Marshall has just pulled the rug from under the home audio world. The Heston 60 soundbar and Sub 200 subwoofer are here to make your living room feel and sound as if you’re in a movie theater. This amazing pair combines Marshall’s revolutionary rock-and-roll history with functional and advanced audio technology. Well, if you’re looking for the best home stereo system, or if you’re looking to upgrade your home stereo, then this new release will surely catch your attention. Packed with outstanding sound, the Heston 60 also brings a minimalistic and compact design with it.
What are Marshall Heston’s 60 Special Qualities?
The Marshall Heston 60: The Future of Home Stereo
Introducing a more perfect sound. With its compact form factor, you’d never imagine this sound bar was capable of packing such a punch. At 28.74 x 4.88 x 2.68 inches, it’s ideal for small rooms and apartments.
You get 56W of power for the soundbar with a frequency response between 45Hz and 20kHz. This wide range enables you to hear everything from the lowest bass notes in your music and movies to the highest notes. The system is compatible with both Dolby Atmos and DT: S X for wraparound sound. Marshall also designed this system to be very compatible with today’s TVs. The compact design will not dominate your entertainment center, but it still marks you with that heavy metal Marshall sound that Marshall is known for.
Advanced Audio Technology That Delivers
5.1 Surround Sound Excellence
The Heston 60 delivers a real 5.1 surround sound without several speakers. This is thanks to the incorporation of cutting-edge audio processing technology. The sounds will fill the room, as they do in a theater. This is an ideal technology for action movies and live concert recordings. It creates a broad soundstage that envelops your whole room. You don’t need $300-a-pair surround speakers that stick to your walls.
Dolby Atmos and DTS X Support
You aren’t watching films of the past, so why would you listen to outdated audio? The Heston 60 also plays Dolby Atmos and DTS: :X Formats. These technologies stack height onto your sound experience. Now, sound comes from above, in addition to around you. Helicopters fly overhead realistically, and rain does fall from the sky in movies. The result is a truly 3D sound experience. The audio format you are listening to will be detected automatically. It will then optimize the sound to suit. You don’t have to fiddle with settings.
The Sub 200: Bass That Goes Deeper
Powerful Low-End Response
The Heston 60 is a perfect partner for the Sub 200 subwoofer. It manages all the deep bass frequencies that smaller speakers cannot deliver, all of which results in a complete audio environment. Movie explosions now have actual force. Bass lines in music are sharper and fuller. The subwoofer brings in the low dimension that will enhance most movies and music, giving you the full experience from an audio point of view. The Sub 200 has a wireless connection to the main soundbar. This way, it’s possible to place it anywhere without the eyesore of unsightly wires. You can put it pretty much anywhere in your room for the best bass, even lying down on its side.
Smart Bass Management
The subwoofer is equipped with smart bass management technology. It adjusts itself optimally for the material being played. This will stop you from overloading your room with heavy bass. The system also takes into account the acoustics of your room. Its performance adjusts for good sound in various environments. This means equal performance in any room size.
Design Philosophy: Style Meets Function
Marshall’s Iconic Aesthetic
The Heston 60 is in keeping with the hard-edged design of Marshall. The gold-accented black design is a classic finish that looks luxurious and timeless. It goes well with contemporary and traditional home styles. Marshall’s signature styling is evident on the front grille. This gives it a visual connection to their famous guitar amps. Your soundbar transforms into an ornament; it’s no longer just an audio device.
Compact Yet Powerful Build
The Heston 60 looks and feels hefty and well-constructed, despite its small size. The build quality is what you can expect from Marshall: sturdy. This is not a flimsy plastic soundbar. It is perfect for smaller spaces due to its compact design. So long as you don’t have to fill larger spaces, it’s ideal for bedrooms, apartments, and modest living spaces. You don’t require a huge entertainment center to contain it.
Connectivity Options for Modern Homes
Multiple Input Methods
The Heston 60 is compatible with a range of devices. You also get HDMI ARC for the easiest connection to modern TVs. This single cable performs both audio and control functions. Older TVs and devices are able to work with optical inputs. A Bluetooth connection allows you to stream music from phones and tablets wirelessly. There are also USB ports so you can play music from flash drives and portable storage.
Wireless Convenience
Bluetooth 5.0 allows the system to maintain an automatic connection with your computer, smartphone, or other devices. The coverage is great; you can control music from anywhere in your room. The new protocol hardly suffers from connection drops. These devices that have been paired to the system before will automatically reconnect once you bring the devices close to each other. This makes it easy to use daily.
Performance Analysis: How It Sounds
Vocal Clarity and Detail
Marshall was always good when it came to the midrange. That describes the Heston 60 very well, with flawless vocal clarity. Voices in films are clear and naturally easy to comprehend. There’s definition and warmth to music vocals, too. Instruments inhabit clearly defined areas in the sound stage. You can hear each thing separately in complex recordings with a lot of elements. It’s friendly to various music types. Rock and roll sounds strong and punchy on a good system. Classical music sounds just as delicate and full of spatial cues.
Dynamic Range and Power Handling
The 56W output is not the largest available; however, Marshall makes good use of it. The system gets louder than you would expect without any distortion. Peak dynamics from movies and music are handled cleanly. The system still keeps its cool at full volume. This is important for action films with large dynamic ranges. You hear a sound mix where whispers pass to ears as whispers, and explosive booms still go boom.
