Marshall Updates Its Home Speaker Line With Acton IV and Stanmore IV

Marshall has refreshed two of its core home speakers with the Acton IV and Stanmore IV, a fourth-generation update focused on broader room coverage, tighter bass reproduction, smarter controls and support for linked playback across multiple speakers.

A familiar design with a revised acoustic platform

The Acton IV and Stanmore IV continue Marshall’s established domestic speaker formula: compact, tabletop models styled like scaled-down stage amplifiers. The visual identity remains built around PU leather, a grey-white fret and a brass control panel, preserving the look that has become a recognisable part of the brand’s home-audio range.

Rather than presenting the new models as a complete reinvention, Marshall has treated the update as an evolution of the existing Acton and Stanmore speakers. The revisions concentrate on sound dispersion, bass performance and day-to-day usability while keeping the long-running design language intact.

Both models use improved tweeters and redesigned waveguides intended to spread sound more evenly around the room. The stated aim is improved stereo separation and a presentation that gives instruments more space, while keeping distortion under control at higher listening levels. Dynamic Loudness is also included, automatically adjusting tonal balance at different volume levels so clarity is maintained when listening quietly.

Acton IV and Stanmore IV driver layouts

The smaller Acton IV is equipped with a 4-inch woofer and two 0.75-inch tweeters. Marshall specifies its frequency range at 37 Hz to 38 kHz. Amplification is listed as 60 watts of Class D power for the woofer and 2 x 25 watts for the tweeters.

The Stanmore IV steps up to a 5-inch woofer while retaining the same two 0.75-inch tweeter arrangement. Its quoted frequency range is slightly deeper at 36 Hz to 38 kHz, with the same amplifier configuration: 60 watts Class D for the woofer and 2 x 25 watts for the tweeters.

A revised bass port is part of the new acoustic package and is intended to deliver tighter, cleaner bass reproduction. Marshall has also repositioned cabling so the speakers can be placed flat against a wall, a practical change for users positioning the speaker on shelves, sideboards or media furniture.

Updated controls and app-based sound adjustment

Physical controls remain central to the Marshall experience. Volume, bass and treble can be adjusted directly on the speaker, while playback can also be managed over Bluetooth. The media controls have been refined, and a new customisable M button gives quick access to preferred EQ settings or Spotify Tap.

The Marshall app adds further control over the speaker setup. Users can adjust EQ presets and optimise the sound according to the placement of the speaker, offering a more flexible approach than relying only on the top-panel tone controls.

Wired connectivity is also included. Cinch/RCA and AUX inputs allow external audio sources to be connected, including a turntable or other components, depending on the wider system being used.

Auracast support and multi-speaker playback

One of the more significant feature additions is Auracast support, which allows multiple compatible speakers to be connected for synchronised playback around the home. Acton IV and Stanmore IV models can be linked so music plays in sync across different rooms or listening areas.

Marshall is also providing a route for owners of the previous Acton III and Stanmore III models to join the system. Those older speakers can be added via the company’s Heddon streaming hub. The Heddon hub is supplied free with the purchase of two or more eligible speakers.

Materials, colours and pricing

The Acton IV and Stanmore IV are made using FSC 100%-certified wood and include recycled materials. Marshall has also designed certain parts to be replaceable, including buttons, feet and grilles, with the stated intention of extending product life and reducing reliance on new materials without compromising build quality.

Both speakers are available in black or cream finishes. The Acton IV has a recommended price of just under €300, while the Stanmore IV is priced at just under €400.

With the Acton IV and Stanmore IV, Marshall keeps its amplifier-inspired home-speaker identity but adds meaningful updates in acoustic design, controls, wired and Bluetooth use, and Auracast-based multi-speaker playback. The result is a refresh aimed at users who want the familiar Marshall look with a more flexible feature set for modern home listening.