A name well-known by musicians and concert-goers, Marshall amps provide the power and sound you feel and experience while seeing a band play live. Established in 1962, the company has been creating and perfecting amplifiers to suit different needs, but no matter what the amp does, you know it is a Marshall.
Marshall also provides a line of Bluetooth speakers that are high-end audio at a reasonable price. Today, we are diving into our in-depth Marshall Stanmore II Wireless Bluetooth Review.
So, let’s get started and find out if this is the best Bluetooth speaker for your home…
(4.3 / 5)
Contents
Impressive Looks and Style
Forgoing oblong or other modern shapes that you may see from other Bluetooth speaker manufacturers, Marshall has preserved the classic rectangular shape for the Stanmore II. They have also kept the retro-style prevalent by using a flip switch for power and knobs for bass, treble, and volume adjustments.
The most popular version comes covered in a pebbled black vinyl that covers the wooden frame and a salt-n-pepper speaker cover. Across the front are the legendary cursive scripted Marshall logo and a brass plate along the bottom giving homage to the companies founding date of 1962.
Put it all together, and you have one of the most durable Bluetooth speakers on the market. And we wouldn’t expect anything less from Marshall.
Looks like a little Marshall amp…
The switch and knobs sit atop a brass-colored plate on the top panel of the speaker. They are made of metal with the same brass coloring and have a smooth quality feel to them. To the left of the knobs, you will find an RCA or 3.5mm aux input jack so that you can connect external music sources.
For those that want the freedom of not having to make manual adjustments, there is no need to worry. The Stanmore II is all digital. It can be controlled through the Marshall app, which we will discuss in further detail later in the review.
About the Sound
The Stanmore II is an active speaker, meaning that it has built-in amplifiers and only requires a power source. Inside, you will find two 15-watt Class D amplifiers for the tweeters and one 50-watt Class D amplifier for the subwoofer. This makes it one of the best Bluetooth subwoofer speakers available.
On the back of the speaker lies a port, so you will want to have that facing a wall to reflect the sound back towards you. Be sure to adjust the distance from the wall to achieve the perfect sound.
The speaker has a range of 50- 20,000Hz, giving it a nice overall sound that is a little light in the bass. However, there are very few portable speakers that go as low as 50Hz and have a port, so you might just be surprised at the amount of bass you do hear.
Balanced and beautiful…
The sound is excellent at the high and mid ranges and gets even better when played above 50% volume. There is a little bit of loss in the crossover between the mid and bass range but will go unnoticed by most listeners, except maybe on some EDM music tracks.
The Stanmore II is a solid performer throughout the volume range and, in true Marshall fashion, only gets better the louder you play it. This is without a doubt one of the best sounding Bluetooth speakers around.
Functionality and the App
The Marshall Stanmore II connects to digital music sources using the newest 5.0 Bluetooth technology with Qualcomm aptX. This is great for playing buffer-free music from sources such as Spotify, Google, and others. Unfortunately, at this time, it does not work with Apple Air.
Mentioned earlier was the inclusion of a 3.5mm aux input jack on the top panel. This allows you to play music from any media device using an RCA plug. You can even plug in your guitar and use the speaker as a low-volume amplifier. This helps to make it one of the most versatile Bluetooth speakers on the market as well.
The Marshall App…
Performs a variety of functions and expands the speaker’s capabilities. It allows you to choose from several parametric equalizer presets as well as create your own. You really can fine-tune the sound to your preference, whereas using the analog knobs is a bit limiting.
Using the app, you will be able to connect the Stanmore II to another Stanmore II speaker to create a larger sound stage for when you are hosting a party or having a barbecue. The connection is limited to only one other speaker, though.
Pair with multiple devices…
Marshall has also added the ability to connect two Bluetooth sources to work in the speaker at the same time. In all honesty, we are unsure of the purpose of this other than being a novelty.
This could be a potential issue in a household that actively uses multiple Bluetooth connections at the same time, as the speaker identifies connected devices up to 30 feet away. The speaker may automatically switch between devices, which will lead to having to disconnect unused devices every time you use it.
Specifications
Dimensions: 13.78 x 7.68 x 7.28 in
Weight: 10.2 pounds
Frequency range: 50-20,000 Hz
Marshall Stanmore II Wireless Bluetooth Review – Pros and Cons
Pros
- Top-quality build and materials.
- Sound customization and profiles.
- Bluetooth 5.0 + analog 3.5mm input.
Cons
- Issues when using multiple Bluetooth connections.
- Not portable (uses power cable).
- Doesn’t play Apple Music.
Looking for Something Else?
We have a growing selection of audio solutions. So, check out our in-depth Oontz Angle 3 Ultra Review, our Marshall Stockwell 2 Review, our Best In-Ceiling Speakers Reviews, our SteelSeries Arctis 7 Review, and our Best Computer Speakers Under $100 Review for awesome items you can buy in 2023.
You may also like our comprehensive Sony WH-CH700N Review, our AKG K240 Studio Review, our Marshall Code 50W Review, our JLab JBuds Air Icon Review, and our JBL Flip 3 Review for even more amazing items currently available.
Marshall Stanmore II Wireless Bluetooth Review – Final Thoughts
The Marshall Stanmore II is a reference to the past and present of music history in style and sound. Although it has the potential to lose a bit between the bass and mid-range crossover with certain types of modern music such as bass-heavy techno, it is exemplary at expressing all others.
As a Bluetooth speaker, the Stanmore II soundstage is closer to an actual floor standing or high-end bookshelf speaker than most tinny-sounding Bluetooth speakers. There are very few other Bluetooth speakers that can rival the sound of Marshall, and those that do will cost you a whole lot more.
Until next time, happy listening.
