Home Speakers / Marshall Acton IV vs Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Marshall Acton IV vs Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Superb sound and a Thread hub — held back by Wi-Fi 4 and no Bluetooth audio.
Wins overall by 2.0 points
Quick Verdict
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 2.0 points. Superb sound and a Thread hub — held back by Wi-Fi 4 and no Bluetooth audio.
The Marshall Acton IV and Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) are both closely matched home Speaker models, and the Marshall Acton IV is $19 cheaper than the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) ($329.99 vs $349). On Voice Assistant, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads (7.5 vs 1.0/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work. On Smart Home, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads (8.0 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. On Multiroom, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads (7.5 vs 3.0/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house. Overall, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 7.6/10 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 | Marshall Acton IV | Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.99 | $349.00 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2023 |
| Voice Assistant | None | Siri |
| Drivers | 1x 4-inch woofer plus 2x 0.75-inch tweeters | 1x 4-inch high-excursion woofer plus an array of 5 horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own neodymium magnet, and a 4-microphone array |
| Power Output (W) | 110W total — 1x 60W Class D for the woofer plus 2x 25W Class D for the tweeters; maximum SPL 95dB at 1m | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Wi-Fi | None | 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 with Auracast and multipoint; codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 | 5.0 — for setup and proximity only, NOT a Bluetooth audio input |
| Streaming Protocols | None — no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect. Spotify Tap via the customisable M-button only | AirPlay 2, native Apple Music and direct Spotify playback |
| Multiroom System | None natively — Auracast broadcast only; Marshall's Heddon hub is required for a proper multi-speaker setup | AirPlay 2 and Apple Home |
| Stereo Pairing | Marshall documents Auracast and Bluetooth multipoint but not a true two-unit stereo pair | Yes, with a second HomePod 2nd Gen only — it cannot pair with a 1st Gen or a mini |
| Smart Home Hub | No | Yes — Apple Home hub, Matter controller and Thread border router |
| Spatial Audio | No | Yes |
| Line In | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, Cream | Midnight, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) 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 Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-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 Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) 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 Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 3.0 — a 4.5-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 Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 5.0 — a 0.5-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 Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Voice Assistant
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 1.0 — a 6.5-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 Marshall Acton IV leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Marshall Acton IV if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Marshall Acton IV scores 7.0/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $19 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is home.
Choose the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) if…
- • Voice Assistant matters most to you — the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 7.5/10 here (which assistants are built in and how well they work).
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 8.0/10 here (matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability).
- • Multiroom matters most to you — the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 7.5/10 here (how well it groups with other speakers around the house).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 9.0/10 here (tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size).
- • Your main use case is smart-home or home-theater.
Pros & Cons
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
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Pros
- +Outstanding sound for the size — the five horn-loaded tweeters do real work
- +Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and it doubles as an Apple TV 4K sound system
- +Full Apple Home hub with Thread border router
- +Room sensing genuinely adapts to placement
Cons
- −Wi-Fi 4 in a $349 product released in 2023
- −Cannot be used as a Bluetooth speaker — there is no Bluetooth audio input
- −Price rose from $299 to $349 in June 2026
- −No aux input
- −Requires an Apple device to set up, and Siri only fully controls Apple Music
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Marshall Acton IV or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) 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 Marshall Acton IV or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores higher on Voice Assistant (7.5/10 vs 1.0/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work.
Which is better for Smart Home, the Marshall Acton IV or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores higher on Smart Home (8.0/10 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability.
Which is better for Multiroom, the Marshall Acton IV or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores higher on Multiroom (7.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house.
Which is better for Value, the Marshall Acton IV or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Marshall Acton IV scores higher on Value (7.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Is the Marshall Acton IV worth the price difference over the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Marshall Acton IV is the cheaper option at $329.99 versus $349. 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 Marshall Acton IV is the better fit if you mainly care about home. The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is the better fit for smart-home or home-theater.
What's the warranty on the Marshall Acton IV vs the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Marshall Acton IV ships with a 12-month warranty; the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) 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
Premium Option
Sonos Era 300 — $479.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.