Marshall Heston 120 vs JBL Bar 500MK2: Which Soundbar Is Better?

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Feb 11, 2026 03:22 PM

See Marshall Heston 120 Review

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Our Verdict

Marshall Heston 120

JBL Bar 500MK2

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below

Variants

Heston 120 (Black)

Bar 500MK2 (Black)

Review

See JBL Bar 500MK2 Review

Check Price

Black

Heston 120

Black

Bar 500MK2

Black

Heston 120

Black

Bar 500MK2

Black

Heston 120

Black

Bar 500MK2

JBL

Black

Heston 120

Marshall

Black

Bar 500MK2

Black

Heston 120

Black

Bar 500MK2

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

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Mixed Usage

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Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

0.0

Dialogue/TV Shows

0.0

Music

0.0

Movies

0.0

Design

Style - Bar

Style photo - bar

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

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Style - Subwoofer

Style photo - sub

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Sub Wireless

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Show Text

Style - Satellites

Style photo - satellites

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Satellite Wireless

Locked

Show Text

Dimensions - Bar

Dimensions photo - bar

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

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Width

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

Lock" (Lock cm)

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Dimensions - Subwoofer

Dimensions photo - sub

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Width

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

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Dimensions - Satellites

Dimensions photo - satellites

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Width

N/A

Height

N/A

Depth

N/A

Mounting

Bar Mounting Holes

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Satellite Mounting Holes

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Mountable Bar

Locked

Bar Brackets Included

Locked

Mountable Satellites

Locked

Satellite Brackets Included

Locked

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Build Quality

N/A

Build quality photo

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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In The Box

In The Box photo

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Sound

Stereo Frequency Response

N/A

Stereo Setup

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Raw Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Frequency Response Small

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Channels

Locked

Tested Preset

Locked

Slope

Lock

Standard Error

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension

Lock kHz

Show Text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration

N/A

Frequency Response Calibrated

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Suggested Preset

Locked

Suggested Bass Setting

Lock

Suggested Treble Setting

Lock

N/A

Slope

Lock

Standard Error

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension

Lock kHz

Show Text

Stereo Soundstage

N/A

Crosstalk

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Crosstalk Error

Lock dB

Show Text

Stereo Dynamics

N/A

Dynamic Range Compression

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB

Lock dB

DRC @ Max Volume

Lock dB

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Center

N/A

Center Setup

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Frequency Response

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

Show Text

Surround 5.1

N/A

Surround Setup

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Frequency Response

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

7.1 Rears

Locked

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Height (Atmos)

N/A

Height Setup

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

H Frequency Response

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

Show Text

Sound Enhancement Features

N/A

Room Correction

Locked

Dialogue Enhancement

Locked

Auto-Volume/Night Mode

Locked

Subwoofer Level Adjustment

Locked

Bass Adjustment

Locked

Treble Adjustment

Locked

EQ

Locked

Surround Level Adjustment

Locked

Rear Level Adjustment

Locked

Height Level Adjustment

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

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Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

SAMPLE

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Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

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SAMPLE

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Optical Audio In

Locked

HDMI Out

Locked

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth

Locked

Full HDMI In

Locked

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)

Locked

RCA In

Locked

USB for Files

Locked

Ethernet

Locked

Subwoofer Output

Locked

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Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC

N/A

Dolby Atmos

Locked

Dolby Digital

Locked

Dolby Digital Plus

Locked

Dolby TrueHD

Locked

DTS

Locked

DTS:X

Locked

DTS-HD MA

Locked

PCM Channels

Locked

Show Text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In

N/A

Dolby Atmos

Locked

Dolby Digital

Locked

Dolby Digital Plus

Locked

Dolby TrueHD

Locked

DTS

Locked

DTS:X

Locked

DTS-HD MA

Locked

PCM Channels

Locked

Show Text

Audio Format Support: Optical

N/A

Dolby Digital

N/A

Locked

DTS

N/A

Locked

PCM Channels

N/A

Locked

Show Text

Audio Latency: ARC

N/A

ARC Latency Video

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

PCM-2.0 ch

Lock ms

PCM-5.1 ch

Lock ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

Lock ms

Show Text

Audio Latency: HDMI In

N/A

HDMI Latency Video

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

PCM-2.0 ch

Lock ms

PCM-5.1 ch

Lock ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos

Lock ms

Show Text

Audio Latency: Optical

N/A

Optical Latency Video

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

PCM-2.0 ch

N/A

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

N/A

Lock ms

Show Text

Video Passthrough To TV

N/A

1080p Max Refresh Rate

Locked

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

Locked

4k Max Refresh Rate

Locked

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit

Locked

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate

Locked

8k Max Refresh Rate

Locked

HDR10 Passthrough

Locked

HDR10+ Passthrough

Locked

Dolby Vision Passthrough

Locked

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough

Locked

FreeSync Passthrough

Locked

G-SYNC Passthrough

Locked

ALLM Passthrough

Locked

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Wireless Playback

N/A

Bluetooth

Locked

Wi-Fi Playback

Locked

Chromecast built-in

Locked

Apple AirPlay

Locked

Spotify Connect

Locked

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Additional Features

Interface

Interface photo

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Display

Locked

Show Text

Bar Controls

Controls photo

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Remote

Remote photo

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Show Text

Voice Assistants Support

Amazon Alexa

Locked

Google Assistant

Locked

Apple Siri

Locked

Microphone Mute

Locked

Show Text

Check Price

Black

Heston 120

Black

Bar 500MK2

Black

Heston 120

Black

Bar 500MK2

Black

Heston 120

Black

Bar 500MK2

JBL

Black

Heston 120

Marshall

Black

Bar 500MK2

Black

Heston 120

Black

Bar 500MK2