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To pair a Marshall Acton III, turn it on, press Source to select Bluetooth, then press and hold Source until the Bluetooth light pulses red. Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings, choose ACTON III, and wait for the connection. The Marshall Bluetooth app is optional for basic playback, but it adds guided setup, controls, and firmware updates.
What you need before pairing
Have the Acton III, its mains lead, and your phone ready. Connect the mains lead to the speaker and a wall socket, then switch the speaker on. Keep the phone near the speaker while completing the first connection.
- The Acton III was released in 2022 and supports Bluetooth 5.2.
- Basic Bluetooth playback does not require the Marshall Bluetooth app.
- The app is useful for guided setup, additional controls, and over-the-air firmware updates.
- If you prefer a cable, the speaker also has a 3.5 mm input. The manual says an audio lead is not included.
Pair the Acton III with an iPhone or Android phone
Use this sequence for the initial wireless connection. The important detail is holding Source long enough to put the speaker into pairing mode; simply selecting Bluetooth is not enough.
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- Select Bluetooth. Press the Source button until Bluetooth is selected.
- Enter pairing mode. Press and hold Source until the Bluetooth LED pulses red slowly. A slow red pulse indicates that the speaker is ready to be discovered.
- Open Bluetooth on your phone. On iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth. On Android, open Settings → Connected devices → Pair new device; wording can vary by Android version.
- Choose the speaker. Tap ACTON III in the available-device list. Do not choose an unrelated device with a similar name.
- Confirm the connection. Wait for the phone to show ACTON III as connected, then start audio from the app of your choice.
If ACTON III does not appear, leave the phone’s Bluetooth screen open while repeating step 3. The speaker must be showing the slow red pulse before the phone can discover it.
#1 Best Overall
- ROOM-FILLING SOUND: Acton III has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, delivering immersive, room-filling Marshall signature sound.
- PAIR, PLAY AND TURN IT UP: Acton III is straight to business, so you can just pair and play without the hassle of a complex set-up
- NEXT-GENERATION BLUETOOTH: Acton III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available
- ICONIC DESIGN THAT STANDS APART: Marshall has taken its signature rock ’n’ roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement
- A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: While staying true to the iconic design that speaks to the brand’s heritage, Acton III has a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
Do you need the Marshall Bluetooth app?
No. Marshall states that the Acton III works without the app, so you can pair from the phone’s normal Bluetooth settings and play audio immediately. The app is recommended for the fullest experience because it provides guided setup, speaker controls, and firmware management.
Add an already-paired speaker to the app
- Complete the normal Bluetooth pairing first, using ACTON III in the phone’s Bluetooth list.
- Open the Marshall Bluetooth app.
- Tap the + sign to add a speaker.
- When the app displays the Acton III [LE] pairing request, accept it.
- Open the app’s About section to view firmware status.
The Acton III [LE] request is part of the app setup. It is separate from the regular audio connection named ACTON III. If you paired the speaker in Bluetooth settings but skipped the app request, reopen the app and accept the request when it appears.
What happens after pairing
Automatic reconnection
After the first successful pairing, the phone can normally reconnect when Bluetooth is enabled and the speaker is available. If the phone does not reconnect, open its Bluetooth settings and tap ACTON III manually. Avoid starting a second pairing attempt while the speaker is already connected to another phone.
Two connected Bluetooth devices
Marshall states that the Acton III can remain connected to two Bluetooth devices at once. This does not mean that both devices can play simultaneously. When one connected device is playing, the second device cannot start playback until the first device is paused. If audio seems to come from the wrong phone, pause playback on the active device before starting it on the other one.
Bluetooth version
The speaker supports Bluetooth 5.2. Your phone may use a different Bluetooth version, but ordinary Bluetooth compatibility is sufficient for the pairing procedure above; the phone does not need to match the speaker’s version number exactly.
Rank #2
- ROOM-FILLING SOUND: Acton III has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, delivering immersive, room-filling Marshall signature sound.
