Marshall Heston 120 Review: Premium Style, Restrained Sound
Beneath the surface are 11 individually powered speakers, including two five-inch woofers, two midrange drivers, two tweeters and five “full-range” drivers. The collection includes side-mounted and up-firing speakers to bounce sound off your walls and ceiling for surround sound and 3D audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Around the back, you’ll find solid connectivity including HDMI eARC/ARC for seamless connection to modern TVs, an HDMI pass-through port for connecting a streamer or gaming console, Ethernet, an analog RCA connection for an existing device like a turntable, and a traditional subwoofer that lets you bypass Marshall’s available wireless subwoofer. There’s no optical port, but since the optical doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X spatial audio, it’s a moot point.
The setup is fairly simple, but the large size of the bar adds some complications. Measuring three inches tall, it fits perfectly on many TVs. Conversely, the rubber feet that extend its 43-inch-long frame from your console offer almost zero clearance to the sides and, unlike bars like the Bravia Theater 9 or Sony’s System 6, there’s no way to extend it. This makes it difficult to secure the bar properly with all but the thinnest free-standing TV stands, which are becoming common even in inexpensive TVs. All of this is to say that there’s a good chance you’ll have to mount your TV to use the Heston.
Like the Sonos Arc Ultra, there’s no remote, meaning adjusting settings relies primarily on the Marshall app. The app is relatively stable, but it crashed during a firmware update for me, and it usually takes a while to connect when first opened. These are minor issues, and your TV remote should serve as your primary control for power and volume.
Wi-Fi unlocks music streaming via Google Cast, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Internet radio stations, with Bluetooth 5.3 as a backup. Automated calibration adjusts the sound to your room (with fun guitar sounds), and in-app controls, like a multi-band EQ, offer deeper options than physical buttons.
Premium Touch
Photography: Ryan Waniata
The sound profile of the Heston 120 impressed me from the first video I turned on, which happened to be an episode of Bob’s Burgers. The bar immediately presented a sense of clarity, openness and overall definition that is rare even among major players in the industry.
