The Marshall Heston 120 is a 5.1.2-channel soundbar from Marshall, listed at $1,300. The bass comes from the bar alone unless you add the optional subwoofer.
Marshall Heston 120 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓Dedicated height channels (5.1.2) for Dolby Atmos, not only virtual processing
- ✓Decodes both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
- ✓A dedicated centre channel for dialogue
- ✓Can add a matching wireless subwoofer later
- ✓HDMI eARC carries lossless Dolby TrueHD and Atmos from the TV
- ✓HDMI input with 4K pass-through - a spare port for a console or player
- ✓Wi-Fi streaming with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect
- ✓Room correction tunes the sound to where it is placed
- ✓Dialogue enhancement and a night mode
- ✗No rear speaker option, so surround stays virtual
Channels and Surround Sound
The 5.1.2 badge means 5 ear-level channels (left, centre, right and 2 for width or surround), 1 subwoofer channel, 2 height channels firing at the ceiling. It decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Virtual surround: Movie Mode.
Subwoofer, Rear Speakers and Mounting
A subwoofer is optional - the bar connects to one wirelessly but does not come with it. It cannot add rear speakers. Wall-mountable: Yes (bracket sold separately).
Connections
The Marshall Heston 120 has HDMI eARC to the TV - the connection that carries lossless Dolby TrueHD and Atmos from the TV's own apps and inputs; 1 HDMI input with 4K video pass-through (HDMI 2.1); RCA analogue input.
Streaming, Control and Sound Modes
Wi-Fi (2.4, 5.0 GHz), with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn, YouTube Music; Bluetooth; voice control: Google Assistant optional; app control (Apple iOS, Android); a remote in the box. Sound features: dialogue enhancement, night mode, room correction.
Size and Which TV It Suits
The bar measures 43.25 x 3.13 x 5.88 in (W x H x D), or 1099 x 80 x 149 mm, and weighs 15.52 lbs. It is no wider than the screen of a 50-inch TV (43.6 in wide) or larger, which is where a soundbar looks in proportion. At 3.13 in tall it should clear the bottom of most TVs sitting on their own feet.
Open the soundbar size simulator to try another TV or compare two bars.
Marshall Heston 120 Specifications
| Sound |
|---|
| Channels | 5.1.2 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| DTS:X | Yes |
| Drivers | Tweeters: 0.8" Dome (2); Midrange: 2" Cone (5); Woofers: 3" Cone (2), 2" x 5" Cone; Enclosure: Passive Radiator |
| Power (bar, total) | 320 watts |
| Frequency response | 40-20k Hz |
| Subwoofer | Optional |
| Rear speakers | None |
| Virtual surround | Movie Mode |
| Dialogue enhancement | Yes |
| Night mode | Yes |
| Room correction | Yes |
| Connections |
|---|
| HDMI to TV | eARC |
| HDMI inputs | 1 |
| Video pass-through | 4K |
| HDMI version | 2.1 |
| Optical inputs | No |
| Analogue input | RCA |
| USB | No |
| Subwoofer output | Mono-RCA, Wireless |
| HDMI CEC | Yes |
| Streaming and Control |
|---|
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ax |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Streaming | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn, YouTube Music |
| Voice control | Google Assistant optional |
| App | Apple iOS, Android |
| Remote included | Yes |
| Learns TV remote | No |
| Physical |
|---|
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 43.25 x 3.13 x 5.88 in / 1099 x 80 x 149 mm |
| Weight | 15.52 lbs / 7.04 kg |
| Wall mounting | Yes (bracket sold separately) |
| Warranty | 1 Year parts, 1 Year labour |
| List price | $1,300 |
Power is the maker's total across all drivers and is not comparable to an amplifier's per-channel rating.