Marshall Heston 120 Review: Style Over Substance in Dolby Atmos Soundbar Debut

The thrill of unboxing Marshall’s first Dolby Atmos soundbar was undeniable. As a longtime admirer of the brand’s iconic guitar amps, seeing its signature brass accents and woven grille translate to home cinema felt like a reunion. The Marshall Heston 120 immediately commands attention, blending retro aesthetics with modern aspirations. Yet, after rigorous testing with films like Alex Garland’s intense Civil War, this visually striking bar delivers a disappointingly flat performance that fails its premium price tag.

Marshall Heston 120 Review: Design Charms, Audio Disappoints

The Heston 120’s design is its strongest asset. Its textured fabric cover, vintage control knobs, and brass detailing evoke Marshall’s musical heritage brilliantly, creating a standout piece far removed from generic black slabs. Setup is straightforward, and initial impressions are positive: it delivers significantly more weight and tonal balance than built-in TV speakers. Dialogue clarity is adequate, and at high volumes, it fills a room. However, this promise quickly fades during dynamic, immersive content. According to a recent in-depth assessment by What Hi-Fi?, the soundbar lacks the essential punch and depth expected for its £900 / $1000 / AU$1799 price point. Gunfire in Civil War feels soft, explosions lack visceral impact, and bass extension is shallow, failing to engage listeners emotionally.

Critical Performance Shortfalls Explained

The core issue lies in the Heston 120’s inability to handle dynamics and spatial effects effectively. Three key weaknesses emerged during testing:

1. Compressed Dynamics: The soundbar struggles with volume contrast. Swelling scores or sudden explosions don’t have the intended dramatic leap, making soundtracks feel monotonous. This robs films of tension and excitement.
2. Bass Limitations: While mid-bass is present, the subwoofer fails to deliver truly deep, resonant low frequencies. Explosions and atmospheric rumbles lack physicality, undermining cinematic immersion.
3. Atmos Underperformance: The Dolby Atmos presentation feels grounded. Height effects are poorly projected, and the soundstage lacks the width and layered separation found in class leaders. Additional flaws include occasional treble harshness and sibilance on sharp sounds like “s” vocals.

How the Competition Outshines Marshall

When benchmarked against leading Dolby Atmos soundbars, the Heston 120’s shortcomings become stark. What Hi-Fi? directly compared it to the Sonos Arc, noting the Arc’s superior dynamic range, deeper bass response, and significantly more convincing and immersive Dolby Atmos height effects. The Arc creates a truly three-dimensional soundscape where effects precisely move around and above the listener, a feat the Marshall cannot match. Other competitors in this price bracket, such as models from Samsung and Sony, also offer more impactful, nuanced, and spatially accurate performances according to industry evaluations. The Heston 120 prioritizes aesthetics without delivering the core audio fidelity expected at this level.

Final Verdict and Alternatives

The Marshall Heston 120 Dolby Atmos soundbar is a classic case of style over substance. While its iconic design will appeal to brand loyalists and design enthusiasts, its lackluster audio performance—characterized by weak dynamics, insufficient bass depth, and unconvincing Atmos immersion—makes it impossible to recommend at its premium price. For home cinema fans seeking genuine excitement and fidelity, proven alternatives like the Sonos Arc offer vastly superior sound quality and immersion. Explore detailed comparisons and discover the best Dolby Atmos soundbars currently available to make an informed investment in your audio experience.

Must Know

What are the main strengths of the Marshall Heston 120?
The Heston 120’s primary strength is its distinctive design, featuring Marshall’s signature woven grille, brass accents, and tactile knobs. It offers a significant upgrade over built-in TV speakers in terms of overall weight and volume. Setup is generally straightforward.

What are the biggest weaknesses in the Marshall Heston 120’s sound?
Key weaknesses include poor dynamic range (lacking contrast between loud and quiet sounds), insufficient deep bass impact, and an unconvincing Dolby Atmos presentation with limited height effects. It also exhibits occasional brightness and sibilance in the treble.

How does the Marshall Heston 120 compare to the Sonos Arc?
According to comparative reviews, the Sonos Arc significantly outperforms the Heston 120. The Arc delivers superior dynamics, deeper and more controlled bass, and a much more immersive and spatially accurate Dolby Atmos experience with clear height effects.

Is the Marshall Heston 120 worth its price?
Given its audio performance shortcomings relative to key competitors like the Sonos Arc in the same price bracket, most reviews find the Heston 120 difficult to recommend based on sound quality alone. Its value lies primarily in its unique aesthetics.

What kind of content highlights the Marshall Heston 120’s flaws?
Dynamically challenging films with intense soundtracks, heavy bass effects, and complex Atmos mixes—such as action movies like Civil War—most clearly expose the Heston 120’s limitations in punch, depth, and immersion.

Are there any alternatives to the Marshall Heston 120?
Yes, highly recommended alternatives include the Sonos Arc (often cited as a class leader), as well as top Dolby Atmos soundbars from Samsung (e.g., HW-Q990 series) and Sony (e.g., HT-A7000 with sub/sats). These consistently deliver better overall sound quality and Atmos performance.