Comparing Marshall Heston 120 and Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9: which soundbar offers a better purchasing option?
The Marshall Heston 120, the audio company's first foray into the soundbar market, could soon challenge established players like Sony. As we await our review of this new entrant, we compare it to the highly-regarded Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9, utilizing our experience with Sony's offering to make an initial evaluation.
Pricing-wise, the Heston 120 carries a more affordable tag of $999.99 / £899.99 / AU$1799, undercutting the Theatre Bar 9 which sets shop at $1400 / £1399 / AU$1795. Availability-wise, the Theatre Bar 9 is already on shelves, while the Heston 120 is currently available for pre-order, with sales commencing on June 3rd, followed by a broader retail availability from September 16th.
A quick peek at the design reveals a significantly different approach between the two manufacturers. Marshall's Heston 120 boasts a unique blend of Marshall's iconic rock 'n' roll aesthetic, featuring knurled metal control knobs, PU leather trim, paper fret cloth, and brushed metal elements, making it a striking centerpiece in any setup. By contrast, Sony adopts a minimalistic design with fabric covering 90% of the device, ensuring a more discreet look.
In terms of features and connectivity, both soundbars pack a punch, with the Heston 120 boasting comprehensive options including HDMI eARC, HDMI pass-through for 4K/120Hz with Dolby Vision HDR, Wi-Fi 6, Google Cast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Bluetooth 5.3 featuring LE-audio technology, Auracast, RCA, Ethernet, and USB-C connectivity. The Theatre Bar 9, while offering a more limited connection array, still supports HDMI eARC, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth 5.2, though lacks Tidal Connect and RCA options.
As for audio quality, Sony's Theatre Bar 9 has secured a well-deserved five-star rating in our review, impressing with crisp and clean performance, impressive dynamic range, and a hugely exciting delivery. The Heston 120's audio performance remains to be determined, but with Marshall's six decades of audio expertise behind it, expectations are high.
Stay tuned as we put the Marshall Heston 120 through its paces and deliver our definitive verdict once testing is complete. We'll update this comparison to help you decide which soundbar best meets your needs.
- The Marshall Heston 120, priced at $999.99 / £899.99 / AU$1799, is set to challenge established players like Sony's Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9, which retails for $1400 / £1399 / AU$1795.
- In terms of design, the Heston 120 features a distinct rock 'n' roll aesthetic, with knurled metal control knobs, PU leather trim, paper fret cloth, and brushed metal elements, while Sony's Theatre Bar 9 opts for a minimalistic design with fabric covering.
- Both soundbars offer robust connectivity options, with the Heston 120 boasting HDMI eARC, HDMI pass-through for 4K/120Hz with Dolby Vision HDR, Wi-Fi 6, Google Cast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Bluetooth 5.3 featuring LE-audio technology, Auracast, RCA, Ethernet, and USB-C connectivity.
- Despite a more limited connection array, the Theatre Bar 9 still supports HDMI eARC, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth 5.2, albeit lacking Tidal Connect and RCA options.
- Sony's Theatre Bar 9 has received a five-star rating in our review, praised for its crisp and clean performance, impressive dynamic range, and exciting delivery.
- As for the Heston 120's audio performance, expectations are high given Marshall's six decades of audio expertise, but a definitive verdict will have to wait until our review is completed.
