Marshall Heston 120
Stylish design but subpar sound and frequent firmware stalling. Not worth the price for serious home theater.
Consolidated from 47 cited sources across 44 outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 1 glowing source
- 1 enthusiastic source
- 35 positive sources
- 8 mixed sources
- 1 unconvinced source
1 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. A trap is a product buyers genuinely cross-shop but should not buy, ranked honestly alongside the real picks rather than dropped to the bottom. Why the boards include them
Pros & cons
- ✓ Smart Home Sounds' number 5 Dolby Atmos pick
- ✓ The style-and-music-first premium bar, with looks and stereo music playback that matter as much as Atmos
- ✓ The credible alternative to the Sonos/Bose single-bar duopoly
- ✗ Subpar sound quality
- ✗ Frequent firmware stalling
- ✗ Its consensus footprint is still a single-guide deep compared with the flagships
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
Evidence 19 articles and 28 video reviews
1 enthusiastic source
35 positive sources
The Marshall Heston 120 is big, brash, and has a price to match. That makes the Heston more expensive than soundbar heavyweights like Sony, Bose, and Sonos, which means that Marshall can’t rest on the power of its brand — the Heston 120 must deliver a powerful home theater experience to be ranked among the best soundbars .Read M
Hey, the sound is great on this one! If you're over 60 years old, you don't need to listen yet. The sound quality is guaranteed to be good, but we should test it first. Let's test it out, let's start with the first song.Watch E
When we put the Marshall Heston 120 through its paces, we found that it provided excellent audio in a beautifully retro package. This is the first soundbar from Marshall and the decision to switch focus to cinematic sound has resulted in an all-in-one unit which contains 11 drivers delivering 5.1.2 channels.Read T
And even if your living room is too small for a powerful soundbar like the Hesten 120, it's worth sticking with it .Watch L
You only need to take one look at the Heston 60 and one thing is immediately clear: it looks significantly better than many traditional soundbars. There are some lovely design details that make it stand out for all the right reasons, from the woven grille to the gold controls.Read A
The Marshall Acton 120 is better than any Sonos sound bars in two big ways. First, the controls are better. Instead of touch controls and mostly relying on your phone for settings, Marshall went the other direction with their iconic brass knobs and buttons.Watch A
Marshall Heston 120 is better than ANY Sonos soundbars in 2 big ways. First, the controls are better. Instead of touch controls and mostly relying on your phone for settings, Marshall went the other direction with their iconic brass knobs and buttons.Read T
And honestly, it's an impressive soundbar. That's not just because of its eye-catching design. Let's take a deeper look.Watch P
The Marshall Heston 120 brings the company's cool rock aesthetic to your living room in the form of a soundbar that easily connects to your TV and your phone, and is equally adept at filling your space with bombastic movie effects or lively music.Read U
Entre héritage rock, certification Dolby Atmos et modularité impressionnante, Sylvain vous explique pourquoi ce produit a obtenu un 9/10. Découvrez comment la tech audio s'apprête à changer votre salon d'ici 2026.Watch H
But Marshall’s newest entry differentiates itself by pairing a full suite of modern streaming and connectivity features with the brand’s signature retro design and a flexible form factor that can be wall-mounted or placed on a media console.Read H
Feel every plot twist with Dolby Atmos three-dimensional sound that puts the action directly into your home. Experience perfectly tuned audio for movies, then keep your own soundtrack playing with electrifying Marshall signature sound when the screen is off. It also features a woven salt and pepper coloured fret with PU leather finish, inspired by our legendary amp design.Watch E
Given that the original mix has a classic 70s treatment in terms of sound, with plenty of isolated effects and limited tracks, the Marshall produced a solid and surprisingly broad soundstage for this movie.Read I
Small in size, big in sound. The H 60 is essentially the mini mi to Marshall's earlier flagship, the H120. It offers Dolby Atmos and DTS X processing wrapped in the company's classic guitar amp aesthetic, complete with full leather finish and tactile golden control knobs. You're getting features like HDMI 2.1 pass through, Dolby Vision support, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Wi-Fi streaming.Watch H
Even the smaller Heston 60 gets very loud and sounds very full-bodied. I have no doubts that, in terms of volume, they will suffice for any apartment.Read G
Marshall Heston 120: The Ultimate Soundbar That Outperforms Sonos Arc!Watch S
If you want something that looks good in your living room rather than just disappearing underneath the TV, this definitely ticks that box.Read A
Marshall Heston 120 Soundbar is Here as a Dolby Atmos beast with 11 drivers plus room calibrationWatch S
🔊 Marshall Heston 120 phù hợp với người dùng yêu thích phong cách âm thanh mạnh mẽ, giàu năng lượng, dễ nghe và mang đậm “DNA Marshall”.Watch T
So yeah, let's check out the exterior because let me just say that this is one of the best looking soundbars, one of the best looking soundbar that I have uh tried out so far. So let me just show you guys. And here is the soundbar itself. Really good looking soundbar. I like the gold touch that Marshall brings to their products and it looks amazing. We got the gold on the buttons as well.Watch T
