Moving in a The new product category is a nervous company for any business, and the current climate of price roulette only adds another level of uncertainty. But Marshall, manufacturer of emblematic guitar amplifiers and an increasing wallet of wireless speakers and headphones, walks despite everything, with the launch of its first soundbar. And at $ 1000, the Heston 120 capable of Atmos is an ambitious first entrance.
“This is our most expensive product. And honestly, it is a bit frightening,” said Marshall’s product and innovation officer. “But as it is a new segment for us, we made the decision that we wanted to start at the upper end. We do not always do that, but in this case, we thought it was important to make a statement – to show that we are really serious about this.
The idea of adding a soundbar to its range is the one that has launched the company’s discussions for five years, says Rosell, but has been in production for about three of them. The result is the heston 120, an atmosphere of 5.1.2 channels and a DTS X soundbar, with 11 separate pilots positioned to offer a wide and high sound field from a single box.
Setting a product for so many channels has been a new challenge for Marshall, and this has brought new expertise on board to help, draw talents from the automotive industry for their multi -channel experience. “Right now, we have two internal doctoral students, it’s this level of competence,” adds Rosell. “We have also worked in close collaboration with Dolby to help us with difficult measures, to make sure that we place its objects of sound with a room.”
However, a particular objective for the sound team, Rosell tells us, was to find the balance between ringing well for television and also good for music – a common difficulty for multichannel audio products. The Heston 120 is certainly delivered with many musical options to test them, including Airplay 2, Googlecast and Bluetooth Le, Plus Tidal and Spotify Connect.
“Musical reading is an area where we have been able to rely on our current expertise and use part of the modeling of our portable speakers to guarantee that all the pilots of the Heston 120 work as well together in a more classic stereo configuration. And if I am a little daring, we have beaten everything we have heard of competitors. This is one of the things that I am very daring with this product.”
Another key objective for the team was the product design, but not perhaps how anyone familiar with Marshall products might think. While his speakers are well known for their distinct look, recalling the famous amplifiers of the brand, Heston 120 takes up this approach, just a little.
With the kind authorization of Marshall
“Many products in this area are roughly alike, they try to blend, and when televisions do their best to hide more and more, you have to find the good tone.
“But Heston East A conscious design choice for people who want something different – we are not trying to hide. It is a daring statement, but not as daring as we could have been. I think we found a balance that seems authentic. »»
