The Marshall Acton 3 is a 60-watt Bluetooth-only speaker with a 30-watt Class D amp for the woofer and two 15-watt amps for the tweeters. It has no Wi-Fi or voice assistant support, and it’s controlled manually with physical knobs for volume, bass and treble—very much a plug-in-and-play kind of speaker for someone who values simplicity and hands-on control.
The JBL Authentics 200, by contrast, pushes out 90 watts of power through two 25mm tweeters and a 5-inch full-range woofer, and it adds a passive radiator for extra low-end presence. It runs on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, supports AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect, and has built-in Alexa and Google Assistant running simultaneously. Personally, I think the Acton 3 is better for someone who just wants a focused listening setup with minimal distractions, while the Authentics 200 is aimed at those who want bigger sound and full smart home integration in a retro shell.
Specs Comparison
The Marshall Acton 3 has a very clean design—it’s Bluetooth 5.2 only, no Wi-Fi, no built-in streaming, just direct playback and analog-style control. It delivers 60 watts of total power, driven by a 30-watt Class D amp for the woofer and two 15-watt amps for the tweeters. That setup gives it a punchy but contained stereo presentation. The sound is adjustable directly by your hands with the physical knobs on the top, which I find a lot more satisfying than tapping a screen. It doesn’t have a battery or smart voice control, but for someone who just wants something solid and consistent in one room, it does the job really well.
The JBL Authentics 200 takes a more modern approach even though it shares that vintage vibe. It’s got Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3 built in, and it supports AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect, which made it easier for me to stream directly from my phone or laptop without switching sources. On top of that, it comes with both Alexa and Google Assistant preloaded, and what’s wild is that they actually run side by side. I didn’t expect that level of smart control in a speaker that looks so retro. It’s powered by two 25mm tweeters and a 5-inch full-range woofer, backed by a rear passive radiator to give it more low-end weight. Altogether, it pushes 90 watts of power, and I could tell—it sounded wider and fuller compared to the Acton, especially when listening to tracks with deeper bass and more stereo complexity.
To me, the Acton 3 is the kind of speaker I’d use in a space where I just want to sit back and relax and listen without distraction. It gives me direct control and has a tone that feels intentionally colored, in a good way. The Authentics 200 is more of a connected hub—it’s not just about music, it’s about integration, control and presence. I can see it fitting better in a modern home where streaming and voice control are already part of the routine.
Table Comparison
| Specification | Marshall Acton III | JBL Authentics 200 |
| Power Output | 60W total: 1x 30W Class D amplifier for the woofer, 2x 15W Class D amplifiers for the tweeters | 90W total: 2x 25mm tweeters, 1x 5″ woofer, plus a passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz – 20,000 Hz | 50 Hz – 20,000 Hz |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Wi-Fi Support | No | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, dual band 2.4/5GHz) |
| Smart Assistant Support | No | Yes (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant) |
| Apple AirPlay 2 | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | Not applicable (AC powered only) | Not applicable (AC powered only) |
| Charging | AC only | AC only |
| Water/Dust Resistance | None | No official rating; suitable for indoor use |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 260 x 170 x 150 mm (10.24 x 6.69 x 5.91 in) | 266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4 mm (10.48 x 6.76 x 6.59 in) |
| Weight | 2.85 kg (6.28 lbs) | 3.12 kg (6.88 lbs) |
| Connectivity Options | Bluetooth, 3.5 mm input | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB-C (USB playback in US version), AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect |
| Additional Features | Analog knobs for volume, bass, and treble; Dynamic Loudness; Marshall Bluetooth app support | Voice assistant support; Automatic self-tuning; JBL One app integration; Multi-room streaming capabilities |
Sound Comparison
The first track I played to compare the Marshall Acton 3 and the JBL Authentics 200 was “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind & Fire. On the Acton 3, the intro had a smooth, rounded quality—the strings and layered harmonies felt warm and slightly colored, in a way that gave the song a nostalgic edge. The 60-watt output, with its 30-watt woofer and two 15-watt tweeters, delivered a solid low end that made the bass guitar groove feel lively. I bumped the treble up just a touch with the analog knobs to give the vocals and brass more definition. It didn’t push a wide soundstage, but what it did offer was a focused and soulful vibe that felt rooted in the character of the song.
