The Marshall brand is synonymous with music history, wild concerts and unmistakable design. However, it has gradually moved from rock stages to our living rooms. The brand also offers a premium soundbar, the Marshall Heston 120, which promises to combine the iconic character of the brand with the latest home cinema technologies. Below we will focus on whether the Heston 120 model can offer the right rock'n'roll experience and at the same time meet the high demands for cinematic sound. We will focus on the design, technical specifications, connectivity options and, of course, the overall sound projection.
Unmistakable design with a touch of leather and metal
Marshall relies on its visual heritage and the Heston 120 is no exception. The soundbar impresses at first glance with its classic appearance, which evokes legendary guitar amplifiers. The body measuring 1,100 × 145 × 76 mm and weighing a considerable 7,04 kg is covered in high-quality PU leather, which is complemented by a front protected by a traditional woven grille. The combination of leather and metal looks elegant, robust and at the same time fits discreetly into any interior.
The manufacturer has placed the controls in a slight recess on the top of the device. These tactile, brass-effect rotary knobs are used to turn on, adjust the volume, switch audio sources, select sound modes, and smoothly adjust bass and treble. Thanks to them, you have quick access to basic functions without having to reach for the remote control or phone. If you would prefer to install this piece of technology on the wall, it is possible, but you must take into account that the wall mount needs to be purchased separately.
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Comprehensive acoustic equipment and support Dolby Atmos
The most important thing about any soundbar is, of course, the sound. The Marshall Heston 120 boasts a 5.1.2 configuration and an overall output power ofonem up to 150 W. Inside it are a total of eleven class D amplifiers (two with poweronem 50 W and nine s exonem 30 W) that drive the speaker array. Specifically, there are five 2-inch full-range drivers, two 0,8-inch tweeters, two 3-inch midrange drivers, and two 5-inch rear-firing subwoofers. This setup is also complemented by four passive radiators for further emphasis on low tones.
Thanks to this comprehensive equipment, the soundbar covers a wide frequency range from 40 Hz to 20,000 Hz and can generate maxminimum sound pressure level of 95 dB. Heston 120 fully supports formats Dolby Atmos and DTS-X, which in practice means that the sound is "sent" not only from the front, but also from above and from the sides. Some of the drivers are purposefully directed upwards and to the sides so that the sound waves reflect off the walls and ceiling, creating an immersive three-dimensional sensation. The sound is simply original, dynamic and premium. The potential will naturally stand out most in action scenes, when explosions, shooting, etc. are particularly engaging. In calmer comedies or family films, the "muscles" will remain hidden, although the dialogues will sound more forceful and clearer.
But who needs the power of integrated subwoofers? nestačil, the soundbar can be supplemented with a compatible external wireless subwoofer Marshall Heston 200 TV SUB.
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Unlimited connectivity: Wired and wireless
KoneThe rear panel hides all the necessary physical ports for home theater integration. There is an HDMI 1 (TV) port with eARC/ARC support, which simplifies connection to modern TVs and allows you to control the soundbar volume using the TV remote control. There is also an HDMI 2 (IN) input port with Pass Through function, to which you can connect other signal sources (e.g. Blu-ray player or game console), an Ethernet port for a stable Internet connection and a USB-C port for charging and powering small devices. There are also RCA inputs (left and right) for older analog sources and a SUB OUT output for wired connection of an active subwoofer.
The wireless equipment is top-notch. Heston 120 has Bluetooth version 5.3 and fast Wi-Fi 6. Thanks to the internet connection, you get access to a wide range of modern streaming protocols, such as Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect. The soundbar also fully integrates the platform Airable, which offers access to a huge catalog of worldwide internet radio stations. For quick access to your favorite music, there are three preset buttons located on the top panel, which you can assign to specific playlists, albums or internet radio stations.
Sound customization and mobile apps
For quick adjustments to the sound, the Heston 120 offers four basic modes that can be switched on the top control panel: Music, Movie, Dialogue (Voice) and Night. Each mode adjusts the frequency curve and dynamics to best match the content being played. From emphasizing the spatial effects of movies to suppressing loud sounds in Night mode.
More detailed settings and management of the device are provided by the Marshall mobile application. It allows you to control the volume, adjust the frequency curve using the equalizer, configure presets, and also set up a Wi-Fi connection. One of the most advanced functions of the application is room calibration (Room correction). This function uses two integrated microphones in the soundbar to analyze the acoustic properties of your room (wall reflectivity, furniture attenuation) and then optimizes the sound output so that it is ideal for the given space. And it works perfectly.
Summary
The Marshall Heston 120 is a powerful and aesthetically refined soundbar that scores with excellent surround sound support. Dolby Atmos, elegant retro design and wide wireless connection options. It can handle both the reproduction of explosive movie scenes and the detailed performance of your favorite music. When you look at the price tag, it will immediately become clear to you that this piece is not for everyone. Marshall Heston 120 targets demanding people who are not satisfied with the average. If you decide to invest money in a soundbar, on the other hand, you will be taken care of with the sound for a very long time. Its price is 19990 crowns.
