If you’re a fan of Marshall’s iconic guitar amps or its stylish Bluetooth speakers, the news of its first-ever soundbar, the Heston 120, will have you intrigued. Known for its retro aesthetic and powerful audio, Marshall is now stepping into the home theater niche with a $1,000 Dolby Atmos soundbar that’s gunning for heavyweights like the Sonos Arc Ultra.
Since the news first broke out, it’s got the audio world talking. Gear Patrol calls it a “serious Sonos rival,” and it’s easy to see why. The Heston 120 also arrives at a time when soundbars are becoming the default for upgrading TV audio. Marshall’s entry into the soundbar market adds a unique flavour to a space dominated by tech giants like Sonos, Bose, and Samsung.
Marshall is a brand synonymous with style and aesthetics. And Heston 120 is no different. The soundbar features brass knobs, wrapped leather trims, and a brushed metal panel that make it a statement piece for any living room. But it’s not just about looks. The soundbar comes with high-end tech to optimize sound for your space. This includes Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music, and four sound modes (Music, Movie, Night, and Voice) to tweak the experience depending on what you’re watching or listening to. Not to mention, Wi-Fi, and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS-X.
The soundbar has a 5.1.2 speaker configuration, comprising 11 drivers in total. While Marshall hasn’t revealed specifics regarding driver placement, What Hi Fi points out, “there are five full-range drivers, two tweeters, two mid-woofers and two subwoofer units in total, and they are facing in different directions.” Overall, the soundbar is compatible with Google Cast, AirPlay, and Spotify Connect.
Earlier this week, WIRED spoke with Marshall’s chief product officer, Gustaf Rosell, who teased that the Heston 120 is just the start of the brand’s home audio push. While full reviews are still trickling in, the initial buzz is promising. Another standout feature of the Heston 120 is the room calibration tech, which eCoustics praised for tailoring the sound to your specific setup. To put that in context, traditional soundbars don’t provide the same immersive surround sound experience as separate speakers, but ‘room calibration tech’ ensures you’re getting the best audio possible, whether your TV is in some corner or a sprawling open-plan living room.
Compared to Sonos Arc Ultra, which sticks to minimalistic aesthetics, the Heston 120 seems to lean harder into that rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic and sound profile, which could be a selling point for Marshall fans. However, it’s worth noting that, unlike some competitors, the Heston 120 is a standalone unit; there’s no mention yet of a subwoofer or satellite speakers.
Whatever the case may be, early impressions still suggest it’s a beast for home entertainment, though we’ll need more in-depth reviews to see how it stacks up against the Sonos Arc Ultra or Bose’s premium offerings. The Heston 120 is the first of three models: The Heston 60 and the Heston Sub 200 subwoofer are coming later in the year. For those interested, the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar will go on sale on June 3.
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