- PAIR, PLAY AND TURN IT UP: Acton III is straight to business, so you can just pair and play without the hassle of a complex set-up
- NEXT-GENERATION BLUETOOTH: Acton III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available
- ICONIC DESIGN THAT STANDS APART: Marshall has taken its signature rock ’n’ roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement
- A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: While staying true to the iconic design that speaks to the brand’s heritage, Acton III has a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
If your phone cannot find ACTON III
Most discovery failures are caused by the speaker not being in pairing mode or by an old Bluetooth record on the phone. Work through these checks in order.
1. Confirm the speaker’s pairing state
- Make sure the speaker is switched on and connected to mains power.
- Press Source to select Bluetooth.
- Press and hold Source until the Bluetooth LED pulses red slowly.
- Keep the phone close while the light is pulsing and refresh the available-device list.
If the light is not pulsing red, the phone may not discover the speaker even when Bluetooth is enabled on the phone.
2. Remove an old ACTON III entry
If the phone previously used this speaker, its saved record may be preventing a clean connection. In Bluetooth settings, select the existing ACTON III entry and choose the option to forget, remove, or unpair it. Then switch Bluetooth off and on, put the speaker back into pairing mode, and select ACTON III again.
3. Restart both sides
- Turn Bluetooth off on the phone.
- Restart the phone.
- Switch the Acton III off and on again.
- Enable Bluetooth, press and hold Source for the slow red pulse, and retry the pairing sequence.
This clears a temporary Bluetooth process problem without erasing the speaker’s saved settings.
4. Clear Bluetooth cache on Android
Marshall’s Android troubleshooting path is:
- Open Settings → Apps.
- Choose the option to Show system apps.
- Select Bluetooth.
- Open Storage.
- Tap Clear Cache.
Android menu names differ between manufacturers and versions. Clear the cache rather than app data unless you specifically intend to remove broader Bluetooth data. After clearing the cache, restart the phone and repeat the pairing steps.
Rank #3
- HOME-FILLING SOUND: Stanmore III has an even wider soundstage than its predecessor, delivering immersive, home-filling Marshall signature sound.
- PAIR, PLAY AND TURN IT UP: Stanmore III is straight to business, so you can just pair and play without the hassle of a complex set-up.
- NEXT-GENERATION BLUETOOTH: Stanmore III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available.
- ICONIC DESIGN THAT STANDS APART: Marshall has taken its signature rock ’n’ roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement
- A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH: While staying true to the iconic design that speaks to the brand’s heritage, Stanmore III has a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
5. Forget the device on iPhone
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- Tap the information icon beside ACTON III.
- Tap Forget This Device and confirm.
- Toggle Bluetooth off and on.
- Restart the iPhone.
- Put the speaker into pairing mode and choose ACTON III again.
6. Finish incomplete app setup
If normal Bluetooth audio works but the app cannot control the speaker, open the Marshall Bluetooth app and tap +. Accept the Acton III [LE] request. The regular ACTON III connection and the app’s low-energy pairing request are separate stages.
Factory-reset the Acton III
Reset only after forgetting the phone’s Bluetooth entry and retrying the ordinary pairing procedure. A factory reset removes user settings and saved connections, while installed firmware updates remain on the speaker.
- Press and hold the Acton III’s media control for more than 10 seconds.
- Allow the reset to complete.
- On the phone, remove or forget ACTON III from the Bluetooth list if it is still present.
- Put the speaker into Bluetooth pairing mode by selecting Bluetooth and holding Source until the LED pulses red.
- Select ACTON III on the phone and, if used, add it again in the Marshall Bluetooth app.
A reset is appropriate when saved connections are confused, the speaker repeatedly refuses a fresh pairing, or you are transferring it to another person. It is not the first step for a phone that simply has Bluetooth switched off.
Check and update the firmware
Marshall’s current firmware page lists version 8.2.2 and describes improved phone detection and app-pairing reliability in that release. Firmware listings can change, so verify the installed version in the Marshall Bluetooth app rather than assuming 8.2.2 is still the newest version.
