The Marshall Acton 3 has a retro, analog aesthetic with tactile knobs for volume, bass and treble, and it runs purely on AC power with no smart assistants or Wi-Fi. It uses a 30-watt Class D amp for the woofer and two 15-watt amps for the tweeters, giving it a punchy 2.0 stereo sound that’s shaped by your physical input.
The Sonos Era 100, on the other hand, is all about modern smart audio. It runs on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, supports voice control (with Alexa or Sonos Voice), and uses Trueplay tuning to adapt its sound to your room. It also has stereo tweeters for true left-right separation and a larger woofer than the previous Sonos One, delivering fuller bass in a similarly small footprint. Personally, I’d say the Acton 3 is better for someone who loves old-school control and bold sound in a stationary setup, while the Era 100 feels like the more connected and flexible choice if you’re building a smart home audio system.
Specs Comparison
Comparing both speakers, the Marshall Acton 3 is smaller than the Stanmore but still carries that same vintage design—textured vinyl, brass knobs and a front-facing grille that gives it character. It runs off AC power only and doesn’t include any smart assistant or Wi-Fi connectivity. Instead, it sticks to Bluetooth 5.2 and gives you manual control with separate knobs for volume, bass and treble. Internally, it’s driven by a 30-watt Class D amplifier for the woofer and two 15-watt Class D amps for the tweeters. The frequency response goes from 45 Hz to 20 kHz, which felt surprisingly full given the size. I liked how physical and tactile it felt, and the stereo imaging was decent for something this compact.
The Sonos Era 100 takes a very different approach. It’s slightly taller and rounder than the Acton 3 and has no physical knobs—just capacitive touch controls on top. It supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, and it integrates easily with voice assistants like Alexa or Sonos Voice Control. AirPlay 2 is built in, which made it easy to stream from my iPhone, and there’s a USB-C port on the back that can accept a line-in adapter if you want to plug in. The Era 100 is powered by three Class-D digital amplifiers—two drive the angled tweeters for stereo separation and one handles the larger woofer. The sound is richer and more detailed than the previous Sonos One, especially in the low end. When I tested it with Wi-Fi and used Trueplay tuning, I could tell it adapted to the room—there was more clarity in the midrange and it didn’t get boomy even when placed close to a wall.
To me, the Acton 3 feels more analog, more fixed, and more about personality and direct control. The Era 100 is cleaner in design and smarter in function. If I wanted something that plugged into a multi-room system or responded to voice commands, I’d go with the Era. But if I was just after a plug-in speaker with great sound and physical control in a smaller footprint, the Acton 3 is more satisfying to use. It really comes down to whether you want simplicity with tone control or seamless integration with smart audio setups.
Table Comparison
| Specification | Marshall Acton III | Sonos Era 100 |
| Power Output | 60W total: 1x 30W Class D amplifier for the woofer, 2x 15W Class D amplifiers for the tweeters | Not officially disclosed; powered by 3 Class-D digital amplifiers (1 for woofer, 2 for tweeters) |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz – 20,000 Hz | Not specified |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Wi-Fi Support | No | Yes (802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual band 2.4/5GHz) |
| Smart Assistant Support | No | Yes (Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control) |
| 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) | 182.5 x 120 x 130 mm (7.19 x 4.72 x 5.14 in) |
| Weight | 2.85 kg (6.28 lbs) | 2.0 kg (4.4 lbs) |
| Connectivity Options | Bluetooth, 3.5 mm input | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB-C line-in (with adapter), AirPlay 2 |
| Additional Features | Analog knobs for volume, bass, and treble; Dynamic Loudness; Marshall Bluetooth app support | True stereo (dual tweeters); Voice assistant support; Automatic Trueplay; Sonos multi-room streaming |
Sound Performance
The first track I played to test both the Marshall Acton 3 and the Sonos Era 100 was “Gold” by Chet Faker. The Acton 3, with its 30-watt woofer and dual 15-watt tweeters, delivered a thick and textured bass that felt immediate in a smaller room. I used the physical bass knob to dial it back slightly since the low end had a bit more presence than I needed. The vocals felt centered and smooth and the overall sound leaned slightly warm, which gave the track a bit of vintage color. It didn’t have a huge soundstage, but for near-field listening, the stereo image was clear enough to enjoy the panning effects in the production. I appreciated how the analog controls gave me quick ways to shape the tone without needing to pull out my phone.
