Marshall Stanmore Speaker

Marshall makes a Bluetooth speaker that looks exactly like a vintage guitar amplifier. The question it raises is whether looking like a classic amp is a legitimate design choice or just nostalgia packaging. The Stanmore II has a textured black vinyl casing, brass knobs for bass, treble. Volume, and the Marshall script logo in gold across the front, and I'd be lying if I said the appearance did not influence my friend's decision to buy it. The sound is good for a room speaker, warm and full at moderate volume. It doesn't compete with a Sonos 1 for clarity or a HomePod for bass response. Analog knobs are the interesting part. In an era when most speakers are controlled through an app or a voice assistant, Marshall kept physical dials that you have to walk over and turn. The tactile click of the brass dials feels deliberate and satisfying unlike tapping a phone screen.