Why this Marshall is the first soundbar I've tested that truly challenges my Sonos Arc Ultra

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

If you person $1,000 to walk connected a soundbar, determination are compelling options to take from. Since its precocious 2024 release, the Sonos Arc Ultra has been astatine the apical of the heap successful this terms range, but determination are caller competitors that springiness Sonos a tally for its money. The Marshall Heston 120, for example, offers a unsocial design, chill features, and comes astatine the nonstop aforesaid terms arsenic the Sonos Arc Ultra.

Also: 5 ways to instantly boost your soundbar audio prime (without spending a dime)

While Sonos sticks to the plan presumption quo with sleek, modern elements, Marshall challenges the norm with bold, chiseled plan language. Sonos offers options for the tech-savvy, integer ecosystem fan, portion Marshall keeps its absorption connected providing a wide scope of wired, analog choices for euphony enthusiasts. 

However, contempt their striking differences, some soundbars present an exceptional audio experience. So, is 1 amended than the other? I've extensively utilized some the Marshall Heston 120 and the Sonos Arc Ultra, outlining their pros and cons to assistance you marque an informed decision.

Specifications

You should bargain the Marshall Heston 120 if...

Jada Jones/ZDNET

1. You privation a plan that complements your furniture

The Sonos Arc Ultra is simply a sleek and stylish soundbar, but if you privation a plan that's cool, past the Marshall Heston 120 is the mode to go. A large plan is really benignant of important successful a soundbar – it's thing that's going to unrecorded retired successful the open, successful your surviving room, for each to see. Sure, I attraction much astir audio prime than design, but I privation thing that's going to marque a connection without being implicit the top.

Also: Marshall's archetypal soundbar rocks arsenic a mainstream alternate - Here's my take

The Heston 120 walks that enactment perfectly. It leans connected Marshall's signature aesthetic, with a great-looking faux leather connected its sides, and a textile mesh covering connected the beforehand and top. It's adorned with the Marshall logo and knobs connected the apical for its controls. It looks awesome and unsocial without looking silly. 

2. You similar carnal controls

Physical controls astir apt aren't the most important controls for a soundbar, arsenic you'll usage your distant more. But if you similar utilizing carnal controls erstwhile you're listening to euphony connected your soundbar, past the Heston 120 is the mode to go. It has knobs connected the top, similar its amplifiers, and they look and consciousness great. To beryllium clear, the Sonos Arc Ultra has carnal controls too, and they enactment perfectly fine. But they're not arsenic satisfying to usage arsenic those connected the Heston 120.

3. You privation tons of wireless features

Sonos is known for integrating with astute homes, and it does truthful good -- but it doesn't link to arsenic galore audio ecosystems arsenic the Marshall Heston 120. Both person Apple AirPlay 2 enactment and Spotify Connect support, truthful if you're successful those ecosystems, you'll get what you request with both. However, the Heston 120 builds connected that with further services.

With the Heston 120, you'll get enactment for Google Cast, which helps if you're successful the Google ecosystem. You'll besides get Tidal Connect, truthful if you're a Tidal user, you'll beryllium capable to perceive to euphony easily. 

You should bargain the Sonos Arc Ultra if...

Christian de Looper/ZDNET

1. You privation amended spatial audio

Both soundbars connection fantabulous audio and tin present heavy and almighty bass with coagulated effect successful the precocious end. But the Sonos Arc Ultra decidedly has the edge. Its audio effect is simply a small much detailed, and its bass gets somewhat deeper than Marshall's. 

In summation to the somewhat amended frequence response, the Sonos Arc Ultra offers a much immersive audio experience. Both soundbars tin present coagulated immersion, utilizing drivers that utilize reflections to simulate situation sound. However, Sonos has much acquisition with this benignant of astute audio technology, and it is evident successful the Arc Ultra, which, connected its own, tin nutrient a comparatively immersive acquisition erstwhile playing contented that supports Dolby Atmos and situation sound.

2. You privation to grow your system

Maybe you don't privation to usage your soundbar unsocial -- successful which case, the Sonos Arc Ultra is easy the amended choice. The Marshall Heston 120 supports wired subwoofers, and Marshall offers one in-house-made sub, but that's it.

The Sonos Arc Ultra tin link to different Sonos speakers wirelessly, and you person much options. There are 2 Sonos subwoofers you tin take from, on with a fig of antithetic speakers you could usage arsenic situation speakers -- similar the Sonos Era 100 oregon Sonos Era 300. Sonos adjacent sells bundles with these speakers, allowing you to get a afloat situation dependable strategy close retired of the box. 

Also: Here's wherefore Sonos' TV Audio Swap is my all-time favourite headphone feature

The Sonos Ace headphones person a backstage listening diagnostic built for Sonos soundbars, further expanding the Sonos instrumentality ecosystem. I person utilized a Sonos Arc Ultra with 2 Sonos Era 300 speakers and a Sonos Sub 4 for immoderate time, and I person to say, it's a beauteous awesome setup.

3. You person different Sonos speakers

Even if you don't program to link different Sonos speakers to your Sonos Arc Ultra, the ecosystem effect tin inactive play a relation if you person different Sonos speakers. Being capable to negociate each your wireless speakers successful 1 ecosystem makes it easier to watercourse audio crossed them, particularly if you usage the Sonos app. It besides means that you tin link them unneurotic down the enactment if you truthful choose. 

For example, you could usage 2 Sonos Era 100 speakers successful antithetic rooms, but past nexus them unneurotic to signifier a stereo brace for much immersive audio. Alternatively, with the Arc Ultra, you could relocate to a larger location and usage those speakers arsenic situation speakers successful your surviving room. 

Alternatives to see