Founded in 1962, Marshall’s iconic guitar amps have been the backbone of rock history for decades, from feedback-drenched guitar solos from Hendrix to Page. In the 2010s, the British audio legend entered the home audio game with a line of Bluetooth speakers and headphones that translated not only the quality but the aesthetic of Marshall amps to a more personal consumer level.
With its latest release, the company is widening its scope just a bit by entering your living room. Its first-ever soundbar, the Heston 120 isn’t just for your TV but is designed to be a music playback speaker as well, and without stripping your favorite albums of their character.
Amplifier DNA Meets Modern Living
To mention Marshall is to also discuss their products’ visual connection to the listening experience, and that aesthetic has been brought to the Heston 120 in a big way. The wrapped leather trim and brushed metal panel are instantly evocative of vintage amps. Likewise, knurled metal control knobs admittedly look stunning but also let you adjust bass, treble, and source selection without requiring you to use your phone as the sole means of control. While most soundbars are better heard but not seen, this unit is quite the opposite.
Marshall’s brilliance doesn’t just stop at the look of the soundbar but touches on the internal architecture as well. An 11-driver configuration includes dual rear-facing subwoofers and four passive radiators, creating a foundation that doesn’t require an external sub to deliver a solid low-end response. The up-facing tweeters and angled side drivers work in tandem to create the kind of spatial audio that bolsters your Dolby Atmos in a three-dimensional way instead of just making it louder.
There’s also a room calibration feature accessible through Marshall’s dedicated app, allowing you to tailor the sound according to your listening space and room size. This is combined with dedicated sound modes for Movies, Music, Night, and Voice, giving you granular control over your audio in a simplified way, just like it’s been doing with the EQ controls for its personal listening devices.
Built for the Long Haul
Soundbars, like other tech, are typically viewed as disposable or upgradable, but Marshall has embraced repairability in a big way here. While competitors, like Sonos, require you to ship entire units back for service or repair, the Heston 120 lets you replace individual drivers, circuit boards, even the fabric fret.
The Competition Landscape
At $1,000, the Heston 120 is Marshall’s priciest home audio device (not including guitar amps and the like), which also puts it head-to-head with other premium all-in-one soundbars like the Sonos Arc Ultra or the Bose Smart Ultra. However, what sets the Heston 120 apart are the aforementioned knobs and features like the analog RCA input inclusion, which lets you connect it to turntables and other audio devices. Of course, it also supports Bluetooth 5.3 for streaming on Spotify, Google Cast, AirPlay, and others.
In true Marshall fashion, the company is also slated to debut different tiers of the Heston, like the Heston 60 and Heston Sub 200 subwoofer in the coming weeks, which will build out the ecosystem and give consumers options instead of this $1,000 model.
Spec Sheet
Model: Marshall Heston 120 Soundbar
Configuration: 5.1.2 channel with 11 drivers
Amplification: 11 Class D amplifiers (2 x 50W, 9 x 30W)
Total Power: 150W peak
Connectivity: HDMI eARC, HDMI pass-through, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, RCA, USB-C
Streaming Support: AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect
Audio Formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS-X
Dimensions: 43.3″ x 5.7″ x 3″
Weight: 15.5lbs
Pricing & Availability
Launching June 3, the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar is available for pre-order now at $1,000. A wall mount is sold separately, and the black finish is currently the only colorway option.
Recap
Marshall Heston 120 Soundbar
Marshall debuts its first-ever soundbar, but with a twist, adding physical knobs and an analog RCA input, all while translating the brand’s vintage amp aesthetic perfectly.
