With the Marshall Heddon hub, the British manufacturer isn’t launching a new speaker or a trivial accessory, but rather a component that will shape its ecosystem. The purpose of this streaming hub is to centralize music distribution and enable synchronized playback on several of the brand’s wireless speakers. In so doing, Marshall is responding to a clearly identified need among its users: to easily play music in several rooms, without multiplying sources or relying on the limitations of conventional Bluetooth. Based on Auracast technology, Heddon aims to transform an existing catalog of Marshall speakers into a truly coherent multi-room system.
How does the Marshall Heddon hub work?
The Marshall Heddon hub takes the form of a small, discreet box, designed to become the central point of audio distribution in the home. Connected to the local network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, it acts as a single source capable of transmitting an audio stream to several compatible speakers, simultaneously and in a synchronized manner.. Unlike a traditional Bluetooth link, which requires a direct connection between a device and a speaker, Heddon separates the broadcast source from the control device. The user launches the music from their smartphone, tablet or computer, but the broadcast is then handled by the hub itself, guaranteeing continuous playback even when the control device is no longer nearby.
This multi-room streaming is based on Auracast, an extension of Bluetooth designed to transmit audio to several receivers in parallel. In the case of the Marshall Heddon, this technology is combined with Wi-Fi to guarantee sufficient range to control the hub throughout the home. What’s more, it features an Ethernet port for a wired connection, offering an alternative to wireless. Marshall is not seeking to invent an additional proprietary protocol but to take advantage of a standard that is set to become widely used, which may facilitate long-term interoperability with other Auracast-compatible devices. An initiative that can only be welcomed.
Support for Spotify, TIDAL and wireless sharing protocols
The hub is compatible with several widely adopted streaming services, making it easy to integrate into an existing environment. These include Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Apple AirPlay and Google Cast. This compatibility avoids dependence on a closed proprietary app for music playback and enables direct use of interfaces already familiar to users.
Heddon doesn’t limit itself to digital streaming. It also features an RCA input for connecting a turntable, CD player or other analog source. The analog signal is then digitized and sent to compatible Bluetooth speakers and headphones. This approach makes it possible, for example, to diffuse a vinyl record in several rooms of the house, which remains relatively rare in consumer multi-room. Marshall therefore promotes hybrid use, combining analog listening and connected streaming, without requiring any complex additional equipment.
Compatible with Marshall speakers
The Marshall Heddon Auracast hub works by integrating with the brand’s speakers and headphones. At this stage, the manufacturer has only announced compatibility with its own models, recent or older, depending on the connection mode. Marshall makes no mention of support for Auracast speakers from other brands, even though the technology used is based on an open standard. In theory, Auracast allows streaming to any compatible receiver, but we’ll have to wait for the Heddon’s first concrete tests to find out whether this compatibility is actually open or deliberately limited by the manufacturer.
Compatible Marshall speakers and headphones
Heddon-compatible Marshall speakers fall into two categories: newer models that are wirelessly compatible via Auracast, and older speakers that can be connected via RCA cable.
Wireless-compatible speakers (Auracast)
- Acton III
- Stanmore III
- Woburn III
- Kilburn III
- Heston 120
- Heston 60
Wireless-compatible headphones (Auracast)
- Major V
- Monitor III ANC
Speakers compatible via wired connection (RCA)
- Acton
- Acton II
- Acton Voice
- Stanmore
- Stanmore II
- Woburn
- Woburn II
- Kilburn
- Kilburn II
- Stockwell
- Stockwell II
- Tufton
- Stanmore Voice
In the case of wired models, playback is limited to a stereo configuration, which is a technical constraint to take into account. Nevertheless, this compatibility allows older speakers to be used for longer by giving them access to multi-room features that they didn’t originally offer. In addition, speakers and even amplifiers with RCA inputs are compatible, regardless of the manufacturer.
One hub to rule them all
The Marshall Heddon is aimed above all at fans of the brand who already own one or several Marshall wireless speakers. The hub is not intended to compete head-on with universal multi-room solutions but to reinforce the coherence of an existing ecosystem. For fans of the British brand, Heddon represents a way of extending the possibilities of their wireless speakers, moving from one-off listening to synchronized diffusion across multiple living spaces. This hub is part of a strategy to enhance the value of the current catalog, avoiding the obsolescence of speakers that are still functional.
This strategy is reminiscent of that adopted by other multi-room players, such as Sonos, but with a more targeted approach to a user base already committed to the brand. Marshall relies on its sonic identity, recognizable design and musical heritage to offer a coherent solution, without multiplying references or complicating its catalog. Heddon is an entry point to multi-room use, without calling into question existing listening habits.
With Heddon, Marshall adds an essential brick to its home audio range. This Auracast hub transforms a set of wireless speakers into a structured multi-room system, capable of diffusing digital audio streams as well as analog sources such as vinyl. Without promising universal compatibility, Marshall has opted for a controlled ecosystem, designed for its own products and for the real uses of its users. Heddon doesn’t revolutionize multi-room, but it does bring a coherence to the Marshall range that has been lacking until now, making its speakers more than just independent audio devices.
