Home Speakers / JBL Authentics 500 vs Marshall Acton IV
JBL Authentics 500 vs Marshall Acton IV
JBL Authentics 500
Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in.
Wins overall by 3.1 points
Quick Verdict
The JBL Authentics 500 is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 3.1 points. Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in.
The JBL Authentics 500 and Marshall Acton IV are both closely matched home Speaker models, and the Marshall Acton IV is $420 cheaper than the JBL Authentics 500 ($329.99 vs $749.95). On Voice Assistant, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.0 vs 1.0/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work. On Multiroom, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.0 vs 3.0/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house. On Smart Home, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (8.0 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. Overall, the JBL Authentics 500 scores 8.7/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.6/10 for the Marshall Acton IV. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | JBL Authentics 500 | Marshall Acton IV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $749.95 | $329.99 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2026 |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously — both wake words are live at once | None |
| Drivers | 3.1 channel — 3x 1-inch aluminium-dome tweeters, 3x 2.75-inch midrange woofers and a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer | 1x 4-inch woofer plus 2x 0.75-inch tweeters |
| Power Output (W) | 270 | 110W total — 1x 60W Class D for the woofer plus 2x 25W Class D for the tweeters; maximum SPL 95dB at 1m |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4/5GHz), plus Ethernet | None |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 with Auracast (SBC and AAC) | 5.3 with Auracast and multipoint; codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 |
| Streaming Protocols | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Alexa Multi-Room Music, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready and Amazon HD Music | None — no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect. Spotify Tap via the customisable M-button only |
| Multiroom System | Alexa Multi-Room Music, Chromecast groups and AirPlay 2 — all three major ecosystems | None natively — Auracast broadcast only; Marshall's Heddon hub is required for a proper multi-speaker setup |
| Stereo Pairing | Yes | Marshall documents Auracast and Bluetooth multipoint but not a true two-unit stereo pair |
| Smart Home Hub | No — it is an Alexa and Google endpoint, not a hub. No Matter, Thread or Zigbee | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | No |
| Line In | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black, Cream |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on low-end weight and extension. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 3.0 — a 5.0-point margin on matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Multiroom
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 3.0 — a 6.0-point margin on how well it groups with other speakers around the house. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.8 against 5.0 — a 4.8-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The Marshall Acton IV leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on materials, finish and how it looks in a room. If that is what you are buying for, the JBL Authentics 500 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Voice Assistant
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 1.0 — a 8.0-point margin on which assistants are built in and how well they work. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The JBL Authentics 500 and Marshall Acton IV are level here, at 7.0/10 each. performance and features relative to price is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the JBL Authentics 500 if…
- • Voice Assistant matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (which assistants are built in and how well they work).
- • Multiroom matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (how well it groups with other speakers around the house).
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 8.0/10 here (matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.8/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs).
- • Bass matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension).
Choose the Marshall Acton IV if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $420 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is home.
Pros & Cons
JBL Authentics 500
Pros
- +The least locked-in speaker here — AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Alexa, Google and Roon all at once
- +The only speaker here running two voice assistants simultaneously
- +270W with a real 6.5-inch subwoofer, and it goes properly loud
- +Dolby Atmos Music plus a 3.5mm aux and USB-C input
Cons
- −Expensive at its $749.95 list, though street prices are often far lower
- −No Matter, Thread or Zigbee — it is an endpoint, not a hub
- −Google Assistant's long-term future is uncertain now that Google has moved its own hardware to Gemini
- −Large and heavy
Marshall Acton IV
Pros
- +110W published power and genuinely good sound for the size
- +RCA and 3.5mm inputs make it the easiest speaker here to connect a turntable to
- +LDAC hi-res over Bluetooth
- +Beautiful FSC-certified wood cabinet
Cons
- −No Wi-Fi at all — if you want a network speaker, this is not one
- −No voice assistant and no network multiroom
- −Marshall does not document a true stereo pairing mode
- −Its sibling the Stanmore IV offers a bigger woofer for $100 more
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the JBL Authentics 500 or Marshall Acton IV better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the JBL Authentics 500 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Voice Assistant, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Marshall Acton IV?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Voice Assistant (9.0/10 vs 1.0/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work.
Which is better for Multiroom, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Marshall Acton IV?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Multiroom (9.0/10 vs 3.0/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house.
Which is better for Smart Home, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Marshall Acton IV?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Smart Home (8.0/10 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability.
Which is better for Connectivity, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Marshall Acton IV?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Connectivity (9.8/10 vs 5.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs.
Is the JBL Authentics 500 worth the price difference over the Marshall Acton IV?+
The Marshall Acton IV is the cheaper option at $329.99 versus $749.95. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Voice Assistant.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The JBL Authentics 500 is the better fit if you mainly care about smart-home or multiroom. The Marshall Acton IV is the better fit for home.
What's the warranty on the JBL Authentics 500 vs the Marshall Acton IV?+
The JBL Authentics 500 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Marshall Acton IV ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Sonos Era 100 — $219.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.