The Marshall Woburn III is a large, mains-powered stereo Bluetooth home speaker built for substantial music playback, with a useful extra for a home speaker: an HDMI ARC input for a television. RTINGS describes its music performance as very good, citing extended low bass and high maximum output. Its trade-offs are just as clear: it is not portable, has no Wi-Fi or voice assistant, and its bass and treble knobs are not a substitute for a graphic equalizer.
What the Woburn III is—and what it is not
This is a fixed-location home speaker that needs mains power. Bluetooth makes wireless playback from a phone convenient, but does not make the Woburn III battery-powered or suitable for carrying outdoors. RTINGS describes it as large and heavy to move between rooms and says it is not meant for outdoor use.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Marshall Woburn III Bluetooth Home Speaker - Black | $449.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Marshall Woburn III Bluetooth Home Speaker - Cream | $449.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Marshall Stanmore III Bluetooth Home Speaker - Black | $249.18 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Marshall Stanmore III Bluetooth Home Speaker - Cream | $249.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Marshall Acton III Bluetooth Home Speaker - Black | $189.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Marshall lists Bluetooth 5.2, plus 3.5 mm AUX, RCA, and HDMI inputs. The HDMI connection is HDMI ARC for TV audio; the speaker is not a soundbar, and the available specifications do not establish HDMI eARC or surround-sound decoding. It also has no Wi-Fi, microphone, voice commands, or water resistance, according to Marshall’s official specifications.
How it performs for music, TV, and speech
Music: strong output and extended bass
RTINGS characterizes music playback as very good, reporting extended low bass, high maximum output, and adjustable bass and treble. Its review also identifies the lack of a graphic EQ as a limitation. Those are RTINGS’ review findings, not results of an independent test for this article.
#1 Best Overall
- HOME-SHAKING SOUND: Woburn III has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, filling any space with immersive, home-shaking Marshall signature sound.
- PAIR, PLAY AND TURN IT UP: Woburn III is straight to business, so you can just pair and play without the hassle of a complex set-up.
- NEXT-GENERATION BLUETOOTH: Woburn III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available.
- ICONIC DESIGN THAT STANDS APART: Marshall has taken its signature rock ’n’ roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement
- A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: While staying true to the iconic design that speaks to the brand’s heritage, Woburn III has a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
Marshall’s specifications list a 35–20,000 Hz frequency range, a maximum sound pressure level of 100.5 dB at 1 m, and a bass-reflex cabinet. The figures are manufacturer specifications, not independent measurements. The listed amplification is one 90 W Class D amplifier for the woofer, two 15 W Class D amplifiers for the midrange drivers, and two 15 W Class D amplifiers for the tweeters.
TV: useful HDMI ARC, with placement and format conditions
RTINGS rates movies and videos as fair. It notes clear dialogue, bass extension, a night mode, and HDMI ARC, while pointing out that the speaker’s size can make placement in front of a television difficult. This connection can simplify getting TV sound through a stereo speaker, but it does not turn the Woburn III into a compact soundbar.
Rank #2
- HOME-SHAKING SOUND: Woburn III has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, filling any space with immersive, home-shaking Marshall signature sound.
- PAIR, PLAY AND TURN IT UP: Woburn III is straight to business, so you can just pair and play without the hassle of a complex set-up.
- NEXT-GENERATION BLUETOOTH: Woburn III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available.
- ICONIC DESIGN THAT STANDS APART: Marshall has taken its signature rock ’n’ roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement
- A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: While staying true to the iconic design that speaks to the brand’s heritage, Woburn III has a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
Podcasts: clear voices, but not a room-to-room speaker
RTINGS reports clear voices for podcasts. The fixed-location design is the practical drawback if you want to move listening from room to room; for that use, a battery-powered portable speaker is a better fit.
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Connect a TV over HDMI ARC
- Connect the TV’s HDMI ARC port to the Woburn III’s HDMI ARC input. Check the television manual for the correct port and its labeling. An HDMI cable is not included.
- Select HDMI as the speaker’s source.
- Set the TV’s digital audio output to PCM, two-channel audio. The setup instructions are in Marshall’s Woburn III manual and support page; the TV’s audio menus vary by model.
