I finally found a Bluetooth speaker that pumps out loud sound - and looks good doing it

Source: ZDNet

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Timeless look and feel

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, but its timeless aesthetic blends into any room décor. A faux‑leather finish with brass control knobs for volume, bass, and treble sits alongside a power switch, a playback‑control slider, an aux port, and a button to switch between Bluetooth, aux, RCA, and HDMI inputs. The front features a cloth speaker grille with the Marshall branding, completing the classy, elegant look.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth v5.2, HDMI, RCA, and a 3.5 mm jack. A cavity on the back makes it easier to pick up and move the speaker when needed.

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

The Woburn 3 isn’t as feature‑rich as some other speakers in this price range. It lacks Wi‑Fi, voice‑assistant support, and hi‑res codecs such as AAC, AptX, and LDAC. Marshall has focused heavily on hardware, limiting wireless source support, but the speaker excels at what it’s designed to do.

The unit houses a 90 W Class D amplifier powering a 6‑inch woofer, plus dual 15 W Class D amplifiers driving two 0.75‑inch tweeters—highly capable drivers.

During testing the treble and bass knobs were set to neutral. The speaker delivers strong bass with the woofer’s low‑end power and a bass‑forward DSP that retains detail even at low volumes. Sub‑bass thumps become noticeable at 30 % volume and stay clean and detailed as the level increases.

Rock, punk, and heavy metal sound as powerful as acoustic music. Drums feel head‑banging‑worthy, acoustic strums are bright and detailed, vocals are clear, mids are detailed, and highs are sparkly—though the highest frequencies may distort slightly at very high volumes. 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 Woburn 3 can be paired with the Marshall Bluetooth app to adjust an in‑app EQ and use the Placement Compensation feature, which tailors the sound to the speaker’s position in the room.

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 aesthetic, the Woburn 3 is a solid choice at $515.

The speaker delivers strong, clean bass with rumble, bright highs, and detailed mids, making it superb for big rooms. If you prefer a smaller Marshall model, the Stanmore 3 is also a good option, typically available around $399, though it shares the same codec limitations.