Renowned for its iconic guitar amplifiers and Bluetooth speakers, Marshall is entering the home cinema arena. With its first-ever soundbar, the Heston 120, the British brand aims to make its mark in a field dominated by heavyweights such as Samsung, Bose, and Sonos. It’s a challenging endeavor.
While Marshall is a veteran in transducer technology and audio reproduction, mastering Dolby Atmos and DTS:X requires precise control over sound propagation to create the famous immersive sound bubble, where effects seem to come from every direction, including above you.
Industry pioneers like Sennheiser have met this challenge head-on with their first attempt (Ambeo Soundbar Plus), but others have had to try multiple times to convince.
So, how does Marshall’s first foray into this domain fare? We’ve tested the Heston 120 for you, and it’s safe to say it has several strong points that will appeal to audiophiles and design enthusiasts alike.
Marshall Heston 120Technical Specifications
| Model | Marshall Heston 120 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 110 cm x 14.5 cm x 7.6 cm |
| Power | 150 watts |
| Spatial Audio | DTS:X, Dolby Atmos |
| Number of HDMI Ports | 2 |
| HDMI e-ARC | Yes |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Subwoofer | Integrated |
| Rear Speakers | No |
| Product Sheet |
This test was conducted with a speaker provided by Marshall.
Marshall Heston 120A Design That Stands Out
From the moment you unbox it, the Marshall Heston 120 commands attention with its style. If you’re familiar with the brand’s Bluetooth speakers like the Emberton or Middleton, you’ll feel right at home. The thick nylon grille, black synthetic leather finishes, particularly on the ends, and brass gold touches recall the vintage aesthetic of 70s Marshall amps.
The elegantly centered golden logo adds a touch of class. At a time when most soundbars aim to be discreet, almost invisible under your TV, Marshall does the exact opposite: the Heston 120 isn’t there to hide but to assert itself as a genuine piece of decor in your living room.
And it works. With its generous dimensions (110 x 14.5 x 7.6 cm) and weight of 7 kg, it has a substantial presence, yet remains compact enough to fit on a standard TV stand.
Charming Physical Controls
At the center of the bar, on the top, Marshall has included an elegant and practical control panel. Three metallic potentiometers, encircled by a red luminescent path, immediately catch the eye. The first adjusts the volume, the second tweaks the bass or treble (just click to switch between the two), and the third serves as a source selector – a click initiates Bluetooth detection or Wi-Fi setup. This system of physical controls, directly inspired by the brand’s amplifiers, is a joy to use.
Each adjustment is accompanied by a discreet flashing of the luminescent path, a detail that enhances the feeling of quality. Beside it, three small buttons allow you to launch pre-set playlists via streaming services (Spotify, Tidal, etc.), and a final button provides quick access to different listening modes (Music, Movie, Voice, Night).
This blend of retro design and modern functionality is a resounding success: the Heston 120 is as beautiful to look at as it is enjoyable to handle.
Marshall Heston 120Connectivity: A Pleasing Versatility
Regarding connectivity, the Marshall Heston 120 does not disappoint. It features two HDMI ports, one of which supports eARC/ARC. For those unacquainted, this means you can connect your TV to the bar via this port, and it will automatically retrieve the sound from all sources connected to your TV (consoles, Blu-ray players, etc.), including immersive formats like Dolby Atmos. A significant bonus: this HDMI supports 4K pass-through at 120 Hz, perfect for gamers who want to connect a PS5 or Xbox Series X without sacrificing smoothness. However, be aware, HDCP protection is limited to version 1.4, which could be an issue for some protected 4K HDR content on specific platforms – something to keep in mind.
There’s also a USB-C port, which can power a device like a Google TV or an Amazon FireTV Stick, a thoughtful inclusion to reduce cable clutter around the bar. More surprisingly, Marshall has included a stereo RCA input, a rarity on modern soundbars. It allows you to connect analog sources, like a pre-amplified turntable or an old CD player, to breathe new life into your vintage equipment.
Lastly, a mono RCA output is present for adding an external amplified subwoofer, if you find the integrated mini-subwoofer lacks punch (more on that in the audio section).
Wireless Connectivity: Streaming Takes the Spotlight
The Heston 120 also excels in its wireless connectivity. It comes equipped with an Ethernet port for a stable connection, but notably, a Wi-Fi controller compatible with a plethora of protocols: AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Whether you’re an iPhone user or an Android enthusiast, you can stream your favorite music in a snap, directly from your usual streaming app. The bar also supports internet radios, accessible via the Marshall app, and offers preset buttons for launching your favorite playlists without even taking out your phone.
For Bluetooth, in addition to the classic SBC transmission, Marshall opts for LE-Audio technology, with a slight quality boost.
The Heston 120 is even compatible with Auracast, a still rare feature that allows you to stream sound to several compatible devices simultaneously. This versatility makes the Heston 120 a connected speaker tailored for musical streaming.
Marshall Heston 120Internal Design: An Architecture Designed for Immersion
Beneath its retro look, the Heston 120 hides cutting-edge technology. Marshall has incorporated 11 active and 4 passive transducers in a 5.1.2 configuration, a standard for Dolby Atmos soundbars. Specifically, this means 5 horizontal channels (3 front for the front scene, 2 lateral for surround effects), 1 channel dedicated to low frequencies (LFE), and 2 vertical channels for height effects. The bar’s substantial dimensions, particularly its depth of 14.5 cm, provide a larger internal volume than average, which plays a key role in bass reproduction – often a problematic point on compact soundbars.
