Creative XF1 vs Marshall Acton IV
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CreativeXF1 | MarshallActon IV | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | July 2026 | July 2026 |
| Sound | ||
| Type | Speaker | Speaker |
| Channels | 2.0 | Stereo |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Drivers | Two 3-inch woofers and two ¾-inch tweeters across the pair, in MDF enclosures. Bespoke woofers are designed using Finite Element Analysis. | One 4-inch woofer and two 0.75-inch tweeters with waveguides; bass-reflex cabinet with a redesigned port |
| Amplifiers | Fully active two-way design with DSP and dedicated amplification for every driver. Maker rates 2 × 26 W RMS for the woofers and 2 × 10 W RMS for the tweeters, totalling 72 W RMS. | One 60 W class D for the woofer, two 25 W class D for the tweeters |
| Frequency response | Maker range 55 Hz–40 kHz, with no response tolerance specified. Signal-to-noise ratio ≥85 dB; THD+N <1% in the launch specification, without further measurement conditions. | 37 Hz – 38 kHz; up to 95 dB SPL at 1 m |
| Audio formats | USB-C digital audio up to 24-bit/96 kHz; analogue line input and LDAC Bluetooth playback. Maker lists both Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification. | – |
| Room tuning | 10-band parametric EQ, preset management and Desktop Mode in Creative Nexus; no automatic microphone calibration is specified. | Placement compensation and EQ presets in the Marshall app; Dynamic Loudness; bass and treble knobs |
| Connections | ||
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| AirPlay | No | No |
| HDMI eARC | No | No |
| Voice assistants | None | None |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP and AVRCP, with SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs; maker quotes up to 10 m in open space, affected by walls and structures. | Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast; SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3; multipoint; 10 m range |
| Ports | USB-C audio, 3.5 mm stereo analogue line input, dedicated powered-subwoofer output, four-pin speaker interconnect and DC power. Subwoofer connection has automatic mode switching. | Stereo RCA in and 3.5 mm aux in (the manual and feature list include RCA; the UK spec table lists only aux); mains power |
| Multi-room | – | Auracast with other Acton IV and Stanmore IV speakers; Acton III and Stanmore III through the Heddon hub |
| Streaming | Bluetooth audio from a compatible source; no Wi-Fi or AirPlay receiver. | – |
| App | Creative Nexus for Windows 10 or later (64-bit), iOS 17 or later and Android 10 or later; 10-band parametric EQ and stored listening presets. | Marshall app |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 2.65 kg | 2.65 kg |
| Controls | Front multifunction knob for power, volume and source selection; rear Bluetooth pairing button and energy-saving switch. | Bass, treble and volume knobs, media jog, M-button, source button, power switch |
| Microphones | – | None |
| Mounting | Detachable cork stands tilt the speakers towards the listener by 15°; included screws secure the stands. | – |
| Size | Each speaker: 155 × 99.7 × 191 mm in the maker’s L × W × H order. Left 1.29 kg and right 1.36 kg; top-level weight is their 2.65 kg sum, not a shipping weight. | 171 × 150 × 260 mm (W × H × D) |
| Colours | Black or white | Black, Cream |
| In the box | Left and right speakers, power adapter with region-specific interchangeable plugs, 1.5 m USB-A to USB-C data cable, 2 m four-pin interconnect cable, two cork stands with screws and printed quick-start/compliance/warranty documentation. | Acton IV, mains lead, quick start guide, legal and safety information |
