My Sonos Arc Ultra faced an unexpected challenge – and the soundbar met it

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If you have $1,000 to spend on a soundbar, there are attractive options to choose from. Since its release in late 2024, sonos arc ultra has been at the top of this price range, but there are new competitors that are giving Sonos a run for its money. marshal heston 120For example, it offers a unique design, great features and comes at the same price as the Sonos Arc Ultra.

Also: 5 Ways to Instantly Boost Your Soundbar’s Audio Quality (Without Spending a Penny)

While Sonos sticks to the design status quo with sleek, modern elements, Marshall challenges the norm with bold, distinctive design language. Sonos offers options for tech-savvy, digital ecosystem fans, while Marshall keeps its focus on providing a wide range of wired, analog options for music lovers.

However, despite their striking differences, both soundbars deliver an exceptional audio experience. So, is one better than the other? I’ve used both the Marshall Heston 120 and the Sonos Arc Ultra extensively, and have outlined their advantages and disadvantages to help you make an informed decision.

Specifications

You should buy Marshall Heston 120 if…

1. You want a design that matches your furniture

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a sleek and stylish soundbar, but if you want a design Cold, Then Marshall Heston 120 is the way to go. A great design is really important in a soundbar – it’s something that will be out in the open, in your living room, for all to see. Sure, I care more about audio quality than design, but I want something that makes a statement without being over the top.

Also: Marshall’s first soundbar is making waves as a mainstream alternative – here’s my opinion

The Heston 120 walks perfectly on that line. It builds on Marshall’s signature aesthetic, with luxurious-looking faux leather on the sides, and a textile mesh front and top. It is adorned with the Marshall logo and a knob on the top for its controls. It looks amazing and unique without looking silly.

2. You like physical control

Physical controls are probably not most of Important controls for the soundbar, as you’ll be using your remote more. But if you prefer to use physical controls when listening to music on your soundbar, the Heston 120 is the way to go. Like its amplifier, it has knobs on the top, and they look and feel great. To be clear, the Sonos Arc Ultra has physical controls too, and they work just fine. But their usage is not as satisfactory as Heston 120.

3. You want lots of wireless features

Sonos is known for integrating with smart homes, and it does that pretty well — but it doesn’t connect to as many audio ecosystems as the Marshall Heston 120. Both have Apple AirPlay 2 support and Spotify Connect support, so if you’re into those ecosystems, you’ll get what you need with both. However, Heston 120 builds on that with additional services.

With the Heston 120, you’ll get support for Google Cast, which helps when you’re in the Google ecosystem. You’ll also get Tidal Connect, so if you’re a Tidal user, you’ll be able to listen to music with ease.

You should buy the Sonos Arc Ultra if…

1. You want better spatial audio

Both soundbars offer excellent audio and can deliver deep and powerful bass with solid response at the high end. But the Sonos Arc Ultra definitely has the edge. Its audio response is a little more detailed, and its bass goes a little deeper than the Marshall.

In addition to slightly better frequency response, the Sonos Arc Ultra offers a more immersive audio experience. Both soundbars can provide solid immersion by using drivers that use reflections to simulate surround sound. However, Sonos has more experience with this type of smart audio technology, and this is evident in the Arc Ultra, which can produce a relatively immersive experience in its own right when playing content that supports Dolby Atmos and surround sound.

2. You want to expand your system

Maybe you don’t want to use your soundbar alone – in that case, the Sonos Arc Ultra is easily the better choice. The Marshall Heston 120 supports wired subwoofers, and Marshall offers an in-house-built subwoofer, but that’s it.

The Sonos Arc Ultra can connect to other Sonos speakers wirelessly, and you have more options. There are two Sonos subwoofers you can choose from, as well as several different speakers you can use as surround speakers – like the Sonos Era 100 or Sonos Era 300. Sonos also sells bundles with these speakers, so you can get a full surround sound system right out of the box.

Also: This is why Sonos’ TV Audio Swap is my all-time favorite headphone feature

The Sonos Ace headphones have a personal listening feature built for Sonos soundbars, further expanding the Sonos device ecosystem. I’ve been using a Sonos Arc Ultra with two Sonos Era 300 speakers and a Sonos Sub 4 for a while now, and I have to say, it’s a pretty great setup.

3. You have other Sonos speakers

Even if you don’t plan on connecting other Sonos speakers directly to your Sonos Arc Ultra, the ecosystem effect may still play a role if you have other Sonos speakers. Being able to manage all your wireless speakers in one ecosystem makes it easy to stream audio to them, especially if you use the Sonos app to do so. This also means you can join them together by line if you want.

For example, you can use two Sonos Era 100 speakers in separate rooms, but then pair them together to create a stereo pair for more immersive audio. Alternatively, in the case of the Arc Ultra, you may move to a larger home and decide to use those speakers as surround speakers in your living room.

options to consider