Integrated Basses Without an External Subwoofer
For the bass, Marshall has opted for an integrated solution: a mini-subwoofer composed of 2 low-frequency transducers at the rear and 4 passive transducers (2 at the rear, 2 at the front).
These latter, which vibrate without their own amplification, enhance the low frequencies for a deeper output. With a dedicated amplification of 2 x 50 W, this system is designed to go down to 40 Hz, a commendable performance for a soundbar without an external subwoofer. Of course, don’t expect to shake the walls like with a true subwoofer, but for versatile use in a medium-sized living room, it seems promising.
Transducers for Total Immersion
At the front, three (small) 4 cm mid-range transducers handle the reproduction of voices and main sounds, while two similar transducers placed on the sides take care of lateral and surround effects. On the top, two 7 cm transducers, dedicated to vertical effects, play a dual role: they contribute to dialogue reproduction thanks to their ability to dip into mid frequencies, and they project sounds towards the ceiling to create the illusion of height speakers.
Next to them, acoustic horns house dome tweeters, oriented upwards and slightly towards the listener. These horns help to spread high frequencies further, enhancing the immersive effect by combining sound beams to position effects behind or above you – a proven technique for simulating a true Dolby Atmos system without additional speakers.
Well-Sized Amplification
Each active transducer is powered by a dedicated 15 W amplification, bringing the total theoretical power to 235 W (100 W for basses, 135 W for other channels). In practice, the onboard power supply limits the peak power to 150 W, which is still quite adequate for a bar of this size and superior to many competitors in this price range. Also noteworthy, a point appreciated by environmentalists: in network standby, the Heston 120 consumes just one watt, all while remaining ready to respond to your commands. A detail that shows Marshall has paid as much attention to practical aspects as to performance.
Marshall Heston 120An Intuitive, Yet Imperfect Handling
Marshall has opted not to include a remote with the Heston 120. To adjust the volume or settings, you’ll need to use the physical potentiometers or go through the mobile app, available on iOS and Android. During our test, the Marshall app was still in beta, and some aspects lacked clarity.
For instance, it wasn’t indicated that you need to click on the source selection potentiometer to initiate the Wi-Fi connection. Fortunately, once this initial hurdle is overcome, the setup is straightforward. You can also opt for a Bluetooth connection, then connect the bar to the Wi-Fi network later, to benefit from superior audio quality in streaming.
A Welcome Acoustic Calibration
One of the app’s strengths is its acoustic calibration feature. From the first use, the Heston 120 offers to adapt the sound to your room. It emits a series of reference sounds, then measured by integrated microphones, to analyze reflections on the walls and ceiling. This process, essential for optimizing Dolby Atmos effects, takes less than two minutes and makes a real difference in the precision of spatial effects. If your living room has irregular walls or a low ceiling, this calibration will prevent sounds from seeming misplaced.
Limited, Yet Effective Settings
The app offers four pre-set listening modes: Music, for a balanced output on your playlists; Movie, which emphasizes immersion and surround effects; Voice, for clearer dialogues; and Night, which reduces basses to avoid disturbing neighbors. A band equalizer allows you to fine-tune the tone, in addition to the bass/treble settings accessible via the potentiometers.
However, the absence of more advanced settings, such as individual channel adjustments or the intensity of vertical effects, is regrettable. At this price level, many competitors, like Samsung or Bose, offer this type of customization, allowing for adaptation to very specific preferences. With the Heston 120, you’ll have to settle for the sound signature imposed by Marshall – fortunately, this signature is quite convincing, as we’ll see in the audio section.
Streaming: A Smooth and Versatile Experience
As mentioned earlier, the Heston 120 excels in streaming. Thanks to its Wi-Fi compatibility with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect, you can effortlessly stream your favorite tracks in high quality. Support for internet radios and pre-set playlists (accessible via the physical buttons) is a real plus for music enthusiasts. Bluetooth LE-Audio, with its reduced latency, is ideal for watching videos without any lag between the image and sound.
Marshall Heston 120An Immersive Sound Experience, But Not Without Compromises
Marshall clearly intended for the Heston 120 to excel with both the explosive soundtracks of movies and your favorite playlists. The soundbar carries the warm, dynamic sound signature that is the hallmark of the brand’s Bluetooth speakers, like the excellent Middleton or the Emberton. But what about the bass, often the Achilles’ heel of soundbars without an external subwoofer? The Heston 120 features an integrated mini-subwoofer, with a frequency response that goes down to 40 Hz.
In a well-sealed 20 m² room, the result is quite satisfying: the bass is present, with a pleasant depth that adds body to action scenes. For example, in Dune: Part 2, during the arrival of the sandworms, one feels a subtle vibration that enhances the immersion, without necessarily pinning you to the back of your seat. The same goes for a series like Stranger Things: Vecna’s rumbling voice is perceptible, but lacks the visceral intensity that a dedicated subwoofer could provide.
Compared to a bar like the Samsung HW-QS710F, which includes a true external subwoofer, the Heston 120 is a notch below in the infra-bass, but on par with what Sonos offers with the ARC Ultra. A separate subwoofer would easily play three times louder in this range, which might be missed if you’re a fan of blockbusters where every explosion should shake your living room. However, Marshall compensates with a generous upper-bass (around 80-120 Hz), which adds punch to action scenes and warmth to electronic music tracks. For instance, the track Midnight City by M83 (2011) benefits from a well-defined kick, which perfectly supports the melodic rise of the synth.
A Balanced Reproduction, But Mind the Volume
Overall, the Heston 120 offers a balanced and analytical output, with
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Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.