Marshall’s Stockwell line has waited seven years for a refresh, and the third generation brings double the battery life, true 360-degree sound, and the brand’s classic guitar-amp look. Here’s what stands out, and a couple of things worth knowing first.
- Room-filling 360-degree sound: The Stockwell III keeps Marshall’s True Stereophonic audio, firing sound in every direction so it works just as well on a picnic table as on a shelf. Dynamic Loudness keeps the bass, mids, and treble balanced no matter how low you turn it down.
- Battery life that goes for days: Playtime has doubled from 20 to 40-plus hours per charge — that’s a long weekend of music without hunting for an outlet. A 20-minute quick charge gets you up to eight hours of playback.
- Built to be repaired, not replaced: The battery, front and back grilles, silicone sleeve, and carry strap are all user-replaceable. When the battery eventually fades, you swap it instead of tossing the whole speaker.
- That unmistakable Marshall look: It still looks like a miniature guitar amp, with metal grilles, a brass control panel, analog volume, bass, and treble knobs, and a PU leather carry strap with a velvet-lined underside. Available in Black and Brass or Cream.
- Connects however you like: Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint pairing and Auracast support, plus a 3.5mm aux input and USB-C that handles charging, lossless audio, and even power-bank duty for your phone.
- Drawback: water resistance lags rivals: The IP55 rating handles dust and rain fine, but competitors like the JBL Charge 6 (IP68) and B&O Beosound A1 (IP67) survive full submersion. Fine for the backyard, less ideal as a pool speaker.
- Drawback: no hi-res Bluetooth, aging app: There’s no LDAC support for high-resolution streaming over Bluetooth (SBC and AAC only), and the Marshall app still feels like the older version. The physical dials are so good you may rarely open it, but worth knowing.
The Stockwell III lists at $249.99 — but Costco currently has it for $199.99, a solid $50 under list.
All told, it’s one of the best-looking and best-sounding mid-size portable speakers you can buy right now, with battery life and repairability that set it apart. Happy listening!
