Marshall Acton III
Score: 78/100
Sonos Roam 2 - White - Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Score: 64/100$139.00
Rankings
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.
The Sonos Roam 2 is a compact, waterproof portable speaker that delivers balanced sound and deep Sonos ecosystem integration. It offers dual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, voice-assistant support, and a rugged IP67 rating, but battery life and occasional connectivity hiccups limit its appeal for power-hungry users.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
60 wattsbest | — | |
45 Hzbest | — | |
20,000 Hzbest | — | |
2best | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.85 kg | 0.42 kgbest |
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 | 0.42 kg |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 |
Design & Build(1) | ||
Finish | Black | White |
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.
“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.”
Professional reviewers hail the Roam as the best portable smart speaker, praising its lightweight build, Automatic Trueplay, robust IP67 rating and seamless Sonos ecosystem integration, while noting modest battery life and occasional Wi-Fi switching issues.
Everyday users love the Roam's clear, balanced sound, waterproof durability and easy voice-assistant operation, but complain about a tricky initial setup, frequent Wi-Fi drops, Bluetooth limitations and reliability concerns.
