The Marshall Heston 60 soundbar is a compact 5.1-channel audio system made by Marshall, delivering Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive sound in a form factor that sits between the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and larger rivals like the Samsung HW-QS700F. This soundbar represents Marshall’s first serious entry into the compact soundbar market, and early testing reveals it is not simply riding on the brand’s amp-inspired heritage—it genuinely competes on performance.
Key Takeaways
- The Marshall Heston 60 delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in a compact footprint, outperforming many larger competitors in soundstage width and dialogue clarity.
- Built with approximately 75% recycled plastic and featuring an amp-inspired aesthetic with reversible controls, the Heston 60 appeals to design-conscious buyers.
- At 56W peak output with seven Class D amplifiers, the soundbar handles cinematic content without requiring a subwoofer for most users, though a Heston 200 sub pairing is recommended for deep bass.
- The companion app has documented bugs across reviews, and the soundbar’s highs can become harsh at maximum volume.
- Positioned as a direct Sonos Beam Gen 2 alternative, the Heston 60 offers superior bass depth and Atmos height expansion for the size.
Compact Design That Punches Above Its Weight
The Marshall Heston 60 soundbar’s physical dimensions belie its acoustic ambition. Larger than the Sonos Beam Gen 2 but noticeably more compact than Marshall’s own Heston 120, this soundbar crams a 5.1-channel architecture into a footprint that fits most TV stands without dominating the room. The design philosophy is unmistakably Marshall: woven salt-and-pepper fret, PU leather finish, and golden accents evoke the company’s legendary amplifiers rather than generic black plastic boxes. A reversible control panel and removable magnetic logo offer flexibility for wall mounting or shelf placement—practical touches that acknowledge real-world installation scenarios.
The sustainable build using approximately 75% recycled plastic adds environmental credibility without obvious compromises to rigidity or aesthetics. The soundbar ships without a physical remote, relying instead on button controls and a companion app—a choice that simplifies the package but introduces a dependency on smartphone connectivity and software reliability, which testing has flagged as inconsistent.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Performance in a Compact Package
Where the Marshall Heston 60 soundbar truly distinguishes itself is in its immersive audio capabilities. The soundbar’s internal architecture includes three 32mm full-range drivers (left, center, right) for forward-firing dialogue and effects, two side-firing drivers with waveguides for surround width, two 76mm woofers for bass impact, and four balanced mode radiators that reduce vibration and tighten the overall presentation. This configuration generates a soundstage that extends well beyond the physical cabinet—a critical advantage in compact audio where spatial expansion is harder to achieve.
Fire up a Dolby Atmos film or album, and the soundbar’s spatial precision becomes immediately apparent. Testers noted that the level of expansiveness rivals soundbars significantly larger and more expensive, making the Heston 60 one of the strongest performers in its weight class for immersive content. The soundbar also supports spatial audio music, allowing listeners to experience Dolby Atmos-encoded tracks from streaming services with the same sense of height and width. For DTS:X content, the soundbar delivers the three-dimensional precision that format demands, drawing listeners deeper into cinematic drama.
Sound Quality and Frequency Response Trade-offs
The Marshall Heston 60 soundbar delivers a frequency response spanning 45Hz to 20kHz, enabling solid deep bass control without a subwoofer for many listeners. Testers praised the soundbar’s wide and enveloping soundstage, precise effects placement, clear and centered dialogue, and natural tonality across the midrange and highs. The dynamic headroom is generous—the soundbar handles sudden loud peaks without compression or distortion, a trait that elevates action sequences and explosive moments.
Music mode balances rhythm and tonality well, handling everything from Arctic Monkeys’ intricate guitar work to vocal-forward tracks with equal competence. The controlled deep bass delivers impact without muddiness, and timing remains tight even during complex multi-channel passages. However, no soundbar is flawless. Testers noted that bass occasionally separates from the midrange at certain volumes, and the highs can turn harsh when the volume reaches maximum. These are minor flaws in an otherwise accomplished package, but they matter if you listen at extreme levels or have ears tuned to treble precision.
Ecosystem and Subwoofer Pairing Considerations
The Marshall Heston 60 soundbar stands as the entry point to Marshall’s emerging home audio ecosystem. Connectivity includes one HDMI eARC port and wired or wireless audio inputs, covering the essential connectivity needs for most home theater setups. The companion app enables control and configuration but has been flagged as bug-prone across multiple reviews, suggesting that software maturity lags behind hardware capability.
Marshall offers the Heston 200 subwoofer as a pairing option, and testing indicates that while the Heston 60 soundbar delivers respectable bass standalone, adding a sub transforms the low-end impact and is recommended for true cinema-level bass impact. However, bundling the soundbar with the subwoofer exceeds £900, a price point that requires justifying the additional investment against established rivals like the Sonos Beam Gen 2 with Sonos Sub.
How Does the Marshall Heston 60 Compare to Sonos Beam Gen 2?
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 remains the compact soundbar reference point, and the Marshall Heston 60 soundbar outperforms it in several measurable ways. The Heston 60 is larger and delivers noticeably deeper bass and superior Atmos height expansion for its size. Sonos’ ecosystem advantage lies in multi-box expandability—pairing a Beam with a Sonos Sub and surround speakers creates a more cohesive whole-home audio network than Marshall currently offers. For listeners invested in Sonos or seeking seamless multi-room audio, the ecosystem lock-in remains compelling. For those prioritizing compact cinematic performance and sustainable design, the Heston 60 presents a credible alternative.
Should You Buy the Marshall Heston 60 Soundbar?
The Marshall Heston 60 soundbar is worth considering if you prioritize compact form factor, immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, and sustainable materials. The soundbar excels at dialogue clarity and effects precision, making it ideal for film and television. If you listen primarily to music, the balanced Music mode and controlled bass deliver satisfaction without excessive boom. However, if you require a mature, bug-free companion app or plan to expand into a full multi-room audio ecosystem, Sonos remains the safer choice. The Heston 60 is best suited to listeners seeking premium compact performance without ecosystem dependence.
Does the Marshall Heston 60 Need a Subwoofer?
The Marshall Heston 60 soundbar delivers solid bass down to 45Hz without a subwoofer, sufficient for most television and film content. However, if you watch action-heavy films, listen to bass-heavy music genres, or have a large room, the optional Heston 200 subwoofer adds significant low-end impact and is recommended for true cinema-level bass. Test the soundbar standalone first—many users will find the bass performance adequate without additional investment.
What Are the Main Flaws of the Marshall Heston 60 Soundbar?
The primary weakness is the companion app’s documented bugs, which affect configuration and control reliability. Additionally, the soundbar’s highs can become harsh at maximum volume, a limitation that matters for listeners with treble-sensitive ears or who regularly listen at high levels. Bass occasionally separates from the midrange at certain volumes, though this is a minor flaw in an otherwise cohesive presentation. These issues do not disqualify the soundbar but warrant awareness before purchase.
The Marshall Heston 60 soundbar represents a genuine challenge to the Sonos ecosystem’s dominance in the compact soundbar category. It delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X performance that rivals soundbars twice its size, wraps that performance in sustainable design and Marshall’s iconic aesthetic, and prices competitively against established rivals. The app needs maturation, and the highs demand volume discipline, but for listeners seeking compact cinematic audio without ecosystem lock-in, the Heston 60 deserves serious consideration.
Where to Buy
$699.99 at Amazon | $699 | $699 at Amazon U.S. | $699.99
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: Tom's Guide
