Way back in 2013, Marshall launched the Stanmore, a Bluetooth speaker that combined powerful sound with the look of a classic Marshall guitar amplifier, an aesthetic that is synonymous with rock-and-roll. The speaker was a hit, and Marshall followed it up with a series of speakers, alongside headphones and other audio-centric products. Now the company has announced it is producing sequels to three of its popular Bluetooth speaker models, further improving the sound and tacking on new features to that same classic look.
The updated line consists of three models: The Stanmore II, the Acton II, and the Woburn II. Each model features class D amplification, a bass reflex cabinet system, and custom-tuned drivers for ideal sound reproduction. Each model in the new lineup has had its DSP overhauled for improved dynamic range compression, making for the best possible sound no matter how quiet the speaker is or how loud you have it cranked up. Each speaker now features Bluetooth 5.0 and has a range of up to 30 feet.
The Woburn II is the largest speaker in the Marshall lineup, with dual tweeters and a pair of 5.25-inch woofers, each driven by its own amplifier for a total of 110 watts of power. The Stanmore II is smaller and more versatile, but still packs plenty of power with a 50-watt amplifier powering its woofer and dual 15-watt amplifiers for each of its tweeters. The smallest of the new line is the Acton II, but even this model has three individual amps for its woofer and dual tweeters, while still being small enough to fit it anywhere you want.
All of these speakers work with the Marshall Bluetooth app, which gives you access to a wide range of controls. Switch between EQ presets, activate stereo and ambient modes, adjust the intensity of the speaker’s LED lights, and even put it into standby mode and wake it up, all from the app.
As the largest, the Woburn II is also the most expensive, retailing for $499, while the Stanmore II is priced at $349. The smallest, the Acton II, is also the least expensive, selling for $249. For more information, see the Marshall Headphones website. The speakers’ predecessors might not have made it to our list of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy, but we’re looking forward to checking out the new models and seeing if they impress us as much as the Marshall Kilburn II did.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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