Technology

If you have an appetite for great entertainment, finding an awesome new movie or TV show is like pulling up to a loaded buffet. After all, hitting that “keep watching” button is like refilling your plate, again and again. And when the shows and movies are good enough, it’s hard to stop eating–er, streaming.

Google loves AI and cameras, which is why both are front and center on the new Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL smartphones. While I have mixed feelings about AI appearing everywhere, its use in Google's new Pro Res Zoom (100x) camera mode is not only impressive, it's almost too good.

Netflix is a hotbed of viewing entertainment activity that I, for one, just can’t quit. There’s so much to choose from, I find that, at any given moment, I’m watching a myriad of titles in different genres.

Who's not a fan of an affordable pickup? They offer something unique, making it easier to get around the city and get the job done. They catalyze business initiatives to take off and then some. Individuals aspiring to pursue entrepreneurship (sound the trumpets) find them to be the perfect gateway to bigger opportunities later. That's if the need ever arises.

When the original Galaxy Fold launched, I was impressed with the foldable technology, but wasn’t convinced I needed it. Then came the compact flip phones, and I was immediately much more interested. I’ve tried many of them since, but one problem keeps popping up.

Finding the right tool for the job can sometimes be a challenge, but once you do, it'll level up your DIY game and make even the most difficult projects easier. If you've just bought into the Ryobi ecosystem, or are considering it, here are five must-have Ryobi tools.

1982 was a fantastic year for genre film lovers. There was plenty of sci-fi and fantasy for all ages, ranging from violent revenge in the time of sorcery to charming alien adventures fit for the family. Whether it was swords or spaceships, there was something for you.

It was a particularly interesting week in the Android world. One of the oldest and most beloved apps by long-time Android users was put out to pasture. We also reviewed both the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10. And some Google apps got some new goodies.

Despite how my job and hobbies mostly revolve around the digital world, even I have my limits. It may well be 2025, but I still refuse to throw my money into the "modern" digital versions of certain products.

TL;DR: Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup is available to live stream for free on Tamasha. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The big games just keep coming in the 2025 Asia Cup, with Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka next up on the stacked schedule. Group B is tougher to predict than Group A, with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan all gunning for the top two positions.

If you want to watch Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka?

Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup starts at 10:30 a.m. ET on Sept. 13. This game takes place at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

How to watch Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka for free

Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup is available to live stream for free on Tamasha.

Tamasha is geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock Tamasha from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka in the 2025 Asia Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Pakistan

4. Visit Tamasha

5. Live stream Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch the 2025 Asia Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the tournament for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tamasha?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming on free sites like Tamasha, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Asia Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Hybrids are having a moment, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re more efficient, punchier to drive, and no longer carry the steep premium they once did.

The year of the Linux desktop may be a bit of a joke, but switching to Linux is not. You've either done it at some point, or you're probably considering it. Linux is quickly improving, while Windows is increasingly becoming hostile. I've outlined four ways that Linux will gain ground on Windows.

This was another busy week in tech news, with Apple's September event, IFA wrapping up, Plex reporting a security breach, and a lot more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

The JLab JBuds Pods ANC are affordable buds with excellent battery life and a svelte carrying case. They check off the spec wishlist, but that doesn't quite mean they're up to par with more premium buds.

I dream of having a huge garden, but I also refuse to live outside of a city (at least for now). So that backyard garden is a bit of a pipe dream. However, I’ve found a great alternative that allows me to harvest fruits, veggies, herbs, and flowers while living in an apartment.

Gardyn is an indoor hydroponic garden that uses a water tank and bright grow light to foster plant growth in indoor conditions that wouldn’t be typically conducive to garden life. I’ve been using the Gardyn Studio in my apartment for about three months, and I love it.

SEE ALSO: The 2025 guide to recycling electronics, beauty empties, and clothing Gardyn vs. other indoor smart gardens

What drew me to Gardyn over, say, AeroGarden or Click & Grow is the sheer size and number of plant slots. My Gardyn Studio holds up to 16 plants and measures 1 foot 5 inches W x 1 foot D x 4 feet 6 inches H. It fits nicely in a corner of my apartment and takes up about the same amount of space as my snake plant.

Gardyn also has a Home version, which has a larger footprint and holds up to 30 plants. This would be a great option for families or households that are trying to be self-sufficient and rely less on grocery store produce. 

I like Gardyn’s options more than the typical countertop size of other indoor gardens because they feel like I can actually harvest real amounts of food, rather than just snipping some herbs now and then.

The Gardyn Studio has 16 slots for plants. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable How Gardyn works

Setup is fairly easy and straightforward, if a little bit time-consuming. I assembled the posts and popped each yPod into place. There is a handy guide for each starter kit that shows which yCubes each plant should go in.

The Gardyn Studio fits nicely in the corner of my living room. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

After placing all of my plants on the Gardyn, I filled the tank with water and plant food, and it’s been relatively self-sufficient since then. I’ve been using Gardyn’s AI assistant, Kelby, which creates schedules for me. So my Gardyn regulates its own light and water schedules. I just have to refill the tank, occasionally clean the tank, maintain roots, and trim/harvest the plants.

