Marshall, the esteemed guitar amplifier brand from the UK, has expanded its offerings into the television audio sector with its inaugural soundbar, stepping beyond wireless headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers. The Marshall Heston 120 serves as a formidable Dolby Atmos and DTS-X audio device.
The Heston 120 is sizable, striking, and priced to match, positioning it above major competitors like Sony, Bose, and Sonos. As such, it must provide a compelling home theater experience to rank among the top soundbars.
Spoiler: It succeeds. Although not flawless, the Heston 120 stands out as a viable option for those searching for a simple yet high-quality TV speaker.
**Marshall Heston 120 Review: Design**
Marshall’s audio devices distinctly reflect the brand’s heritage in guitar amplification, and the Heston 120 soundbar certainly follows suit. Its authentic Marshall aesthetic may resonate with some while not appealing to others.
At first glance, the 43-inch wide Heston 120’s gold-tone accents, particularly the knobs on top, seemed somewhat distracting. Nevertheless, as time passed, its presence in front of the television became charming, whether content was on or not.
The black casing, crafted from faux leather, showcases the iconic Marshall logo and features a salt’n’pepper fabric grille, elevating it from being just a soundbar to a piece of conversation material.
Measuring three inches in height, it fits well on a surface without obstructing the bottom of the screen, and it can also be mounted on the wall using brackets sold separately.
The Heston’s components, such as the fret, end caps, drivers, and circuit boards, are user-replaceable, providing peace of mind for those focused on longevity.
The top-mounted controls evoke a guitar amp feel, complete with red LED ring indicators around them. However, they are the sole visual cues for source, volume, and tone, which could present issues as they are not visible from a seated position and lack a front-facing alternative.
**Marshall Heston 120 Review: Set Up**
Setting up the Heston is a breeze. Simply connect it to your television using HDMI and plug it into an outlet with the supplied power cord, and you’ll be ready for enhanced TV sound. The volume can be adjusted using the TV remote.
For extra features, install the Marshall app (available on iOS and Android) to link the Heston to your Wi-Fi network, enabling options such as Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and more. The app also allows you to control the source and sound mode from the comfort of your couch.
**Marshall Heston 120 Review: Connections and Controls**
The Heston 120 offers a wide range of ports for its price point. In addition to the standard HDMI-eARC port, it features an HDMI input (including HDMI 2.1, Dolby Vision, and 4K/120Hz passthrough), analog RCA inputs, and a mono subwoofer output.
The HDMI input proves beneficial, while the subwoofer output and stereo inputs are notable features. Unlike many brands that restrict subwoofer use to wireless models, the Heston 120 accommodates any subwoofer with a wired connection.
An analog input, which is uncommon, provides versatility for connecting both digital devices and analog sources like a turntable (with a preamp).
A USB-C port is available for power, allowing a stick-style streamer to connect through the HDMI input while drawing power from the USB-C for a tidy setup.
Networking options include wired Ethernet (10/100) and Wi-Fi 6. The Heston supports Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, UPnP, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect, enabling playback of virtually any music source at high resolutions.
Bluetooth 5.3, featuring SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs, is included for ad-hoc audio streaming from mobile devices.
The controls are visually appealing and a pleasure to operate, featuring a knurled finish and satisfying tactile feedback. Three primary knobs (volume/tone/source) are complemented by preset buttons and a sound mode button.
The strategic placement of the controls indicates Marshall’s focus on music listening.
There is no mute function, but the source knob can also serve as a playback control.
As with many soundbars, there is no dedicated power button. Once connected, the Heston remains powered on, transitioning to a low-energy standby mode when not in use.
**Marshall Heston 120 Review: Great for Movies and TV Shows**
The Heston 120 is equipped with 11 discrete drivers and amplifiers. While it has fewer drivers than the Sonos Arc Ultra, Marshall’s soundbar competes in terms of raw power and emotional impact.
With capabilities reaching down to 40Hz, the integrated subwoofers deliver substantial low-end, making it suitable for movies and music, though not as powerful as the low-frequency performance of the Arc Ultra.
Dolby Atmos clips from films such as “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “No Time To Die,” “Dune,” and “Unbroken” showcase the Heston 120’s spatial audio proficiency, revealing a good sense of width, depth, and height. Dialogue remains clear, particularly in Voice mode, although the Arc Ultra surpasses it in surround sound clarity.
The Marshall app is