Amped up sound: The best Marshall speakers of 2024

If you're looking for a speaker that combines classic Marshall aesthetics with modern performance, the Marshall Stanmore III is the ideal choice. Renowned for its rock and roll heritage, this speaker combines a rugged, vintage-inspired design with advanced audio capabilities.

The Stanmore III features a robust build with textured vinyl and brass accents, while its sound profile benefits from enhanced dynamic loudness and a broadened soundstage. It's a solid choice for those who appreciate both style and substance in their audio equipment.

I had the opportunity to test this fantastic piece of equipment. Here's some of what I had to say: "I spent several weeks with the Marshall Stanmore III, and it truly impressed me with its refined yet powerful sound. The dynamic loudness feature really stood out, allowing the speaker to handle higher volumes without compromising clarity. Playing tracks from Mötley Crüe to Van Halen, I noticed a noticeable improvement in soundstage and depth. The tactile control knobs, combined with the digital volume and EQ adjustments, added a touch of vintage charm without sacrificing modern functionality.

"The only downsides are a minor issue with Bluetooth standby mode and the absence of multi-room capabilities. But for rock and metal enthusiasts, this speaker delivers exceptional performance. Its blend of quality craftsmanship and classic Marshall appeal makes it my favourite in its class, even if you can't plug in your guitar."

For more, head over to my in-depth review, which you can find here.

The Marshall Woburn III is a testament to the brand's dedication to delivering iconic sound in a home speaker format. Embracing the rock-and-roll spirit, this speaker excels with its deep, low-end and rich mid-range, providing a loud and immersive audio experience. Its extensive soundstage and impressive volume make it a standout choice for rock and metal enthusiasts. Bluetooth connectivity ensures seamless pairing with your devices, and for a more integrated setup, the HDMI ARC option allows for easy connection to your TV, enhancing your overall audio experience.

Here's Adam Binnie, who had this to say about his experience: "I've had several Marshall guitar amps over the years and wrongly assumed their home speakers were a bit of a novelty. I couldn't have been more wrong, and to my enormous surprise, the Woburn 3 somehow managed to deliver the same crushingly powerful sound I'm used to hearing from my amp to whatever music I'd played through it."

"Dial it back a bit or put on something quieter, and it's also capable of subtlety, with rich and nuanced tone even at lower volumes. But where it's really impressive is at full whack, where the sound is so immersive that it feels like you're swimming in it.

"Downsides? No carrying handle means you can't take it everywhere with you (and you'll want to) while its slightly awkward shape means you'll need a lot of space on your TV unit to make use of the HDMI Arc connectivity. And again, this is a really great function that expands the breadth of its abilities."

You can read his full review here.

As the natural successor to the Emberton model, the Marshall Middleton is hailed as one of the heaviest and loudest Bluetooth speakers available. This powerful and stylish device features two 3-inch 15W woofers, two 3/5-inch 10W tweeters, and passive radiators within a robust, IP67-rated case. Despite its heft, the Middleton embodies portability with a 20-hour battery life.

The standout feature of the Middleton is its exceptional sound quality. This mini Marshall excels in delivering rock, metal, and more with astonishing power and clarity. Priced at £269.99, it combines a timeless design with top-notch audio performance, making it a worthy investment.

This was tried and tested by William Austin-Lobley, who has this to say about his experience: "The Middleton sounds excellent. Whether it's handling the delicate acoustic nuances of First Aid Kit's 'Running Up That Hill' or the rambunctious rock riffs of Clutch's 'Pure Rock Fury,' the Middleton excels. Its bass response is one of the best I've heard at this size."

He adds, "The onboard Bass and Treble controls are easy to use and highly effective. While the app offers more EQ control, I found the physical controls sufficient. True Stereophonic technology provides a spacious and immersive listening experience, making it feel like the music surrounds you. The Middleton's weight of 1.8kg may limit portability for some, but it's a top-notch choice for those prioritising audio performance over ultra-portability."

You can read his full review here.

This speaker is something of a sound engineering marvel. It somehow manages to be both a compact Bluetooth speaker and a unit that will please audiophiles. Featuring a retro wooden enclosure with a metal grille, and the iconic Marshall logo, it embodies that signature Marshall quality.

