Marshall has updated the two cornerstones of its home audio lineup. The new Acton IV and Stanmore IV speakers keep the brand’s unmistakable design language, inspired by classic guitar amplifiers, while introducing meaningful acoustic and technological upgrades aimed at modern listening habits — from wider soundstages to native multiroom support.
Both speakers are now available in Marshall’s signature Black and Cream finishes. The Acton IV is priced at €299, while the larger Stanmore IV comes in at €399, positioning them squarely in the premium end of the home Bluetooth speaker market.
A Redesigned Interior for a Bigger Soundstage
The headline change in this fourth generation is an overhauled internal architecture. Marshall re-engineered the tweeters and waveguides on both models to project a noticeably wider and more defined sound field, with the goal of achieving more even sound dispersion throughout a room rather than a narrow, speaker-facing sweet spot.
The bass-reflex port has also been reworked. Airflow through the port has been optimized to deliver cleaner low frequencies, and — in a small but practical design tweak — the cable outputs have been moved to the base of each speaker. That repositioning means both the Acton IV and Stanmore IV can now sit flush against a wall without the bass response suffering or turning boomy, a common complaint with speakers that rely on rear-facing ports.
To keep the sound balanced regardless of volume, both models include Dynamic Loudness technology, which automatically adjusts frequency response so music retains warmth and body at low volumes while improved limiters help control distortion when pushed toward maximum output.
Auracast Multiroom and a Nod to Analog Listening
On the connectivity side, the biggest addition is Auracast support. The technology lets users natively pair multiple Acton IV and Stanmore IV units around the house to build a synchronized multiroom audio system. Notably, owners of the previous generation — the Acton III and Stanmore III — aren’t left out: those models can join an Auracast setup through Heddon, Marshall’s new streaming transmitter and hub.
Despite the added wireless capability and a redesigned companion app, Marshall hasn’t abandoned physical formats. Both speakers retain RCA inputs and a 3.5mm AUX port on the back, making them straightforward companions for a turntable or any other analog source.
Sustainability and Repairability Built Into the Design
Marshall also used this refresh to lean further into sustainability. The speaker cabinets are built from FSC 100%-certified MDF wood and incorporate recycled materials — 13% in the Acton IV and 16% in the Stanmore IV. The company has also adopted a modular structure designed for repairability, allowing owners to easily replace wear-prone parts such as the feet, physical control knobs, and the front grille rather than replacing the entire unit.
Design-wise, the top panels retain Marshall’s signature brass analog controls for volume, bass, and treble. New to this generation is a fully customizable “M” button that can trigger quick actions like Spotify Tap or switch between saved EQ presets with a single press.
Specs at a Glance
| Marshall Acton IV | Marshall Stanmore IV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €299 | €399 |
| Woofer | 4″ | 5″ |
| Tweeters | 2 | 2 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Auracast, RCA, 3.5mm AUX | Bluetooth, Auracast, RCA, 3.5mm AUX |
| Special features | Dynamic Loudness, customizable “M” button, modular repairable design | Dynamic Loudness, customizable “M” button, modular repairable design |
| Colors | Black, Cream | Black, Cream |
Note: Pricing reflects the European market at launch. Availability and pricing in other regions had not been confirmed at the time of writing.
The Bottom Line
The Acton IV and Stanmore IV aren’t a cosmetic refresh — they represent a genuine step forward in how Marshall’s classic home speakers sound and function. The combination of a redesigned soundstage, wall-friendly bass tuning, and native Auracast multiroom brings the lineup in line with what modern smart speakers offer, while the retro control layout, analog inputs, and repairable build keep the series true to its identity. For anyone weighing an upgrade from the third generation, the acoustic redesign alone — paired with backward-compatible multiroom via Heddon — makes this a meaningful update rather than an incremental one.
