Marshall Acton III
Score: 78/100
Sonos Era 100
Score: 86/100Rankings
The Sonos Era 100 is a compact, AC-powered smart speaker that offers true-stereo sound, modern Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and deep integration with the Sonos ecosystem. It excels in sound quality and smart-home features but lacks Google Assistant and portability.
The Acton III is a compact, AC-powered Bluetooth speaker that delivers 60 W RMS of rich stereo sound with premium analog controls and modern Bluetooth 5.2 features. Its iconic design and eco-friendly build make it a stylish centerpiece for small-to-medium rooms, though it lacks battery power and advanced smart-home connectivity.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
60 watts | 100 wattsbest | |
45 Hzbest | — | |
20,000 Hzbest | — | |
2best | 2best | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.85 kg | 2.02 kgbest |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
— | 1 countbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Physical Specs(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.85 kg | 2.02 kg |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
Audio Performance(1) | ||
Power Output (watts) | 60 watts | 100 watts |
Design & Build(1) | ||
Finish | Black | semi‑matte |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Acton III for delivering bold, room-filling sound in a small footprint, highlighting its powerful 60 W RMS output, wider soundstage from outward-angled tweeters, and modern Bluetooth 5.2 features like LE Audio and placement correction. They note the premium build and iconic design as strong points, while pointing out the lack of RCA inputs and smart-assistant support as the main drawbacks.
Everyday users consistently commend the speaker's impressive sound quality, stylish look, and tactile brass controls, often mentioning the convenience of Bluetooth multipoint and the helpful app. Common complaints revolve around the absence of a battery, occasional Bluetooth drop-outs, and the desire for more wired input options.
Professional reviewers rate the Era 100 highly, praising its dual tweeters, larger woofer, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and Trueplay tuning, while noting the missing Google Assistant and modest bass.
Everyday users love the rich stereo sound, easy setup and Sonos app, but frequently mention the absence of Google Assistant, limited bass and the need to buy adapters separately.
“Sounds amazing for its size - fills my 700 sq ft apartment effortlessly.”
“Beautiful design - looks great on my bookshelf or console table.”
“Love the physical knobs - feels like real audio gear, not a plastic gadget.”