If you want to combine that classy retro-style aesthetic with premium performance, this is well-worth considering.Read T
So, I've been trying it out a little bit today and it sounds better and feels better with this 90 Hz. Uh, so that's the settings that we're going to use for the sub. And for um when it comes to the soundbar itself, we are going to use these settings.Watch C
Marshall's flagship Dolby Atmos bar gives you big, immersive home theater sound.Read T
In today’s episode, we’re reviewing the Marshall Heston 120, Marshall’s newest premium soundbar built for people who want powerful bass, immersive sound, and iconic Marshall tone right in their living room.Watch A
7 SCORE OUT OF 10Read L
Upgrade your home audio with the Marshall Heston 120 Soundbar, a premium sound system built for TV, movies, and music. With Dolby Atmos immersive sound, a built-in subwoofer, and flexible connectivity including Bluetooth, WiFi, HDMI, and RCA inputs, this soundbar is designed to deliver rich, room-filling audio with clean style and simple control.Watch T
Experience premium home audio with the Marshall Heston 120 Soundbar. Combining iconic Marshall design with immersive 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos sound, this flagship soundbar delivers cinematic audio, powerful bass, and crystal-clear dialogue for movies, TV shows, gaming, and music.Watch C
In terms of performance, the Marshall Heston 120 Soundbar delivers immersive audio with deep bass and clear highs. The Dolby Atmos support enhances the viewing experience, especially for movies and games.Watch T
If you're looking for a premium all-in-one soundbar that combines immersive Dolby Atmos audio with Marshall's classic design and user-friendly controls, the Heston 120 is worth considering.Watch 8
Ideal for movies, cricket, and music, the Heston 120 delivers strong low frequencies without a subwoofer, clear dialogue, and wide surround sound effects. With Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, and Spotify integration, it becomes a convenient all-in-one home theatre solution.Watch T
If you’re a music lover who wants a soundbar with a soul, this review is for you.Watch L
The first-ever soundbar from the British music icon has been getting serious love from media and fans alike. We helped get the word out, scoring 62+ pieces of launch coverage including 4 x five star reviews!Watch S
Iconic Marshall Stage DNA Meets Immersive 5.1.Watch N
Blending the company's iconic 1962 black-and-brass amplifier aesthetic with advanced object-based spatial audio, this premium 780-Watt Class-D multi-amplifier system transforms any living space.Watch B
This isn’t just styling; it’s engineering. With 11 drivers powered by 11 Class D amplifiers, the Heston 120 creates real spatial sound rather than relying purely on digital tricks. Up-firing and side-firing speakers bounce audio off ceilings and walls to build a three-dimensional effect. The built-in subwoofers reach down to 40Hz, delivering bass that feels grounded rather than boomy.Watch
8 mixed sources
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.Read A
Marshall Heston 120 Soundbar: Strengths and Trade-OffsWatch C
But while it was impressive in terms of the bass, dialogue clarity, and sound output, the Dolby Atmos effects weren't immersive enough, and the overall sound, especially in movies, lacked sufficient punch. Hopefully, the sound profile can be tweaked with a software update.Read C
At lower volumes, it actually sounds more refined than its big brother. The details are crisp. The mids are clear.Watch P
As good as it is at producing a room-filling accompaniment to your movies, we wish the Heston connected to surround speakers for a full home theater experience, as well as supported voice assistants, like competing soundbars do.Read T
If you have a ceiling lower than 7.8 ft or are planning to hang lights, ceiling fans, or anything else from it, this might not be the smartest choice. The reason is its height, 46 in to be exact, which may clash with your ceiling or whatever else you need to place above it. You're probably wondering how it actually performs in real world use, right? So, let's get down to that.Watch M
Strong music-first tuning, plus Atmos and DTS:X for films.Read I
Read more here: https://ieatso.com.ua/uk-uamarshall-heston-120-stil-nad-sutnistju-v-premialnomu-zvuki-ru/ Marshall Heston 120 Review: Style Over Substance in Premium Sound pMarshall's foray into Dolby Atmos soundbars, the Heston 120, delivers striking design and a refined sonic touch, but ultimately falls short of delivering the immersive, impactful sound expected at its price point.Watch
1 unconvinced source
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #16 of 21 on our soundbars tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 47 cited sources across 44 outlets.
1 of the 46 sources with a clear view is critical of it: WIRED. Subpar sound quality. Frequent firmware stalling. Its consensus footprint is still a single-guide deep compared with the flagships.
On our soundbars board, Sonos Arc Ultra ranks #4 (A tier) ahead of Marshall Heston 120 at #16 (F tier). Sonos Arc Ultra: The best stand-alone bar per Business Insider, with the category's strongest firmware-longevity record. The 2024 app turmoil costs it confidence, but the hardware and update commitment remain excellent.
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