For quite some time, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 has ruled the roost as the best small Dolby Atmos soundbar that money can buy. It may be compact, but it conjures up a surprisingly wide soundstage, with very clear all-round audio, great codec support, and a sleek look.
But recently, I got the chance to review a new small Dolby Atmos soundbar – one coming from a relative minnow in the world of home theater.
That’s right, I’m talking about the newly-released Marshall Heston 60. Like the Sonos Beam Gen 2, Marshall’s model stands at just over two feet in width, making it ideal for those working with smaller TVs or a limited amount of space. In some areas, I’d consider the Heston 60 to be even better than the Beam Gen 2. But what makes it so special? I’ll break it down below.
Awesome Atmos in a small package
Finding a small soundbar with impressive Dolby Atmos isn’t always easy. A lot of the more confined options out there skip on Atmos entirely, and some models that have attempted it, like the Majority Elias and Ultimea Nova S50, have struggled to convince me.
That’s not the case for the Heston 60 though, which – like the Beam Gen 2 – delivers a strong Dolby Atmos performance. While testing for my review, I tuned into The Batman, and in one scene it genuinely sounded as if a swarm of bats flew over my shoulder.
Similarly, a jet flying towards me, and then up and overhead in Top Gun: Maverick was surprisingly true-to-life, and I was seriously impressed with the vertical extension produced by such a compact model. In our Sonos Beam Gen 2 review, we mentioned that the soundbar’s command of height could be better, so it was fantastic to see the Heston 60 excel in this area.
Even when I listened to Dolby Atmos mixes via Tidal, the soundbar continued to perform admirably. Of course, you won’t get the expansiveness of the full-sized Marshall Heston 120, but the careful separation and positioning of various instruments and the surprisingly spacious impression the soundbar created certainly met my high expectations.
Even when it comes to the audio basics, the Heston 60 nails it. When flicking between TV speakers and the soundbar, dialogue clarity went from semi-obscured to ultra-clear and defined. Bass output is very solid too – something we also appreciated about the Beam Gen 2. Explosions erupt with considerable impact, and low-end heavy scores sound weighty and immersive.
Of course, you won’t get earth-shaking low-end output from the Heston 60 – it’s a small model with a fairly modest 56W maximum power output. But you can wirelessly pair it to the Marshall Heston Sub 200, which extends down to 30Hz and provides more enveloping, cinematic bass. This is sold separately however, and costs almost as much as the Heston 60 itself at $599.99 / £429.99 / AU$899.
Anything you can do…
The Heston 60 isn’t only a Beam Gen 2 competitor because of its effective Atmos, though. It also packs a bunch of features that Sonos omitted on its 2021 release.
One key difference is that the Heston 60 supports the DTS:X surround sound format – something Sonos left off the Beam Gen 2 (and even its more recent releases like the Sonos Arc Ultra). So, if you’re someone that makes use of that codec when viewing 4K UHD Blu-rays, say, then you’ll be better off with the Heston 60.
I also appreciated the more diverse set of connectivity options on the Heston 60. Although it omits an ethernet port – which you get with the Beam Gen 2 – it supports 3.5mm and USB-C, as well as Bluetooth and RCA Mono. The latter enables you to connect a sub up to your soundbar via a wired connection – I tried this with the Heston 120 and it worked like a dream.
Marshall’s soundbar also brings Auracast support to the table, a more expansive set of EQ options, and a magnetic control panel for wall mount usage.
And even though I like the modern, sleek style of the Beam Gen 2, the pure class of the Heston 60 is undeniable. Its attractive golden details, woven fret, and faux leather finish are absolutely gorgeous, and make the soundbar feel like a real statement piece.
Again, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is still a great soundbar. And considering it launched back in 2021, it still more than holds its own against the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. However, it’s good to see some genuine competition in the small-sized category, and its clear that Marshall has forged a very capable rival in the Heston 60.
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