Marshall Heston 120 review: a stunning soundbar

The Marshall Heston 120 is the British manufacturer’s first soundbar and one of the most appealing models available right now, with an iconic design directly inspired by the guitar amps that made Marshall legendary: vintage fabric grille, faux leather covering, metal knobs and gold logo. It breaks with the codes of today’s soundbars, which emphasize minimalism in order to be forgotten, with a design that turns it into a true musical speaker. Behind this iconic retro look lies an acoustic arsenal, with 11 amplifiers to power 11 drivers, including an double integrated subwoofer. With 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibility, the Heston 120 promises an immersive cinematographic experience, without denying the powerful musical DNA for which Marshall is renowned.

Presentation

Design

Even before talking about sound, it’s impossible to ignore the central role of design in Marshall’s DNA. The Heston 120 is a perfect illustration of this. It features all the hallmarks of the brand’s success: textured black tolex, embossed gold logo (warning: it can reflect light with a projector), vintage fabric grille and brass knobs reminiscent of stage amps. Where most soundbars opt for minimalist lines and neutral metal grilles, the Marshall Heston 120 is far more charismatic. Placed under a TV, it’s an immediate eye-catcher, transforming the home theater installation into a piece of rock’n’roll decor. Marshall is opting for authenticity here, with a product that doesn’t seek to blend into the decor, but rather to assert itself. A rarity in the world of soundbars, which are usually intended to be discreet and invisible. The Marshall Heston 120 will therefore appeal to users looking for something unique.

At 120cm wide, the Heston 120 is no compact soundbar. It is naturally intended for TVs that are 55″ and larger, which it accompanies with an assertive visual presence. Its imposing proportions also reflect a technical choice: to house a generous acoustic architecture, capable of delivering a full, muscular sound reproduction, without the need for a separate subwoofer.

Control and app

The top panel of the soundbar features signature Marshall elements: an elegant control panel topped by three solid brass potentiometers. True to the brand’s analog spirit, they allow you to adjust the volume, control the bass and treble, and select the source with ease. Small LED indicators complete the interface, making it easy to read the settings. Alongside them, three metal buttons provide access to customizable favorites from the Marshall app, while a dedicated selector allows you to choose the sound mode best suited to the content being viewed: film, music, voice or night to minimize dynamic gaps. The approach is deliberately tactile and direct: everything is done from the soundbar itself, Marshall having chosen not to supply a remote control.

With eARC compatibility, you can make up for the absence of this remote control by using the associated TV’s remote to adjust the volume. Marshall also offers a dedicated mobile app that features a wider range of settings. Available on iOS and Android, the app is in keeping with the brand’s visual universe, with a dark, elegant and highly legible interface. First and foremost, it lets you control the essentials remotely: volume, source and sound mode. But its main advantage lies in its advanced 5-band equalization for customized sound reproduction. To ensure sound that’s perfectly adapted to the listening room, the soundbar’s two built-in microphones can be used for acoustic calibration. The procedure takes just a few minutes, using the Marshall app. The two microphones built into the Heston 120 pick up a series of test signals emitted by the soundbar (in this case, guitar notes). These measurements are used to analyze the room’s response, taking into account the size of the room, the position of the bar, the distance from the walls and any reverberation.

The Marshall sound

Marshall est synonyme de puissance et d’énergie avec ses mythiques amplis guitare. La barre de son Marshall Heston 120 ne fait pas exception en intégrant plus de 11 amplificateurs de classe D pour alimenter autant de haut-parleurs et totaliser 150 W. Parmi ces derniers, quatre modèles sont implantés sur le dessus de la barre de son pour diffuser les effets verticaux des pistes Dolby Atmos et DTS:X par réflexion sur le plafond. Ils sont complétés par trois haut-parleurs frontaux, dont un dédié au canal central pour des dialogues parfaitement intelligibles. Chaque côté de la barre de son reçoit également un haut-parleur large bande pour étendre la scène sonore. Un double caisson de basses intégré associé à quatre radiateurs passifs vient renforcer l’assise dans les fréquences graves et offrir des basses puissantes jusqu’à 40 Hz, sans caisson externe. Pour les amateurs de sensations fortes, l’utilisation d’un caisson de basses additionnel reste possible grâce à une sortie SUB dédiée ou sans fil en optant pour le caisson optionnel Marshall Heston Sub 200.   

The Marshall Heston 120 incorporates several DSP sound modes, accessible directly from the soundbar or via the mobile app, to suit a variety of everyday uses. In movie mode, the soundbar favors a full soundstage, with refocused dialogue and reinforced bass to give more body to explosions and surround effects. Music mode opts for a more neutral, less spatialized stereo approach, offering a more faithful reproduction. This setting is designed to transform the Heston 120 into a connected speaker disguised as a soundbar. Voice mode emphasizes the clarity of dialogue. Ideal for newscasts, podcasts or sports broadcasts, it limits intrusive bass and tightens the soundstage. Finally, a Night mode reduces overall dynamics and attenuates low frequencies, so you can enjoy a film or series late at night without disturbing the neighbors or waking up your family. In addition to these audio modes, you can fine-tune the reproduction using a 5-band equalizer accessible from the app, and perform an acoustic calibration to measure the characteristics of the listening room.

