Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: heres the compact Dolby Atmos
soundbar Id recommend

Date:
Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:44:45 +0000

Description:
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Marshall Heston 60 are both excellent compact soundbars, but only one can come out on top.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Sonos Beam Gen 2



The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a great Dolby Atmos soundbar that delivers great
sound and plenty of features in a single compact package. Although the
virtual Atmos on offer here isnt the best weve heard, this soundbar is still
a fantastic performer, and fits small spaces perfectly and its mid-range price wont be too hard on your bank balance either. Pros Impressive bass and dynamics Neat, modern aesthetic Awesome features including multi-room support Cons Atmos effects are less convincing No Bluetooth Omits DTS:X Marshall Heston 60



The Marshall Heston 60 delivers punchy, clear, and cinematic audio that stimulates the senses. This soundbars Dolby Atmos performance is very solid considering its confined dimensions, as is its bass output and dialogue. The bug-prone companion app needs some tweaking, but the Heston 60 remains one of the strongest small soundbars around. Pros Impressive Atmos Beautiful amp-inspired look Excellent connectivity options Cons Buggy companion app
Beam is a lot cheaper now Not particularly powerful

For some time, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 has gone relatively unchallenged as the ultimate compact Dolby Atmos soundbar. Its combination of great-sounding audio, solid virtualized Dolby Atmos and a nifty set of features hasnt faced too much in the way of competition until home theater newcomer Marshall released a rival model of its own fairly recently, and it really does go toe-to-toe with Sonos. The Marshall Heston 60 is a very strong small Dolby Atmos soundbar that wowed me with its expansive audio and luxurious looks.

But can the Heston 60 outdo Sonos long-standing compact Atmos king? Or will
it just fall short? I tried both models alongside one another in our TV testing space at Future Labs to find out which is the best soundbar . I compared both on their feature set, audio performance, design and ease-of-setup, as well as value for money. Heres which compact bar came out
on top Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: price and availability

Perhaps unsurprisingly given its age, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the cheaper of these two models. It had a launch price of $449 / 449 / AU$699 when it hit
the shelves in October 2021, but now youll regularly find it going for less
in seasonal sales. During Black Friday, for example, I saw it on offer for under $350 / 350.

Meanwhile, the Marshall Heston 60 is likely to cost you a fair bit more. It has a list price of $699.99 / 499.99 / AU$999, and theres been no sign of a discount yet which is to be expected, given it only released in September 2025. You can grab the Heston 60 either in Black & Brass or Cream, and the Beam Gen 2 in Black or White. Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: specs

Sonos Beam Gen 2

Marshall Heston 60

Dimensions

25.6 x 2.7 x 3.9 inches / 651 x 68 x 100mm

28.7 x 4.9 x 2.7 inches / 730 x 124 x 68mm

Speaker channels

5.0

5.1

Connections

HDMI eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

HDMI eARC, RCA Mono (sub out), USB-C, 3.5mm, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / No

Yes / Yes

Sub included

No

No

Rear speakers included

No

No Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: features

Both models have a good set of features, with plenty of customization
options. The Beam Gen 2 connects up to the Sonos app, and can be added to
your home ecosystem. That means you can access multi-room audio, and seamlessly connect up to other Sonos speakers a huge benefit of this model.

On top of that, the app opens up TruePlay essentially a room-calibration
tool that makes use of a built-in mic. Theres also EQ and channel level adjustment options, voice-assistant compatibility, and an audio swap feature that Sonos Ace users may appreciate.

Its a similar story with the Heston 60. A new Marshall app includes detailed EQ options, channel level control, a variety of sound modes, and a room correction tool. It also supports Auracast, so if you want to broadcast audio to a bunch of modern Marshall speakers think the Marshall Kilburn III or Marshall Bromley 750 you can do so. Built-in AirPlay 2 and Google Cast are also nice to have, and you can link internet radio or streaming services to the soundbars physical program buttons. (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Heston 60 has a wider set of connectivity options in general. The Beam
Gen 2 omits Bluetooth and by extension Auracast as well as the RCA mono, USB-C, and 3.5mm ports that youll find on the Heston 60. Crucially, though, both support HDMI eARC and Wi-Fi streaming, which are the main options I use day to day.

Outside of this, both soundbars support Dolby Atmos and higher-res music streaming formats, though only the Heston 60 has DTS:X compatibility so, if you make use of that codec when watching 4K UHD Blu-rays, for example, then you may prefer Marshalls bar.

All in all, its a fairly close race in the features department. If youre invested in the Sonos ecosystem, the Beam Gen 2 may suit you better. But for most consumers, the Heston 60s inclusion of more connectivity options and DTS:X support makes it a slightly more enticing pick. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: performance

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a 5.0 channel soundbar, while the Heston 60 is a 5.1 model, and they do have slightly different configurations. The Heston 60
makes use of seven active drivers capable of a 56W maximum power output. On the other hand, the Beam Gen 2 has just five drivers, but has 80W of power.

These differences did feel reflected in the sound I heard from each bar too the Beam Gen 2 is a little more powerful, and the rumble of low-frequency sounds hit with a little more intent. In The Boy and the Heron , theres a scene with a deep rumble that runs throughout, and the Beam Gen 2 replicated it with considerable impact, really immersing me in the action.

On the Marshall Heston 60, bass was certainly admirable given the bars
compact size, but it didnt quite have the bite of the Beam.

Both soundbars perform very well overall, with punchy low-end output, clear mids, and controlled treble, and will provide a gigantic improvement over basic TV audio.

