ZDNET's key takeaways The Marshall Heston 120 is a one-box soundbar (no rear speakers or sub included) that retails for $999.
This soundbar delivers a fresh design and plenty of bass, audio features, and connectivity ports.
For a first-generation product, it retails for as much as its well-established, acclaimed rivals. View now at Marshall
The Marshall Heston 120 soundbar is currently out of stock on Marshall's website, and there are no other retailers. According to Marshall, it will be restocked on its website on July 21.
I've tested a handful of soundbars. After a while, I'm not going to lie, they start to blend together. Sleek, nondescript, typically black bars stuffed with the same features but a different arrangement of speakers.
It's especially exciting when a company releases a product in unfamiliar territory, and even more exciting when that product is done really well on the first try. So, when I got to try Marshall's Heston 120 soundbar, I was preparing to test simply another soundbar, and instead was greeted by a fresh take on an otherwise uniform product category.
Also: 5 easy ways to instantly improve your soundbar's audio (without spending a dime)
The soundbar market is a crowded pool, with heavy hitters like Sonos, Samsung, and Sony producing some of the best in the game. Whether you choose from one of those three or go with Marshall's new Heston 120, you're sure to spend at least $1,000. Here's what you should know about it.
Starting with design, the Heston 120 stays true to Marshall's rock-n-roll visual cues, including pops of gold embellishments, wrapped leather trims, brushed metal panels, and a small row of knurled metal knobs that pay homage to the company's amp-making roots.
According to Marshall, the Heston 120 was designed to stand out from its home theater competitors, which are usually meant to be heard, not seen. The Heston 120 functions as a soundbar as much as it does a piece of home decor, just like its Stanmore and Woburn home speaker cousins.
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