- Pair the speaker with the phone over Bluetooth.
- Open the Marshall Bluetooth app and add the speaker if necessary.
- Open the app’s About section.
- Check whether the app reports that the speaker is up to date or offers an update.
- Keep the speaker powered and the phone nearby while an over-the-air update runs.
Do not factory-reset merely because the app reports a firmware version. A reset removes settings and saved connections; it does not remove installed firmware.
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- This Certified Refurbished product is manufacturer refurbished, shows limited or no wear, and includes all original accessories plus a 90-day limited hardware warranty.
- Marshall has taken its signature rock 'n' roll home speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement.
- This generation of the home line-up has an even wider soundstage than before, delivering immersive Marshall signature sound.
- With next-generation Bluetooth 5.2 and the 3.5 mm input, connecting to your speaker and listening to your music has never been so effortless.
- This new generation takes a more sustainable approach with a PVC-free build that comprises 70% recycled plastic and only vegan materials.
Use a 3.5 mm AUX cable instead
The Acton III can connect to a phone through its 3.5 mm AUX input. Marshall’s manual specifies a 3.5 mm stereo jack and notes that audio leads are not included, so you need a compatible AUX cable. Select the appropriate source on the speaker, connect one end to the phone’s headphone output or adapter, and connect the other to the speaker’s AUX input.
| Connection method | Setup effort | Phone mobility | Interference recovery | Extra purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Enable Bluetooth, select ACTON III, and pair wirelessly | High; no cable links the phone to the speaker | Retry pairing, forget the device, or restart Bluetooth if discovery fails | None if the phone already supports Bluetooth |
| 3.5 mm AUX | Connect a 3.5 mm stereo lead and select the wired source | Limited by cable length | Use the physical cable as a fallback when wireless discovery is unavailable | Yes; the manual says an audio lead is not included |
Bluetooth is the practical default when you want to move around with the phone. AUX is useful when wireless pairing is blocked, when a phone’s Bluetooth behavior is unreliable, or when you already have a suitable cable.
App setup versus no-app setup
| Option | What it provides | Best fit | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Bluetooth only | Basic wireless pairing and audio playback | Listeners who want the fewest steps | No app-based firmware management or guided setup |
| Marshall Bluetooth app | Guided setup, controls, firmware status, and OTA updates | Owners who want updates and app controls | Requires accepting the separate Acton III [LE] request after Bluetooth pairing |
You can start without the app and install it later. Adding the app does not require you to abandon the normal ACTON III Bluetooth pairing; it adds a separate app connection.
Common symptoms and the right fix
- ACTON III is missing from the list: select Bluetooth on the speaker and hold Source until the slow red pulse appears, then refresh the phone’s list.
- The phone shows ACTON III but will not connect: forget the saved entry, toggle Bluetooth, restart the phone, and pair again.
- Audio works but the app does not: open the app, tap +, and accept Acton III [LE].
- A second phone cannot play: pause playback on the first connected phone; two devices can stay connected, but only one can play at a time.
- The problem returns after several retries: perform the more-than-10-second media-control factory reset, remove ACTON III from the phone, and start over.
- You need a wired fallback: use the 3.5 mm AUX input with a compatible stereo cable.
A reliable setup routine for a new owner
For the least confusion, follow this order when setting up a new phone or a reset speaker:
- Connect mains power and switch on the Acton III.
- Press Source to select Bluetooth.
- Hold Source until the Bluetooth LED pulses red slowly.
- Pair ACTON III in the phone’s Bluetooth settings.
- Play a short audio clip to confirm the basic connection.
- Install or open the Marshall Bluetooth app only if you want guided controls or firmware management.
- Tap + in the app and accept Acton III [LE].
- Check About for the installed firmware version and any available update.
This order separates the essential audio connection from optional app setup, making it clear which step needs attention if something fails.
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