The Marshall Acton 3 is a wired home speaker built for stationary listening with 60 watts of power (30 for the woofer, 15 for each tweeter), and a classic retro design that feels more like part of your furniture. The JBL Charge 5, on the other hand, is a fully portable Bluetooth speaker with a built-in battery that lasts up to 20 hours, an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, and a more rugged, outdoor-friendly build. It uses a single racetrack-style driver, separate tweeter, and dual passive radiators to push sound in a more straightforward, punchy way, but lacks stereo separation. The Acton 3 sounds wider and fuller in a fixed room setup, while the Charge 5 trades that for convenience, battery life and durability.
Specs Comparison
The Acton 3 is a mains-powered speaker designed for living room placement and it uses a three-channel Class D amp setup—30 watts to the woofer and 15 watts each to two tweeters. That gives it a total of 60 watts and a much more defined stereo output than you’d expect from a speaker this size. It runs Bluetooth 5.2 with LE Audio support, though that futureproofing doesn’t really affect anything yet. There’s also a 3.5mm input on the back which I like having when I want to plug in a source directly. Everything about the Acton 3 is tailored for home use, from the wooden cabinet to the manual EQ knobs on top that let me dial in the bass and treble exactly how I want them.
The JBL Charge 5 is built for outdoor use and is designed as a completely waterproof durable speaker. It’s smaller, fully battery-powered, and weighs about a third of the Acton’s 2.85 kilograms. It uses a single 52 x 90mm racetrack-shaped driver, a 20mm tweeter, and two passive radiators that flank the sides. The total output is around 40 watts—30 watts for the woofer and 10 watts for the tweeter—and it uses a separate Class D amp for each. It connects through Bluetooth 5.1 and doesn’t have any physical input, so it’s wireless only. What it lacks in stereo separation, it makes up for with portability and durability. The IP67 rating means I can bring it to the beach or by the pool without worrying, and the battery lasts up to 20 hours depending on volume. It even has a USB-C out to charge my phone if I need it.
From a spec perspective, the Acton 3 clearly leans into sound fidelity and control, while the Charge 5 is all about convenience and rugged performance. I wouldn’t expect the Charge to match the Acton in imaging or tonal depth, but I also wouldn’t carry the Acton outside or toss it into a bag. They don’t really compete with each other—they solve different problems. One sits still and sounds better. The other moves with me and sounds good enough.
Table Comparison
| Specification | Marshall Acton 3 | JBL Charge 5 |
| Speaker Type | Home Bluetooth speaker (wired, no battery) | Portable Bluetooth speaker (with battery) |
| Amplifier Configuration | 1 x 30W (woofer), 2 x 15W (tweeters) | 1 x 30W (woofer), 1 x 10W (tweeter) |
| Total Power Output | 60W RMS | 40W RMS |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz – 20 kHz | 65 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.2 (LE Audio capable) | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Wired Input | 3.5mm AUX input | None |
| Battery Life | N/A (no battery) | Up to 20 hours |
| Charging Port | N/A | USB-C (also works as a powerbank) |
| Water/Dust Resistance | None | IP67 (waterproof and dustproof) |
| Stereo Sound | Yes (stereo tweeters with angled waveguides) | No (mono driver with passive radiators) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 260 x 170 x 150 mm | 223 x 96.5 x 94 mm |
| Weight | 2.85 kg | 0.96 kg |
| Power Source | Mains-powered only | Battery-powered (USB-C charging) |
Sound Comparison
The first time I listened to the Marshall Acton 3, I played “What Once Was” by Her’s, and I really enjoyed how clear the mids sounded with well-balanced soundstage. The vocals sat comfortably forward, and the stereo image felt wider than I expected from a speaker this size. That probably has a lot to do with the dual tweeters (each driven by a 15-watt Class D amp) and their outward angle. The 30-watt woofer didn’t overplay the bass but gave enough low-end warmth to make the bassline feel grounded. I noticed that when I turned the volume up, the sound stayed intact without becoming harsh or bloated. It’s the kind of speaker that rewards being positioned properly—sit directly in front of it and you get a sense of layering that made acoustic tracks and soft rock feel immersive without sounding artificial.