For example, dialogue in movies and TV shows is fantastically clear from both models though speech did get a tad more breathing room on the Beam Gen 2, which is ideal for more action-packed scenes. A speech enhancement from Sonos and Voice mode from Marshall are on board if you want to focus in on voices too. (Image credit: TechRadar)

One area that I picked up on a fair amount of difference, though, was in
terms of Dolby Atmos performance. While watching a 4K Blu-ray of The Mask , the cartoonish spinning effects, background noises, and characters dashing around sounded better placed on the Heston 60. As The Mask spun into the backdrop of an open space, there was more depth and width to his movement
from Marshalls compact bar.

The Beam Gen 2 still plated up solid three-dimensional audio effects they just werent as nuanced or convincing as the Heston 60s. It was a similar
story with Top Gun: Maverick . The Sonos bar mapped the movement of Tom Cruises Kawasaki motorcycle well, and jets flying across the screen sounded
as if they surpassed the confines of the soundbars restrictive form.

However, the Heston 60 delivered a touch more finesse overall, including with height elements. For instance, when Cruise flies his jet up and overhead, the vertical extension on offer was more striking from Marshall the move was replicated decently on the Beam Gen 2, but its height effects didnt make a
big impression on me. In honesty, though, neither of these compact soundbars are top-drawer in this department a full-size model like the Samsung
HW-Q990F or JBL Bar 1300MK2 with dedicated upfiring drivers are better if you want peak performance.

All in all, this is actually quite a tight contest. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 offers a bit more firepower, with mightier bass and even slightly improved dynamics. But the Marshall Heston 60s handling of Dolby Atmos is superior, in my view. There are great benefits to picking either bar, so well call it a
tie in this department. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: design & setup

Design-wise, Im a big fan of both of these soundbars. Both are highly
compact, making them easy to slot into tighter spaces or place in front of smaller TVs. And each can be purchased in a couple of different color
options, which is always nice to see.

In terms of looks, the model you prefer will largely come down to the aesthetic youre going for. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a modern, curved, and
sleek soundbar thats housed in neat plastic casing.

Meanwhile, the Heston 60 is a real stand-out, with frets, a faux-leather exterior, and golden details. I personally love the amp-inspired design of Marshalls compact bar, and think it gives off more of a luxurious feel but I certainly wont deny the class of the Beam Gen 2. (Image credit: Future)

Both have practical physical controls too, which are responsive and work
well. Neither has a physical remote, as you can simply use your standard TV remote to alter volume, and the Sonos or Marshall apps to adjust sound modes, channel level, and more. One small thing I really like about the Heston 60, though, is that its control panel is magnetic, so you can flip it for when
the soundbar is wall-mounted a real sign of the care and thought put into
its design.

Set-up wise, it's pretty straightforward overall. You can just connect either bar up with an HDMI cable and power source, and youre good to go. Both apps are well laid-out, and open up additional options, like room calibration for the ultimate viewing experiences too. However, I should mention that Ive
found the new Marshall app to be pretty buggy Ive noticed that registering the Heston 60 sometimes takes a couple of tries, which isnt a problem I encountered with the Beam Gen 2.

In the end, then, its a close one again. Setup is pretty easy across both bars, although I do hope Marshall gets its app working a little better. Build quality is impressive from both too, although I do think the Heston 60 has more of a premium feel to it, which gives it a slight edge for me. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: value

Perhaps the most important question, then, is which soundbar is better value for money: the Sonos Beam Gen 2 or the Marshall Heston 60?

Lets start by talking about price. The newer and luxurious-looking Marshall Heston 60 does, unsurprisingly, have a higher asking price. It will set you back $699.99 / 499.99 / AU$999, and theres not been a sign of a sale just
yet.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 which was released more than four years ago now isnt quite as pricey, typically coming in at $449 / 449 / AU$699. Ive seen it go
on sale a few times over the years, and during big sale events like Black Friday, you can expect to see it dip to around $350 / 350.

Does the Heston 60 do enough to warrant the extra price? I think it depends
on what youre looking for. If you want impressive Atmos in a small package, its a very strong candidate. Its premium aesthetic is also a huge selling point, and makes it just as much of a statement piece as it is a soundbar.

But the Beam Gen 2 just feels like such a good buy. Sure, it leaves out
DTS:X, and its missing the wide connectivity options of the Heston 60, but it delivers plenty of bang for your buck. Surprisingly hard-hitting bass, very good dynamics, crystal-clear dialogue, and the ability to customize sound to your liking those are some serious positives.

I think the Heston 60 handles Dolby Atmos better, and thats worth keeping in mind, but for pure value for money, Sonos just about gets the nod from me. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: verdict

As youll have likely gathered, this is a phenomenally close affair. In fact, Im not sure if theres been a tighter battle in any of these tech showdowns
Ive written thus far.

And its easy to see why. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is older, and by extension a little cheaper. And it still supplies powerful, high-calibre sound, with
Dolby Atmos support and a whole host of smart features.

The Heston 60, though, is an absolute beauty with even better Dolby Atmos performance, bundles of connectivity options, and a stand-out aesthetic. Its
a little pricier, yes, but I think a lot of consumers will consider it worth the spend on looks alone.

Id happily recommend either soundbar both are top-class compact picks. But
if I had to give the slight edge to one, it would probably be the Sonos Beam Gen 2. I do prefer the design of the Heston 60, but Sonos offers a little
more value for money as well as better low-end and dialogue replication, giving it the tiniest of edges.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/televisions/soundbars/sonos-beam-gen-2-vs-marshall-h eston-60


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