Connect a turntable over RCA
The RCA input works with a turntable only if the turntable has an RIAA (phono) amplifier built in, or if you connect an external phono preamplifier between the turntable and speaker. Marshall says neither an RCA lead nor an RIAA amplifier is included.
Rank #3
- HOME-FILLING SOUND: Stanmore III has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, delivering immersive, home-filling Marshall signature sound.
- PAIR, PLAY AND TURN IT UP: Stanmore III is straight to business, so you can just pair and play without the hassle of a complex set-up.
- NEXT-GENERATION BLUETOOTH: Stanmore III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available.
- ICONIC DESIGN THAT STANDS APART: Marshall has taken its signature rock ’n’ roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement
- A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: While staying true to the iconic design that speaks to the brand’s heritage, Stanmore III has a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
Use the AUX input
A 3.5 mm stereo lead connects a source to the top-panel AUX input. Marshall says the cable is not included.
Pair Bluetooth devices
The manual says the speaker can have two Bluetooth devices connected at the same time, but a second device cannot begin playback while the first is playing. Consult the manual for pairing and reconnection steps for your devices.
Rank #4
- HOME-FILLING SOUND: Stanmore III has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, delivering immersive, home-filling Marshall signature sound.
- PAIR, PLAY AND TURN IT UP: Stanmore III is straight to business, so you can just pair and play without the hassle of a complex set-up.
- NEXT-GENERATION BLUETOOTH: Stanmore III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available.
- ICONIC DESIGN THAT STANDS APART: Marshall has taken its signature rock ’n’ roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement
- A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: While staying true to the iconic design that speaks to the brand’s heritage, Stanmore III has a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
Controls, app, and everyday adjustments
The top panel has source selection, volume, bass and treble knobs, play/pause, a skip control, and a power switch. The bass and treble controls offer straightforward tone adjustment, but there is no graphic EQ according to RTINGS.
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The Marshall Bluetooth app provides additional settings and over-the-air updates. Marshall recommends it, but says the speaker works without the app. The available feature information does not establish Wi-Fi streaming, wireless multiroom, or voice-assistant support.
Best Value
- ROOM-FILLING SOUND: Acton III has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, delivering immersive, room-filling Marshall signature sound.
- PAIR, PLAY AND TURN IT UP: Acton III is straight to business, so you can just pair and play without the hassle of a complex set-up
- NEXT-GENERATION BLUETOOTH: Acton III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available
- ICONIC DESIGN THAT STANDS APART: Marshall has taken its signature rock ’n’ roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement
- A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: While staying true to the iconic design that speaks to the brand’s heritage, Acton III has a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
Size, specifications, and colors
| Specification | Marshall’s listing |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 400 × 317 × 203 mm (15.75 × 12.48 × 7.99 in) |
| Weight | 7.45 kg (16.42 lb) |
| Wireless connection | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Wired inputs | 3.5 mm AUX, RCA, HDMI ARC |
| Frequency range | 35–20,000 Hz (manufacturer specification) |
| Maximum sound pressure level | 100.5 dB at 1 m (manufacturer specification) |
| Wi-Fi, microphone, voice command, water resistance | Not listed |
Marshall’s product listing shows Black, Cream, and Brown, but colors and stock can vary by market. Check the local listing for current availability and price; the specifications above are not independent measurements.
Who should consider the Woburn III?
- Consider it if you want a visually distinctive, powerful home speaker for music and value direct HDMI ARC connection to a TV.
- Look elsewhere if you need a battery, a lighter speaker to carry between rooms, outdoor use, built-in Wi-Fi streaming, voice control, or a graphic EQ.
- Measure first if the speaker will sit near a television: its 400 mm width and 7.45 kg weight make placement a real part of the decision.
RTINGS compares the Woburn III with the Sonos Five and Bose Home Speaker 500, highlighting network and voice-assistant features as differences buyers may care about. The choice depends on whether HDMI ARC, wired inputs, bass and output, placement, portability, or personal design preference matter most to you; no one option is the universal fit.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
