Marshall Heston 120: Soundbar Upgrade?
- Marshall, renowned for its amplifiers and presence in the music industry, is expanding its audio offerings with the Heston 120 TV Soundbar.
- The Heston 120 aims to address a common issue with soundbars: their limitations when playing music.
- According to Marshall, achieving this requires careful tuning across four listening modes: Dolby Atmos for films, stereo for TV, Dolby Atmos for music, and stereo music.
Marshall is shaking up the soundbar scene. The new Heston 120 soundbar, poised to challenge market leaders, promises to deliver remarkable audio quality for both movies and music. Marshall’s innovative tuning, with four distinct listening modes including Dolby Atmos and stereo, aims to overcome the common shortcomings of soundbars when playing music. News Directory 3 explores the soundbar’s design, influenced by extensive user testing, and reveals its support for Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and more. Early impressions suggest the Heston 120 offers crisp highs and notable bass, but the true test lies ahead. Discover what’s next for Marshall’s Heston 120.
Marshall’s Heston 120 Soundbar Aims to Bridge Movie, Music Audio Gap
Updated May 26, 2025
Marshall, renowned for its amplifiers and presence in the music industry, is expanding its audio offerings with the Heston 120 TV Soundbar. This move signals Marshall’s ambition to become a household name beyond music, entering the competitive home cinema market.
The Heston 120 aims to address a common issue with soundbars: their limitations when playing music. While soundbars often excel with films, capturing rhythm and timing for music presents a challenge. Marshall intends for the Heston 120 to be a top-tier music speaker, not just a TV accessory.
According to Marshall, achieving this requires careful tuning across four listening modes: Dolby Atmos for films, stereo for TV, Dolby Atmos for music, and stereo music. The company invested time in understanding sound separation within Atmos mixes, visiting studios in Stockholm and Milton keynes.
The focus was on instrument separation rather than gimmicky 3D effects, aiming to create a sense of space where instruments exist distinctly yet form a cohesive whole. User testing over 18 months, involving employee feedback and comparisons with competitors like Sonos, played a crucial role in refining the sound.
High-frequency sounds are routed through upfiring drivers for clarity, while the center speaker blends left and right channel sounds to broaden the sweet spot. The Heston 120 project took three years from concept to completion.
Initial listening impressions suggest the Heston 120 delivers an energetic and punchy sound with crisp highs and significant bass. It also conveys the dynamics of stereo music without sounding unnatural,a quality that sets it apart from manny soundbars.
The Heston 120 supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Google Cast, and AirPlay 2 for high-quality Wi-Fi streaming. Bluetooth connectivity is also available.
What’s next
The Marshall Heston 120 soundbar presents a fresh viewpoint in the soundbar market, potentially addressing a long-standing weakness.Further testing will determine if it lives up to its promise, but early signs indicate that Marshall may have found a way to bridge the gap between movie and music audio.