While most modern soundbars are long, plain black boxes, the Marshall Heston 120 stands out with some visual flair. It features design elements inspired by Marshall amplifiers, like the iconic logo and gold trim, and it looks fantastic. Most of the soundbar is covered in a fabric blend of black and gray fibers, with faux-leather beneath the gold trim.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
It is wide and heavy. It measures 3.0 by 43.3 by 5.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 15.5 pounds. It’s only slightly narrower than the Sonos Arc Ultra, but it’s deeper and heavier (the Arc measures 3.0 by 46.6 by 4.4 inches and weighs 13 pounds). If you have your TV on a stand, it may not fit between the TV’s feet, so it’s worth measuring beforehand. My TV is wall-mounted, so I didn’t have to deal with this issue, but the soundbar occupied the entire depth of my mantle. You can mount it to the wall, although you need to purchase the $49.99 wall mount brackets separately.
Three large brass knobs, which serve as manual controls, are located in a recessed section at the center of the top panel. They manage the volume, source, and the bass or treble levels—and feel fantastic to use. The volume and EQ knobs turn smoothly, while the source knob has a satisfying click as you move between options and press it to make your selection. Each knob also features an LED ring to indicate adjustment levels or your selected source.
Three preset buttons, also located on the top panel, enable you to quickly select things like a Spotify Connect playlist or an internet radio station through Airable. There’s also a button for switching between the four sound modes: Movie, Music, Night, and Voice.
Marshall includes a decent selection of ports on the rear panel. There’s an HDMI eARC port, which is used to connect the Heston to your TV, as well as a second HDMI input to compensate for the one lost on your TV when using eARC. It also features an Ethernet port for wired connectivity, a USB-C port for powering or charging USB-C devices, and an RCA input for wired listening through analog devices, such as a turntable. Last, there’s an output for a subwoofer. I’m surprised it lacks a 3.5mm auxiliary port, though you can purchase an RCA-to-3.5mm adapter or cable if needed. The Sonos Arc Ultra includes a single HDMI (eARC) port and an Ethernet jack, but not a USB-C port or RCA connection.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
The Heston features a 5.1.2 channel configuration, achieved through a combination of two 0.8-inch tweeters, five 2-inch full-range drivers, two 3-inch mid-woofers, and two 5-inch-by-2-inch racetrack subwoofers. The two subwoofers and three of the drivers are forward-facing (for center, left, and right channels), while the other two drivers fire to the sides for simulated surround audio. The tweeters and mid-drivers are positioned on the top of the unit for 3D audio. Together, the drivers deliver a frequency range of 40Hz to 20kHz. The soundbar supports the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio formats.
The Arc Ultra features a 9.1.4-speaker configuration and connects wirelessly via Wi-Fi 6 and Apple AirPlay 2. Moreover, the Arc Ultra can seamlessly integrate with your home’s existing Sonos system for multi-room audio and surround sound.
Marshall doesn’t include a remote, but you likely won’t need one. In addition to the physical controls, you can control the soundbar using your TV or media player remote. Alternately, you can use the Marshall app for Android and iOS. In addition to the soundbar, Marshall includes a power cable and an HDMI cable.