The JBL Charge 5 felt more energetic right away, but also more compact in its sound. I tested it with “Electric Feel” by MGMT and noticed how punchy the bass was given its size. It uses a 30-watt racetrack woofer, a 10-watt tweeter, and passive radiators on the sides which help it push more air, but there’s no stereo separation. Everything comes from the front as a single wall of sound. It works well outdoors or when I’m walking around a room because the sound is direct and full, but it lacks the spatial definition I heard on the Acton 3. Vocals felt a little recessed in comparison, especially in more layered tracks. I wouldn’t say it lacks clarity, but it doesn’t invite focused listening. It’s more about presence and loudness.
I would say that the Acton 3 sounds better when I’m sitting still and paying attention—it has more openness, better stereo placement, and a more balanced tone. It handled “River” by Leon Bridges beautifully with a soft control in the high end and a natural fullness in the low mids. The Charge 5, though, makes more sense when I’m outside or just need something portable that gets loud and keeps the energy up. It played “Titanium” by David Guetta with a satisfying thump, even if the detail was flatter. Between the two, I’d choose the Acton 3 for anything indoors and critical, while the Charge 5 wins for portability and loud, casual listening.
Design Comparison
The Acton 3 features Marshall’s vintage guitar amp aesthetic with a vinyl-wrapped wooden cabinet, solid metal control knobs, and a brass plate on top that gives it a sense of permanence. It’s not trying to look modern—it feels like a piece of audio gear more than a tech product. At 2.85 kilograms, it’s heavier than it looks, and that weight comes from the solid internal structure and the three Class D amps inside. It doesn’t have a battery or water resistance, and you can feel that it’s not meant to move around. It fits better in a home where it can sit on a shelf or table and become part of the room.
The JBL Charge 5, in contrast, is designed like a tank and is a rugged portable speaker. It’s about a third the weight of the Acton, coming in just under one kilogram, and wrapped in a durable fabric grille that wraps around most of the body. The rubberized ends and IP67 rating make it easy to toss into a backpack or place by a pool without thinking about it. I like how the passive radiators are exposed on both sides—it gives the speaker a bit of visual energy and reinforces that it’s meant to be active and on the move. The controls are raised rubber buttons on top and they’re simple to operate even if I’m wearing gloves or if the speaker is wet. It charges via USB-C and even has a port to charge other devices which feels practical when I’m outside or traveling.
What I find interesting is how the design of each speaker reflects the kind of listener it’s built for. The Acton 3 is solid, quiet, and tactile—it wants to be tuned and appreciated. It’s heavier, less forgiving if moved around, but feels like it’s built to last a long time in one place. The Charge 5 feels like a tool—lighter, more flexible, and clearly meant for people who care more about where music goes than how it looks while sitting still. I prefer the Acton 3 in my room because it blends in with the furniture and doesn’t beg for attention. But if I’m heading out or want something I can carry easily, the Charge 5 is far more convenient.
The Verdict?
Personally, I would go with the Marshall Acton 3 if I were choosing a speaker for indoor use and focused listening. The sound feels more detailed and open with its dedicated stereo setup—two 15-watt tweeters and a 30-watt woofer really help vocals and instruments breathe. I like that I can tweak the bass and treble directly using the knobs, and the wooden cabinet gives it a more grounded, resonant sound. It fits naturally in a home space, and even when it’s not playing music, it looks like it belongs in a listening room. When I played “River” by Leon Bridges or “What Once Was” by Her’s, the clarity and spatial depth gave me more to focus on. It’s not portable or water-resistant, but for a speaker that stays in one place and just sounds better at every volume, the Acton 3 feels more satisfying.
That said, I think the JBL Charge 5 has a clear purpose and does its job really well. It’s lightweight, IP67-rated, lasts up to 20 hours on a single charge, and is built to handle life on the move. The sound is more direct, and it handles bass-heavy tracks like “Titanium” by David Guetta with energy and punch, even without a proper stereo field. The passive radiators and rugged build make it ideal for travel or outdoor use, and the fact that it can charge my phone adds some real-world value. But overall, if I had to pick one based on audio performance, design finish, and how it feels to live with daily, I’d still choose the Acton 3. It’s more refined where it matters and I do like the retro aesthetic which makes it a more unique speaker compared to the JBL Charge 5.