Comparing Modern Home Stereo Systems
Against Traditional Stereo Systems
Traditional stereo systems come with multiple pieces and complex cabling. The Heston 60 streamlines the whole thing down to an elegant package. You achieve the same performance with far less complexity. It takes up much less space than a complete stereo system. Setup now takes minutes, not hours. Sound quality can compete with plenty of traditional home music systems. This integrated solution removes component matching challenges. Everything gels perfectly out of the box. It takes the guesswork out of constructing your audio system.
Versus Other Soundbars
Many soundbars are dedicated to nothing but making dialogue sound terrific for watching TV. The Heston 60 is excellent for movies and music listening. This additional flexibility makes it a worthwhile investment for the general user. Construction quality is usually ahead of other soundbars in this price range. The sound tuning and driver selection also evidence Marshall’s audio expertise. The result is more refined than the average consumer soundbars we’ve tested.
Installation and Setup Process
Simple Installation Steps
The process to put the Heston 60 together only takes a few minutes. The soundbar is placed in front of your TV or easily mounted to the wall. Everything you need is included in the box. You only need one HDMI cable to connect it to your TV. The system sets itself up for maximum efficiency. No fiddling around with any menus or figuring out what to do. The Sub 200 unit pairs itself automatically with the main soundbar. Just plug it in, and it works wirelessly. You can then place it anywhere in your room for optimal bass response.
Room Optimization Tips
Sound quality is affected more than anything else by placement in any audio system. The Heston 60 works best placed directly below or above your TV screen. This creates optimal dialog alignment. The subwoofer is designed for either horizontal or vertical placement to optimize bass in your room. Just don’t place it too close to your listening spot. This results in excessive bass. Adjust subwoofer placement for the best low-end experience in your room. Every room has its sweet spot for bass to sound balanced and natural.
Value Proposition: Superior Stereo on a Budget
Cost Comparison Analysis
Putting together a similar traditional stereo system for living room use adds to the cost. You’d also need a receiver, speakers, a subwoofer, and the cables. The complexity and expense multiply fast. The Heston 60 delivers recommended stereo system performance at a fresh price point. With this, you can sound as good as the pros without the pro-level budget. Great long-term value with Marshall’s renowned durability. These machines usually provide many years of life with normal use. The initial price is worth the build quality.
Features Per Dollar
The features compare favorably to systems costing much more. One may have to pay a lot more in traditional systems to get Dolby Atmos and DTS X support. The addition of a wireless subwoofer connection offers a higher convenience factor. The sleek, compact design offers affordable seating for smaller homes. You’ve got better uses for your room than a big rack of audio gear. This is particularly useful in urban apartments and smaller homes.
Who Should Consider This System?
Ideal Customer Profile
The Heston 60 is perfect for people who want good sound but don’t want to become audio experts. If good sound is important to you but you don’t want to be or become an audio expert, this system is ideal. Setup is easy, and so is operation. Those folks who live in apartments and smaller homes will get the most out of its compact design. The system provides big sound from a compact footprint. This makes it perfect for space-sensitive consumers. Music and movie fans in search of flexible performance need look no further than this system. It performs both use cases well, as opposed to systems that are optimized for a single kind of content.
When to Look Elsewhere
Users with extremely large rooms could require more powerful systems. Most areas will function well with this 56W output, but in very large spaces, it will have limited coverage. For commercial or very large residential spaces, you will need more power. Purists in pursuit of the best possible performance may prefer separates. The Heston 60 is good, but the separates can be better. The trade-off for convenience is steep. Those on a tight budget may want to look at more affordable alternatives. Build quality and audio improvements justify the cost for most. There’s still a long-term value proposition.
Future-Proofing Your Audio Investment
Technology Compatibility
There is current and future audio format support on the Heston 60. Dolby Atmos and DTS: :X Capability future-proofs the system. It will not become obsolete as streaming services update audio quality. HDMI connectivity ensures long-term compatibility with your TV system. The standardized connection is still evolving, but with backward compatibility, everything will still work. Your hardware is covered as technology advances occur.
Expandability Options
Though there’s nothing wrong with how the system functions now, Marshall may eventually release complementary components for those who want to expand it. Additional speakers or a larger subwoofer could add functionality. Expansion is relatively easy with the wireless technology. New features can be continuously added through software updates. This broadens the applicability of the system beyond its original functionality. You continue to enjoy the value of your investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Home Stereo System In 2025?
How does it compare to other new sound systems?
Can this take the place of a standard home stereo for living room use?
Which room size is ideal for the Marshall Heston 60?
Is the wireless sub good for everyday use?
Conclusion
Marshall Heston’s 60 soundbar and Sub 200 subwoofer represent a giant leap into the 21st-century stereo system universe. The result is pro-quality sound in a user-friendly system. For their space-saving size, their sound quality is absolutely not compromised. Whether you want to watch movies or simply listen to music, the sound quality here is immersive and satisfying. If you are seeking great audio performance in your home without all the hassle of a traditional setup, take a look at the Heston 60. Your home deserves audio that is anything but ordinary.