Marshall is expanding its home cinema range: with the Heston 60 soundbar and the matching Heston Sub 200, the British cult brand wants to transform living rooms with less space into concert stages and movie theaters. The manufacturer promises immersive sound with Dolby Atmos, flexible placement and the typical Marshall design – but what is really behind the new models?
Heston 60: Compact soundbar with a retro look
Visually, the new Heston 60 remains true to the line of its big brother, the Heston 120. The front is adorned with a woven fabric in a salt-and-pepper look, with a PU leather finish and a magnetic Marshall logo that can be moved depending on the mounting position. The control panel can also be flipped if the soundbar is hanging directly on the wall rather than on the board. With its compact dimensions, the Heston 60 is aimed at users who have less space but don’t want to do without massive sound.
Thanks to Dolby Atmos, the soundbar is supposed to provide a three-dimensional sound image – the sound should not only be experienced from the side, but also from above. It remains to be seen how big this effect will actually be without additional rear speakers. After all, Marshall relies on specially developed waveguides and angled front speakers to optimize the sound dispersion even in smaller rooms.
Technology and connectivity
Marshall is modern when it comes to connections: In addition to HDMI for the TV, Wi-Fi with AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect are also available. There is also Bluetooth Auracast, the new broadcast feature that allows multiple devices to be paired simultaneously. The Heston 60 also supports various sound modes:
- Movie for more effects in action scenes
- Music for balanced music playback
- Voice for clear dialogs
- Night with reduced peak volumes
The Marshall app enables fine-tuning: EQ adjustments, presets or calibration to the room. In addition, streaming services can be linked directly, so that one press of the preset button is enough to start Spotify or Internet radio.
Heston Sub 200: Bass for retrofitting
Marshall is launching the Heston Sub 200 alongside the soundbar. The subwoofer in the classic Marshall look (available in black or cream) connects wirelessly to the soundbars and already uses the new Bluetooth LE audio technology. Advantage: free placement without tangled cables.
The manufacturer promises “bass that goes into your stomach” – regardless of where it is installed. In practice, how deep the subwoofer actually plays depends on the room. After all, the Marshall app allows you to flexibly adjust the bass level and integrate it into the setup with one or two Heston soundbars.
Marshall presents the Heston 60 as an all-rounder: stylish, flexible placement and supposedly suitable for real 3D home cinema thanks to Dolby Atmos. Whether a single, compact soundbar can live up to this claim in practice remains questionable – without additional rear or ceiling speakers, the Atmos experience is usually rather subtle.
The Heston Sub 200 should also provide thunderous bass. It will be interesting to see whether the wireless bass delivers more than just vibrating furniture. After all, like the soundbar, it can be repaired – a plus point in times when many devices end up as electronic waste after just a few years.
Prices and availability
- Marshall Heston 60: 599 euros (from September 23 on Marshall.com, in stores from September 30)
- Marshall Heston Sub 200: 499 euros (same date)
