Home Speakers / Marshall Acton IV vs Sonos Era 100
Marshall Acton IV vs Sonos Era 100
Sonos Era 100
Sonos multiroom with voice control — the default mid-range smart speaker.
Wins overall by 2.2 points
Quick Verdict
A 2.2-point gap makes the Sonos Era 100 the straightforward choice here. Sonos multiroom with voice control — the default mid-range smart speaker.
The Marshall Acton IV and Sonos Era 100 are both closely matched home Speaker models, and the Sonos Era 100 is $111 cheaper than the Marshall Acton IV ($219 vs $329.99). On Multiroom, the Sonos Era 100 leads (9.5 vs 3.0/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house. On Voice Assistant, the Sonos Era 100 leads (7.0 vs 1.0/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work. On Smart Home, the Sonos Era 100 leads (7.0 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability. Overall, the Sonos Era 100 scores 7.8/10 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 | Sonos Era 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.99 | $219.00 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2023 |
| Voice Assistant | None | Alexa and Sonos Voice Control; Google Assistant is not supported on Era hardware |
| Drivers | 1x 4-inch woofer plus 2x 0.75-inch tweeters | 2x angled tweeters plus 1x midwoofer |
| 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 | Sonos publishes three class-D digital amplifiers but no wattage |
| Wi-Fi | None | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 with Auracast and multipoint; codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 | 5.3 |
| Streaming Protocols | None — no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect. Spotify Tap via the customisable M-button only | Sonos app, AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect; no Chromecast |
| Multiroom System | None natively — Auracast broadcast only; Marshall's Heddon hub is required for a proper multi-speaker setup | Sonos |
| Stereo Pairing | Marshall documents Auracast and Bluetooth multipoint but not a true two-unit stereo pair | Yes |
| Smart Home Hub | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| Line In | Yes | Yes, but only via the optional Sonos Line-In Adapter, sold separately |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, Cream | Black, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Marshall Acton IV leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Marshall Acton IV leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on low-end weight and extension. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Sonos Era 100 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 3.0 — a 4.0-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 Sonos Era 100 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 3.0 — a 6.5-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 Sonos Era 100 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.0 — a 2.5-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 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on materials, finish and how it looks in a room. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Voice Assistant
The Sonos Era 100 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 1.0 — a 6.0-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 Sonos Era 100 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Marshall Acton IV does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Marshall Acton IV if…
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the Marshall Acton IV scores 9.5/10 here (materials, finish and how it looks in a room).
- • Your main use case is home.
Choose the Sonos Era 100 if…
- • Multiroom matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 scores 9.5/10 here (how well it groups with other speakers around the house).
- • Voice Assistant matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 scores 7.0/10 here (which assistants are built in and how well they work).
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 scores 7.0/10 here (matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Sonos Era 100 scores 7.5/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs).
- • You want to spend less — it's $111 cheaper.
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
Sonos Era 100
Pros
- +Sonos multiroom with voice control, and genuinely good stereo separation for the size
- +List price has been cut from $249 to $219
- +Humidity resistant
- +Doubles as a rear surround for a Sonos soundbar
Cons
- −No Google Assistant support at all on Era hardware
- −Not a smart-home hub
- −Line-in requires a separately sold adapter
- −The Sonos app has been a real sore point since its 2024 rewrite
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Marshall Acton IV or Sonos Era 100 better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Sonos Era 100 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 Multiroom, the Marshall Acton IV or the Sonos Era 100?+
The Sonos Era 100 scores higher on Multiroom (9.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house.
Which is better for Voice Assistant, the Marshall Acton IV or the Sonos Era 100?+
The Sonos Era 100 scores higher on Voice Assistant (7.0/10 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 Sonos Era 100?+
The Sonos Era 100 scores higher on Smart Home (7.0/10 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Marshall Acton IV or the Sonos Era 100?+
The Sonos Era 100 scores higher on Connectivity (7.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs.
Is the Marshall Acton IV worth the price difference over the Sonos Era 100?+
The Sonos Era 100 is the cheaper option at $219 versus $329.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Multiroom.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Marshall Acton IV is the better fit if you mainly care about home. The Sonos Era 100 is the better fit for multiroom or voice-control.
What's the warranty on the Marshall Acton IV vs the Sonos Era 100?+
The Marshall Acton IV ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sonos Era 100 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
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) — $219.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.