A wide range of connectors

At the rear, the Marshall Heston 120 unveils a rich and exhaustive range pf connectors. These include an HDMI 2.1 input capable of transmitting UHD 4K video streams at up to 120Hz, guaranteeing full compatibility with a Blu-ray player, TV set-top box or latest-generation console, while maintaining optimum fluidity. The HDMI eARC output, meanwhile, enables the sound of the program broadcast by the TV to be retrieved, with support for immersive formats such as Dolby Atmos. Thanks to the CEC protocol, the soundbar can be switched on and its volume controlled directly from the TV remote control. The speaker’s musical vocation is embodied by a stereo RCA input, a rare feature on soundbars. However, it is invaluable for connecting a preamplified turntable or CD player. Finally, a dedicated output enables connection of a separate subwoofer.

Music streaming

Also designed to act as a connected speaker, the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar supports AirPlay 2 and Chromecast protocols, enabling wireless music streaming from a smartphone, tablet or computer with ease. Connectivity is rounded out by a Bluetooth 5.3 module, practical for fast use, even if the absence of HD codecs limits sound quality somewhat. For an accurate reproduction, it is better to opt for WiFi transmissions. Streaming fans will also appreciate the compatibility with Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, offering the possibility of controlling playback directly from each service’s official app. Last but not least, the Marshall app provides easy access to web radios, further expanding the musical universe of the Heston 120.

Installation

For our review, we connected the Marshall Heston 120 to a Dolby Atmos-compatible Samsung TV via HDMI eARC. Getting started was quick and easy, thanks to the Marshall app available on iOS and Android. Once the device is switched on, simply select the Heston 120 in the app, which automatically detects it and initiates the connection to the WiFi network used by the smartphone. A few moments later, the soundbar is ready to use. To fine-tune the sound, you can then launch the acoustic calibration, which is performed automatically in less than a minute by playing a series of guitar notes at different frequencies to measure the room’s behavior. Finally, you can activate the DSP mode best suited to the program, adjust the bass and treble levels, or adjust the parameters of the five-band equalizer.

Listening impressions

Home theater test

We began our test with a few action films in Dolby Atmos. On Fast and Furious 8, the Heston 120 impressed us with its soundstage width and dynamic range. Dialogue was clear and perfectly centered. Voices came to life with a presence and weight that are rare for a soundbar, giving the impression that a real center speaker was present in the room. From the tiniest murmurs to the loudest cries, everything was clear and natural. The film mode contributed greatly to this, enhancing the intensity and clarity of dialogue.

The front stage was wide, with side effects that extended well beyond the screen. The integrated double subwoofer was generous, delivering clean impact on explosions and punctuating soundtracks with aplomb. On Mission Impossible 5, the motorcycle chase was truly spectacular: the roar of the engines filled the space, while gunshots rang out with clarity. The soundbar maintained exemplary dialogue legibility, even in the most effect-heavy scenes, so we didn’t have to keep adjusting the volume.

Overall, the Atmos effects were credible. Admittedly, the Heston 120 can’t compete with a true 5.1.2 system featuring rear speakers and vertical drivers, but Marshall’s DSP processing succeeded in creating a convincing sensation of elevation. Even more surprisingly, the soundbar managed to generate particularly stunning surround effects, sometimes giving the impression that certain sounds are actually coming from the back of the room. This was particularly true for high-frequency effects, such as doors slamming, shards of glass or ricocheting bullets.

Music test

Marshall never forgets its roots. In musical mode, the Heston 120 revealed a powerful, full-bodied sound signature. Electric guitars were energetic, vocals were brought to the fore naturally and the bass hit with authority. The brand’s unapologetic rock vibe was still there, but without going overboard: the soundbar also knew how to be soft and nuanced when playing jazz or acoustic music.

The music mode, on the other hand, proved less convincing. While it offered a more natural result than the other profiles, it tended to sound a little flat, lacking depth and texture. The scene felt narrower and the instruments more undefined, which limited immersion. By contrast, the film mode delivered a far more impressive experience: the scene expanded widely, voices were refocused with superior clarity and the reproduction was broader. Even for purely musical listening, this mode proved the most pleasing, enhancing the presence and dynamics of each instrument.

Marshall Heston 120 vs Sonos Arc Ultra

Faced with the Sonos Arc Ultra, the Marshall Heston 120 plays a different card. Where Sonos seduces with its aesthetic minimalism, perfect integration into the multi-room ecosystem and remarkably precise Atmos spatialization, Marshall relies on an iconic design and much richer connectivity, even including an RCA input for hi-fi sources. In terms of sound, the Arc Ultra retains an edge in terms of immersion, with an even fuller, more enveloping soundstage, but the Heston 120 is more natural and balanced, with a real musical personality.

Who is the Marshall Heston 120 designed for?

The Marshall Heston 120 is aimed above all at fans of bold design and powerful sound. It will appeal to those who want a soundbar that doesn’t just blend in under the screen, but becomes a central object in the living room, with a true visual identity inspired by the world of rock. Designed to accompany large TVs (55″ and over), it will suit viewers eager for cinematic immersion without the need for a complex multi-channel speaker system. Thanks to its comprehensive connectivity and musical qualities, it will also appeal to music lovers looking for a soundbar that’s ideal for both movies and music.

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