Finally, I found a Bluetooth speaker that pumps out loud sound (and looks good doing it)

Source: ZDNet

The Marshall Woburn 3 commands a premium price, and while it isn’t the best value on specs alone, its rich, powerful sound and iconic design make it a standout for die‑hard Marshall fans and audiophiles alike. If you’ve been considering the brand’s flagship Bluetooth speaker, now might be the time to splurge—discounts are rare, and any price drop makes it a far better deal than paying full retail.

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Timeless look and feel

Photo credit: Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

The Woburn 3 sports the signature Marshall look inspired by the company’s old guitar amplifiers. At 7.5 kg and 12.5 × 15.8 × 8.0 inches, it’s a big speaker that blends into any room décor, especially in the classic black finish.

• Faux‑leather front with brass control knobs for volume, bass, and treble
• Power switch, playback‑control slider, aux port, and a button to toggle between Bluetooth, aux, RCA, and HDMI inputs
• Cloth speaker grille with Marshall branding
• Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.2, HDMI, RCA, 3.5 mm jack
• Rear cavity for easier handling

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Where it lacks in features, it makes up for in sound

The Woburn 3 isn’t as feature‑rich as some competitors. It lacks Wi‑Fi, voice‑assistant support, and hi‑res codecs such as AAC, aptX, and LDAC. Despite these omissions, the speaker excels at what it’s designed to do.

• 90 W Class D amplifier powering a 6‑inch woofer
• Dual 15 W Class D amplifiers driving two 0.75‑inch tweeters
• Bass‑forward DSP that retains detail even at low volumes

Photo credit: Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

With treble and bass knobs set to neutral, the speaker delivers strong, clean bass and a detailed low‑end. The bass stays tight up to high volumes, while mids and highs are bright and articulate. Rock, punk, heavy metal, and acoustic music all sound engaging, though the highest frequencies may distort slightly at very high volume. The sound signature is enjoyable, and the speaker can fill a large room at around 70 % volume.

If the physical controls are out of reach, the Marshall Bluetooth app lets you adjust an in‑app EQ and use the Placement Compensation feature to optimize sound for your room.

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ZDNET’s buying advice

The Marshall Woburn 3 isn’t the best value for money—it costs more than it offers in features. The drivers support hi‑res codecs, but if you prioritize performance and timeless aesthetics, it’s a solid choice at $515.

The speaker delivers strong, clean bass with rumble, bright highs, and detailed mids—ideal for big rooms. If you prefer a smaller Marshall speaker, consider the Stanmore 3, available for around $399; it shares the same design language but with fewer codec options.

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