The updated pair keeps Marshall's iconic look while adding multi-room sync, a new M-button and RCA inputs for turntables.
Marshall’s fourth-generation home speakers keep the familiar salt-and-pepper fret and brass control panel, but there’s been a fair amount of work done under the hood: wider dispersion, a reworked bass port and built-in Auracast multi-room sync.
Catch up on all the latest news here.
Both models share the same feature set, but the Stanmore IV is the larger of the two – a bigger 5-inch woofer, versus the Acton IV’s 4-inch. The Stanmore IV offers more low-end reach and higher maximum output, making it the better fit for bigger rooms.
The upgraded tweeters and waveguides spread sound wider across a room, so you’re not just hearing the speakers from one sweet spot. A redesigned bass port and bottom-placed cables mean you can push them against a wall without the low end getting muddy, which is handy if you’re working with a smaller space. Dynamic Loudness keeps everything balanced whether you’re listening quietly in the background or turning it up for a house party, and improved limiters make sure it stays clean when you do.
The brass control panel is still there for anyone who’d rather reach for a knob than pull out their phone, now with a refined media jog and a new M-button that jumps straight to a saved EQ setting or fires up Spotify Tap in one press.
Vinyl fans get RCA inputs this time around, so a turntable can plug straight in without an adaptor or workaround. AUX is there too for anything else with a cable, sitting alongside Bluetooth for when you want to keep it wireless.
Auracast handles multi-room playback, pairing multiple Acton IV or Stanmore IV units to play in sync throughout the house. If you’ve already got an Acton III or Stanmore III, Marshall’s new streaming hub Heddon brings those into the same setup – pair once through the app, then a press-and-hold of the M-button keeps everything locked in.
“With our fourth generation, the focus has been on protecting and strengthening these core qualities, building on what people love rather than reinventing it,” said Simona Berbec, Product Manager at Marshall Group.
The cabinets are built from FSC 100%-certified wood, Acton IV contains 13% recycled material by weight and Stanmore IV 16%, and both can be repaired rather than replaced. Knobs, feet and grilles are all available as spare parts.
Acton IV and Stanmore IV are available now in black or cream.