When I switched to the JBL Authentics 200 and played “September,” I immediately noticed a jump in clarity and space. The 90-watt setup with a 5-inch woofer and dual tweeters gave the track more air—each instrument had its own lane. The kick drum had a cleaner thump and the horns popped with a brighter, more open tone. I didn’t need to tweak anything. The speaker seemed to adapt well to the room, and even when I moved it to a tighter corner, it didn’t get boomy or lose detail. Maurice White’s vocals were more forward in the mix compared to the Acton, and the background vocals had that layered shimmer that this track thrives on.
To wrap it up, I went with “Reasons,” a slower, more vocal-driven track. The Acton 3 gave the falsetto a warm glow that felt intimate. It wasn’t clinical, but it carried emotion well, especially in the midrange. The JBL Authentics 200, though, separated the harmonies more clearly and brought out subtle textures in the electric piano and background strings that I hadn’t heard as easily on the Marshall. Personally, I think the Acton 3 works beautifully if you want a vibey, tactile sound that leans warm and musical. The Authentics 200 sounds more expansive and precise, and I’d go with it if I wanted to hear every detail in a mix, especially in lush, layered songs like those from Earth, Wind & Fire.
Design Comparison
The Marshall Acton 3 sticks closely to Marshall’s signature style—it has a faux leather wrap, a brass-colored metal grille and three analog knobs on the top panel for volume, bass and treble. The texture of the finish feels familiar if you’ve ever handled guitar amps and the overall build has a dense, slightly boxy feel to it. At 2.85 kilograms, it’s not heavy by speaker standards, but there’s a solid presence to it when you pick it up or shift it around. There’s no handle, no water resistance and no battery. Everything about it feels designed for permanence—like it was meant to live on a shelf and stay there.
The JBL Authentics 200 also leans retro, but it adds a modern polish to the look. The front grille has a honeycomb pattern that feels like a nod to classic hi-fi speakers and the enclosure is slightly more curved than the Acton’s rectangular profile. It’s a little heavier at just over 3 kilograms, and the shape makes it feel more sculpted than blocky. What I noticed while using it is that it blends modern build with vintage cues without feeling like it’s trying too hard. It also includes a passive radiator on the back, which is exposed and slightly recessed into the housing, giving it more dimension from the rear. Touch controls sit on the top with a dial that gives feedback when turned, and the whole top panel is clean and functional. There’s no battery here either, but the speaker is built with Wi-Fi integration and smart assistant microphones, so it feels more connected out of the box.
Personally, I think the Marshall Acton 3 feels more tactile and analog and nicer to display. I like how it invites me to touch it every time I want to tweak the sound. The build feels old-school in the best way—no screen, no voice commands, just music and physical control. The Authentics 200 feels more refined. It’s got the kind of build that fits into both retro-inspired and contemporary interiors, and the design supports more connectivity without being cluttered. Both are well made, but they speak to different habits. If I’m in the mood for something I can adjust by hand and leave plugged in, the Acton 3 makes sense. If I want a speaker that blends old looks with modern behavior, the Authentics 200 feels more complete.
The Verdict?
Personally, I would go with the JBL Authentics 200 if I wanted the most versatile listening experience in a compact form. It delivers 90 watts of power, has wider stereo presence thanks to its tweeter and woofer setup, and the passive radiator on the back gives it a deeper, more satisfying low end—especially noticeable on tracks with layered bass like those from Earth, Wind & Fire. I also like that it supports Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and both Alexa and Google Assistant, which makes it feel like a natural part of a smart home setup. Even from a design standpoint, it blends vintage and modern without leaning too far in either direction, and it felt like something I could place anywhere in the house without needing to babysit the sound. It adapts to where you put it, and it sounded polished no matter the genre or volume.
That said, I think the Marshall Acton 3 is a really classy vintage looking speaker. The 60-watt output (with 30W going to the woofer) is punchy enough for most small to mid-sized rooms, and the analog knobs give me a real sense of connection to the sound. I like how it’s unapologetically simple—Bluetooth only, no voice assistants, no streaming layers. It’s built for people who just want to play music and dial it in with their hands. But if I had to pick one speaker to live with every day, especially for a mix of casual listening, streaming convenience, and smart control, I think the Authentics 200 is the better speaker overall. It just does more without asking me to compromise on sound or design.