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In case you are available in the market for a brand new house speaker, you’ve gotten a number of wonderful choices. Two of the perfect, most balanced decisions embody Marshall’s Stanmore IV and the Sonos Period 300. Each supply room-filling sound, thumping bass, and a wealthy function set. Each audio system have their very own deserves, however you must know what you need. One is strictly a Bluetooth speaker, whereas the opposite has the smarts you’d count on from each fashionable speaker.
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I put them in opposition to one another to search out the one which deserves a spot in each front room. After spending two weeks with the most recent Marshall Stanmore IV, this is the way it stacks up in opposition to the Sonos Period 300 (and whether or not you must take into account shopping for it).
Specs
| Marshall Stanmore IV | Sonos Period 300 | |
| Wired choices | RCA; Aux | Aux |
| Spatial audio | No | Dolby Atmos |
| Wi-fi streaming | Bluetooth | Apple AirPlay; Google Forged; Bluetooth |
| Voice assistant | No | Amazon Alexa; Sonos Voice Management |
| Weight | 8.8 kilos | 9.8 kilos |
| Value | $430 | $479 |
You should purchase the Marshall Stanmore IV if…
1. You desire a Bluetooth-only speaker
The Marshall Stanmore IV does not have Wi-Fi connectivity, which powers options equivalent to Apple AirPlay, Google Forged, and superior voice assistant queries. This speaker additionally lacks built-in microphones, so there is not any voice assistant help. As a substitute, the Stanmore IV is a devoted Bluetooth speaker that does one factor and does it brilliantly.
Bluetooth often will get a foul rap for sound high quality, however Marshall’s tuning does the heavy lifting. For a Bluetooth speaker, the Stanmore IV delivers deep, managed bass and clear mids for an gratifying listening expertise. I like Marshall’s sound greater than Sonos’s as a result of it does not trigger me ear fatigue, regardless of its bass-heavy tuning.
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The Stanmore IV helps Bluetooth Auracast, permitting you to wirelessly pair it with an Acton IV or one other Stanmore IV speaker wirelessly. Nonetheless, the Stanmore IV’s Auracast help is proscribed to appropriate audio system throughout the Marshall ecosystem; to hook up with previous-gen Motion, Stanmore, and Woburn audio system, in addition to the Heston soundbars, you may want the Marshall Heddon streaming hub.
2. You need bodily controls
In case you are like me and like tech with bodily controls, equivalent to buttons and knobs, versus capacitive contact strips, you may love the Stanmore IV speaker.
Whereas the Period 300 has dependable and helpful contact controls, the Stanmore IV options three bodily knobs (to regulate the amount, treble, and bass), an influence change, a multifunction M-button, one other button to modify between sources (RCA, Bluetooth, and Aux), and a playback management button for monitor controls. They provide pleasing haptic suggestions and a extra conventional, analog expertise.
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Marshall’s bodily controls permit for extra system administration with out pulling out your cellphone. The Sonos Period 300’s contact strip gives minimal controls that reply solely with beeps. Compared, the Stanmore IV’s knobs, change, and button really feel like the proper mixture of analog in an more and more digital world.
3. You need an eye catching design
The Stanmore IV is undoubtedly the better-looking speaker of the 2. It’s geared up with lovely design components that might enchantment to anybody shopping for a brand new speaker for his or her front room. It matches interiors higher than the Period 300’s tech-first, rounded, nondescript design.
The Stanmore IV incorporates a faux-leather-clad exterior, a brass speaker grille, and golden accents. The shortage of shiny RGB lights and the restricted illumination of the pink LED indicator mild give it an aesthetic, timeless look. Marshall has additionally moved the Stanmore’s bodily connectivity choices from the again of the speaker to the underside for cleaner aesthetics.
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The picket cupboard can be simpler to restore than earlier than. Marshall says you may swap out the entrance grille, knobs, toes, and the enduring emblem ought to they get broken. You do not get the identical possibility for Sonos’ Period 300.
You should purchase the Sonos Period 300 if…
The hourglass form is a mirrored image of the spatial audio theme.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
1. You need a greater spatial audio expertise
The Sonos Period 300 is constructed to place you proper in the course of your music. Its hourglass housing has two woofers angled left and proper for a stereo expertise and balanced bass. They’re paired with 4 tweeters to fireplace off excessive and midrange frequencies in numerous instructions, alongside an upward-firing tweeter to bounce hold forth the ceiling. This design creates a greater spatial audio expertise than the Stanmore IV’s forward-facing sound.
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The Period 300’s bass is pronounced, vocals stay clear, and the upper frequencies do not distort at excessive volumes, the place the Stanmore IV struggles. Whereas I want Marshall’s sound, the Period 300 delivers higher spatial audio. If you need a extra immersive sound, the Period 300 can be a greater match to your wants.
2. You need good options
The Sonos Period 300 is a better speaker than the Stanmore IV, due to its Wi-Fi connectivity, which delivers lossless audio streaming, Apple AirPlay, Google Forged, and superior voice assistant queries.
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The Period 300 helps these options, and you’ll join it to your present Alexa-enabled gadgets through Alexa+. Thus, you need to use your voice to activate good lights, stream music, or obtain site visitors updates. Should you’re not an Alexa fan, the Period 300 helps Sonos Voice Management, which helps you to play audio, set timers, and transfer music between audio system with voice instructions.
3. You may have different Sonos audio system
If you have already got a Sonos soundbar or different Sonos audio system, the Period 300 is a good addition. It’s straightforward to hook up with different Sonos audio system, and it is also step one towards constructing your property theater system.
Two Period 300 audio system can function rear encompass audio system when paired with the Sonos Beam, Arc, or Arc Extremely soundbars. With Dolby Atmos baked in, you may get precise top channels from the again of the room. It is a useful function in case you’re piecing collectively a house theater with out desirous to take care of speaker wire.
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Conversely, Marshall’s house audio system usually are not able to performing as house theater audio system when paired with the corporate’s Heston 120 or 60 soundbars. Nonetheless, not like the Period 300, Marshall’s Stanmore IV options an RCA port for connecting to analog gadgets.
Author’s selection
If I had been to improve from my Stanmore II, I might purchase the Marshall Stanmore IV over the Sonos Period 300 for 2 causes. First, I really like how the Stanmore IV blends with my front room’s inside. I positioned it on the shelf, and it appears luxurious. I am offered on the analog, timeless look. Second, most bass-heavy audio system and headphones give me ear fatigue, however the Stanmore IV does not. I can hearken to all of it day and benefit from the beats with out feeling drained.
I would choose the Sonos Period 300 if I had been to broaden my house theater system from my Arc soundbar, however I haven’t got area for rear audio system. So, the Stanmore IV will get my vote right here.