The Era 100 handled the same track with more clarity in the highs and a wider sense of space. It’s hard to quantify without exact wattage, but the dual angled tweeters made a difference—I could feel more width even when sitting close. The bass wasn’t as thick as the Acton’s out of the box, but the larger woofer handled low-end detail well and never got muddy. I played “Motion Sickness” by Phoebe Bridgers next, and the acoustic strums and vocal textures were more forward and cleaner through the Era 100. I used the Trueplay tuning through the Sonos app and the sound subtly adapted to the corner of the room, smoothing out the lower mids. The speaker felt more analytical, like it was trying to deliver every detail of the mix accurately rather than adding its own character.
I wrapped things up with “Giorgio by Moroder” by Daft Punk to test layering and energy. The Acton 3 gave the track a punchy and slightly vintage tone that worked well with the spoken word intro and build-up—it had character, especially in the bassline and kick. The Era 100 was more refined in how it revealed the transitions between electronic layers and gave more definition to the top end. Personally, I think the Acton 3 is better suited for people who want a fun, musically rich sound that can be shaped with hands-on controls. The Era 100 sounds cleaner, more expansive and more neutral, especially when used with Wi-Fi and tuned for the room. If I wanted accuracy and streaming integration, I’d go with the Era. If I wanted energy and a slightly retro vibe, the Acton feels more fun.
Design Comparison
The Marshall Acton 3 feels more like a vintage statement piece—it’s wrapped in faux leather with a solid front mesh and brass knobs on the top panel for volume, bass and treble. It’s heavier than it looks at just under three kilograms and feels very planted wherever I place it. There’s no handle or battery so it’s clearly meant to stay in one spot. What I like about it is how tactile it feels—I don’t need an app to adjust anything. It reminds me of old-school gear where the design is part of the listening ritual. The layout is simple and everything is physical. Even the power switch clicks with a bit of resistance, which makes it feel more intentional.
The Sonos Era 100 is cleaner and more modern with a sleeker design. It has a soft matte shell with rounded edges and a touch-sensitive control strip across the top. It’s lighter than the Acton at around two kilograms and feels easier to move around, though it’s still designed for shelf or tabletop use rather than travel. The speaker grille wraps almost entirely around the front and sides, which I assume helps with stereo dispersion from the angled tweeters. The back has a recessed area where the USB-C port sits, and there’s a small switch for mic control, which gives it a bit of privacy control if you’re using voice assistants. It feels like it was made to disappear into a space rather than draw attention, which is the opposite of the Acton’s vintage attitude.
Personally, I think the Marshall Acton 3 feels more classy. It’s the kind of speaker I’d put on display. It gives me the feeling of using something mechanical and real. The Era 100 is more about blending into a smart environment—it’s quiet in design but very intentional in how it works. From a build quality perspective, both feel solid and well-assembled, but they’re aimed at different experiences. I’d choose the Acton if I wanted something with presence and a tactile connection. I’d lean toward the Era if I needed modern connectivity and a speaker that fits into a streamlined setup without calling attention to itself.
The Verdict?
Personally, I would go with the Marshall Acton 3 as it feels more musical and engaging right out of the box (and it looks classy as well). I really enjoy the physical interaction—adjusting bass and treble with real knobs gives me that old-school feel that you don’t get with touch controls. With 60 watts of power split between a 30-watt woofer and two 15-watt tweeters, it delivers a bold, energetic sound that works great for everyday listening. It’s not meant to be moved around or integrated into a smart ecosystem, but that’s part of its charm. It does one thing—Bluetooth playback—and it does it with character. The warm tuning and classic design make it feel like a little piece of audio history, even in a modern setup.
That said, I think the Sonos Era 100 is a smarter choice for someone who wants a more connected and future-ready speaker. It works seamlessly over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, supports voice assistants, AirPlay 2, and has the ability to adapt to different rooms with Trueplay tuning. The sound is more refined and neutral, with better stereo separation from the dual angled tweeters. It’s also a better fit if you’re planning to build a multi-room setup or want a speaker that responds to voice commands.