Short answer: the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max. It ranks #3 of 27 all-in-one soundbars by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $1,699.95. The Marshall Heston 120 ranks #8, rated 3.7/5, at $1,299.99, $399.96 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max: The Ambeo Max creates a big, enveloping surround bubble from one bar, with deep bass that reaches about 30 Hz without a separate sub. The tradeoff: It is very large and heavy, so it needs a sturdy stand or wall and a big TV.
What the Marshall Heston 120 does well: This is a soundbar that treats music as seriously as movies, and Tom’s Guide named it their favorite launch of the year for exactly that reason. The tradeoff: Height effects are modest, and Tom’s Guide found Sonos Arc Ultra more convincing for Atmos movies.
Buy the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $399.96 saving on the Marshall Heston 120 is not enough to make up the difference.
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The Ambeo Max creates a big, enveloping surround bubble from one bar, with deep bass that reaches about 30 Hz without a separate sub.
This is a soundbar that treats music as seriously as movies, and Tom’s Guide named it their favorite launch of the year for exactly that reason.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max | Marshall Heston 120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699.95 | $1,299.99 |
| Ranked | #3 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars | #8 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars |
| Amplifier Power | 500W peak | 150W peak (11 Class D amplifiers) |
| App | Yes (Sennheiser Smart Control) | Yes (Marshall) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Channels | 5.1.4 | 5.1.2 |
| DTS:X | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 5.3”H x 49.6”W x 6.7”D (135 x 1260 x 171 mm) | 3”H x 43.3”W x 5.7”D (76 x 1100 x 145 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (up-firing drivers) | Yes (up-firing drivers) |
| Drivers | Bar: 13 drivers (6 woofers, 5 tweeters, 2 up-firing full range drivers) | Bar: 11 drivers (2 subwoofers, 2 mid-woofers, 2 tweeters, 5 full-range including up-firing) plus 4 passive radiators |
| HDMI Input | 3 | 1 |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Included Subwoofer | Built-in | Built-in (optional Marshall Heston Sub 200) |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Rear Speakers | No | No |
| Room Correction | Yes (calibration microphone) | Yes (Marshall app calibration) |
| Weight | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) | 15.5 lbs (7.04 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect) | Yes (AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Voice Assistants | - | No |
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