Marshall Acton IV and Stanmore IV officially: better sound, LDAC, and turntable support for the same price

Marshall makes speakers that look like they’ve wandered from a rehearsal room straight into the living room — and that’s precisely the look you pay for. All the more pleasantly surprising is the new release, where the biggest news is the price. After four years since the third generation, the Acton IV and Stanmore IV are launching for the exact same price — and in a time when everything is getting more expensive, that’s a small miracle in itself.

What has truly changed inside

The design remained faithful — leatherette trim, “salt and pepper” grille, brass panel, and a switch like from a guitar amplifier. The novelties are hidden where they make sense: inside and at the back. Marshall redesigned the tweeters and waveguides to spread sound more evenly throughout the room, and revamped the bass reflex port for cleaner bass. The larger Stanmore IV received a 5″ woofer (around 110 W total), while the smaller Acton IV got a 4″ one (about 85 W); both are complemented by a pair of 0.75″ tweeter units. Practical cable routing from the bottom was also added, so the speaker can finally be placed flush against the wall.

Finally, a turntable without magic — and one catch

Vinyl lovers will be pleased that a turntable can now be connected directly via RCA and 3.5mm jack inputs, which was not possible with the previous generation. Improved features include the LDAC codec for higher quality wireless transmission, Dynamic Loudness function (adds bass during quiet listening), and a customizable M-button. Repairability is also a nice touch: the cabinet is made of FSC wood, and parts like feet, knobs, or the grille can be replaced.

And now for the catch I must mention. The speakers rely on Auracast for connecting multiple units, but Auracast itself requires a broadcasting source. For AirPlay, Spotify Connect, or true Wi-Fi multiroom, you will still need a separate network hub, the Heddon, for 199 euros (free with the purchase of two or more speakers). For speakers of this class, I would expect full Wi-Fi to be included in the price, not as an extra.

When and for how much in the Czech Republic

And because “for the same price” is a nice slogan, let’s look at the specific numbers. Globally, the Acton IV costs 299 euros and the Stanmore IV 399 euros (approximately 7,400 and 9,900 CZK respectively — this is a conversion, not the Czech price). For now, they can only be purchased via the official Marshall.com; at domestic retailers like Alza or Heureka, the new models are not yet available, and you will only find the third generation there for now. We will publish the real Czech price of the fourth generation once our retailers stock them; until then, consider the figures in CZK as an approximate guide only.

Would you pay extra for Marshall for the sound and design, or is it mainly a brand tax?

Source: Marshall, Notebookcheck