Known for its legendary guitar amplifiers, but also for its vintage-inspired Bluetooth speakers and headphones, Marshall is stepping into the home theater market for the very first time. With its first soundbar, the Marshall Heston 120, the British brand is making its acoustic expertise available to cinema fans. Compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, this new creation promises an immersive sound.
Immersive sound for films and series
The Marshall Heston 120 soundbar is designed to improve the immersive home theater experience with a television or projector. By supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X three-dimensional audio formats, it promises a rich, enveloping sound.
Two of its eleven built-in drivers are up-firing to reproduce of vertical effects and create a sound bubble around the user, and another two are placed on the sides of the bar to broaden the soundstage. This design makes the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar a comprehensive solution for watching films and series or playing video games.
Marshall Heston 120: extensive wireless connectivity
While the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar keeps the brand’s iconic vintage design, it benefits from numerous modern wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio and Auracast. The AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast multi-room protocols are also included.
As for wired connectivity, the Heston 120 is equipped with two HDMI ports, one of which is eARC compatible, an RCA stereo input to connect a preamplified turntable, and a subwoofer output. And that’s the other surprise Marshall has in store. In the coming months, the British firm will be launching a Heston Sub 200 subwoofer to complete its range.
A design that provides a balance between music and cinema
The Marshall Heston 120 soundbar is described as a model suitable for both hi-fi and home theater. This is the message conveyed by Marshall Group Product Manager Anders Olsson: “We know that soundbar owners use their soundbar to listen to music, yet most soundbars are not built for both music and TV.”
This desire to offer a consistent experience, no matter the content, is reflected in the attention paid to every detail. Ed Camphor, audio technology and tuning lead at Marshall says: “Everything inside is tailored and engineered to have very specific roles to give you an optimal audio experience, no matter what you’re watching or listening to.”
Marshall Heston 120: key specifications
- 150 watts
- 11 drivers
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible
- Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio and Auracast
- Wi-Fi 6
- AirPlay 2 and Chromecast
- Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect
- 2 x HDMI (1 eARC)
- Stereo RCA input and subwoofer output
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 1,100 x 76 x 145mm
A real surprise for Spring 2025, you’ll have to wait until September to order the new Marshall Heston 120 Atmos soundbar, which will be priced at 999 euros.
