton IV is priced at $299.99, while the Stanmore IV comes in at $399.99, and both are available now through Marshall. In a market where most speaker upgrades focus solely on audio quality, it’s refreshing to see Marshall also thinking about longevity. Let’s be real: better bass is always welcome. But making a product easier to repair might just be the bigger upgrade in the long run.