Features that stand out on the Acton II are the top-placed bass, treble, and volume dials, allowing easy and satisfying sound customization. Even more of a surprise for a mid-sized speaker in the range is its rich, clear, room-filling sound. It maintains audio clarity even at high volumes. However, despite its luggable weight and size, it is a mains power device - so although you can readily pick it up, it's less suited for portable use.

William Austin-Lobley tried and tested this and here's his experience: "The Marshall Acton II impressed me with its rich, energetic sound once I adjusted the custom EQ settings. Out of the box, the bass and treble were fun but a bit off-balance, which was easily corrected with the companion app. I appreciated how the speaker's physical controls allowed for quick tweaks, even if they didn't fully address the mid-range issues. The speaker's design is undoubtedly a highlight – its classic Marshall look added a touch of style to my study.

"Despite its minor audio quirks, the Acton II shines once fine-tuned. It delivers an engaging listening experience and brings a bit of rock 'n' roll charm into your space. For anyone who values both sound and style, this speaker is a worthy contender."

You can read his full review here.

Launched in 2024 alongside the Willen II, this is the third generation of the Marshall Emberton portable Bluetooth speaker. A built-in microphone, at least 32 hours of playtime and new Bluetooth technology distinguish it from its predecessor.

However, it's the Marshall 'True Stereophonic' sound which is the highlight, and it's delivered in a compact unit which weighs just 670g.

What's The Best Deputy Editor David Ker had this to say when he reviewed the Emberton III: "The Emberton III's output is powerful and crisp. Marshall has built a reputation for sound quality and its continues to deliver here. From classical to Americana and new wave to country, it's a pleasure to listen to and volume, play/pause and skip are easily adjusted using the unit's brass control knob.

"As with any portable Bluetooth speaker, compromises are made on precision when pushing the volume to its limits. However, the Emberton III still performs well at this upper end. And, really, units of this size should be judged by how well they can manage the sort of volume that's going to be desired on a day-to-day basis. Viewed in these terms it excels."

This compact tower of audio power is the ideal speaker for parties and the outdoors. While many such speakers make big claims, they lack the sophistication of the Marshall Tufton. Here we have an extremely hardy speaker – even by Marshall standards. It has IPX2 water resistance - meaning it'll survive some fairly major splashes and showers. Despite all of this ruggedness, it still have the Marshall design you'd expect – adding a touch of rock-and-roll class to proceedings.

And the other thing that will let you leave this playing without a care at your next party is the brilliant battery life. It'll keep on playing for 20 hours on a full charge. Connect via Bluetooth and you're all set for some serious sounds in the garden.

The Marshall Willen II combines powerful sound with a compact, stylish design, perfect for any music lover on the go. Its robust build and signature retro aesthetic make it a standout in the portable speaker market. Despite its small size, the Willen II delivers a rich, immersive audio experience, ideal for indoor and outdoor use.

The Willen II is designed for convenience and performance with a long-lasting battery and intuitive controls. Its durable construction ensures it can withstand everyday wear and tear, while the classic Marshall look adds a touch of vintage charm to any setting.

This was tried and tested by Ryan Houghton, who has this to say about his experience: "The Marshall Willen II is ultimately for those in search of a strong, portable speaker sound that's still brilliant even when on the move. The rugged build quality and the beautiful design of the Willen II are undeniably excellent, and considering the build quality alone, you're likely to get years of performance from this speaker.

"For outdoor adventurers, avid partygoers, and those who enjoy the quiet, dulcet tones of jazz on a rainy Sunday afternoon, the Willen II provides consistent quality at any volume."

Read the full reviews of the Marshall Willen II and the original Marshall Willen.

Sometimes what you need from a Marshall speaker is that simple pick-up-and-go listening experience. The Stockwell II cuts something of a cute yet businesslike image – robust enough to sit well with the Marshall name, light and simple enough to be carried on its little strap.

And yet it's another speaker in the Marshall range that uses True Stereophonic – the company's own technology that creates a 360-degree sound field. Despite being the sort of speaker you can grab and take into the garden, bear in mind its water-resistance rating is only IPX4 – it's fins for the occasional splash of rain but that's it. That said, the recharge time of just 20 minutes will give you 6 hours of playback – and over 20 hours on a full charge, so this will be ready to go when you are.