Adds Wi-Fi and multiroom
Sonos Era 100
- Detailed, open sound
- Sonos app and line-in
Cheaper alternatives to the Marshall Acton III
Three cheaper speakers that add Wi-Fi, a battery, or both.
Updated November 11, 2026
Wi-Fi and a battery
Sonos Roam 2
- IP67 waterproof
- Joins a Sonos system
Cheapest of the three
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
- Deep bass for the size
- Works in any position
The original
Marshall Acton III
Worth it if: Design matters as much as sound
- Classic Marshall amp looks
- Real bass and treble knobs
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Acton III?
What the extra money buys
- Classic Marshall amp looks
- Real bass and treble knobs
- Stays clear at high volume
Worth it if
- Design matters as much as sound
- Bluetooth from your phone is all you need
Not worth it if
- You want Wi-Fi multiroom
- You'd take it outside
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sonos Era 100
What Hi-Fi? rates its sound as big, open and detailed, with an excellent app. TechRadar heard strong bass that can tip into heavy. Unlike the Acton III, it streams over Wi-Fi and groups with other Sonos speakers.
Sonos Roam 2
It's the one to carry from room to garden. What Hi-Fi? calls its sound meaty for the size and its features strong. TechRadar wished the battery lasted longer than about ten hours. Don't expect Acton-sized volume.
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)
Tom's Guide found its bass deep and its EQ useful, and liked that it sounds right lying down or upright. T3 thinks it's rugged and clean, but little changed from the first one, with disappointing battery life.
Final recommendation: For a smarter home speaker, the Sonos Era 100 adds Wi-Fi and multiroom. The Roam 2 adds a battery as well, with a smaller sound. The Bose SoundLink Flex 2 is the cheapest, for simple, rugged Bluetooth. Keep the Acton III for Marshall looks, knobs and big sound on a shelf.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Affordable | Affordable | Affordable | Affordable |
| Battery per charge (claimed) | None | None | Up to 10 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Water and dust rating | – | – | IP67 | IP67 |
| Weight | – | – | 0.44 kg | About 540 g |
| Power | Mains | Mains | Battery | Battery |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
What's the cheapest way to get Wi-Fi instead of an Acton III?
The Sonos Era 100 or, if you want a battery too, the Roam 2. The Acton III itself is Bluetooth only.
Is the Sonos Era 100 louder than the Acton III?
Reviewers praise both for big sound in a small box. The Acton III is the larger speaker; the Era 100 adds Wi-Fi.
Is the Bose SoundLink Flex 2 a good cheaper Marshall alternative?
For outdoors, yes. It's waterproof and rugged with deep bass for its size, but it can't fill a room like the Acton III.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Marshall Acton III with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Marshall: Acton III, T3: Marshall Acton III review, The Daily Beast: Marshall Acton III review, Sonos: Era 100, What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Era 100 review, TechRadar: Sonos Era 100 review, Sonos: Roam 2, What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Roam 2 review, TechRadar: Sonos Roam 2 review, Bose: SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen), Tom's Guide: Bose SoundLink Flex 2 review, T3: Bose SoundLink Flex 2 review.