I saw growth within a few days

The Gardyn app says to expect sprouts within seven to 21 days, depending on the plant. I saw sprouts for most of my plants within three days, with a couple of stragglers coming past the seven-day mark.

This was taken three days after I set up the Gardyn Studio. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

I received the Budding Florist starter kit that includes seven greens, three herbs, and six flowers. Each plant grew at a different rate, but after two months, my entire Gardyn was bursting with life.

At the three-month mark, I’ve had to frequently harvest and trim back my plants to avoid them growing out of control. Not everything in the starter kit is something I’d eat, so I got a little lazy with my harvesting. But if I were growing only flowers, fruits, and veggies that I like, the abundance would be incredible.

The Gardyn app hosts a wide selection of plants you can buy to swap into your Gardyn. And if you pay for a membership, you get five free shop credits each month to use toward new plants.

Harvesting the plants

My leafy greens grew faster than the rest of the plants, so for my first harvest, I simply grabbed some butterhead lettuce to go on top of some burgers I grilled. As the rest of my plants have matured, I’ve been experimenting with different salads and adding chopped bunching onions and purple basil to dishes for some extra flavor. (They were particularly good on a baked potato and lasagna soup, respectively.)

I have to confess, I am historically not a big salad eater. I hate the crunchy white parts of romaine, so most salads from restaurants or grocery stores just aren’t my cup of tea. However, the butterhead and green salanova lettuce from my starter kit are the perfect leafy greens for my tastes. I make a little honey lemon dressing and croutons from homemade sourdough to create a refreshing side salad with my dinners throughout the week.

The butterhead lettuce I grew made for the perfect burger topper. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable Side salad and bunching onions courtesty of my Gardyn. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The produce from Gardyn tastes so fresh, and it feels good knowing exactly where my food came from — and that it’s pesticide-free. 

The flowers have been a little more difficult to harvest, just because their stems are so short. But I’ve made some mini bouquets, and I also just love the brightness and color they add to the corner of the room where my Gardyn sits. Gardyn also sells a vase that accommodates yPods that would be a great option to let the flowers shine on their own.

I grew a whole freakin' sunflower in my living room! Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Like I said, sometimes I get lazy with pruning my plants, but after everything is full-grown, you will definitely need to manicure the Gardyn to avoid overcrowding. If I neglect my plants for a week, they’re fighting each other for space.

Kelby is my new best friend

Gardyn users have the option to pay for Kelby, which is Gardyn’s AI assistant. A one-year membership costs $22 per month (or $264 per year), and a two-year membership costs $19 per month ($228 per year). 

It’s super helpful to be so hands-off and let things happen automatically. But you could definitely get by without Kelby if you don’t want to dish out that kind of money — especially if you already have some experience taking care of plants.

Kelby set my watering and light schedule for me, and I’ve been able to make adjustments as needed — I shortened my light schedule and adjusted the brightness during certain hours because having a bright light blasting in my living room at 11 p.m. simply was not in the cards for my journey.

The reminders to clean my tank or add more water have been really helpful. I don’t need to pay too much attention to the device itself since I get these alerts directly to my phone.

Vacation mode was nice when I went on a week-long lake trip with my family. I knew my plants wouldn’t die while I was gone, but they also wouldn’t grow out of control.

A Gardyn membership also includes the five monthly store credits, free shipping monthly, exclusive member-only plants, 60% off all plants and plant food, vacation mode, and unlimited timelapse videos.

Is Gardyn worth it?

As someone who lives in a city and has no plans to move somewhere with a yard anytime soon, the Gardyn feels totally worth it. I can’t count the number of times I’ve frustratedly thrown out produce from the grocery store that I swore I would eat before it went bad. Being able to just snip what I need from my Gardyn lets me eat fresh produce whenever I want and cut down on food waste.

I also have such a sense of accomplishment harvesting food and flowers that I grew by myself — made even more satisfactory by how little work it’s actually required from me. 

If you just want to grow a few herbs and maybe some cherry tomatoes, you’d probably be better off with a smaller (and cheaper) tabletop hydroponic grower. Yes, Gardyn is pricy, but if you truly want to commit to a garden but don’t have the outdoor space, it’s a worthy investment.

Where to shop Gardyn Amazon Gardyn Studio $499 Shop Now Gardyn Gardyn Studio $499 Shop Now The Home Depot Gardyn Studio $499 Shop Now Amazon Gardyn Home $899 Shop Now Gardyn Gardyn Home $899 Shop Now The Home Depot Gardyn Home $899 Shop Now

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Vital

• Green: Exclusive

• Blue: Money

• Purple: A city in upstate New York

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Important

• Green: Intimate and undisclosed

• Blue: Global currencies

• Purple: Buffalo ___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #825 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Important: CRITICAL, KEY, MAJOR, PRINCIPAL

• Intimate and undisclosed: INNER, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, SECRET

• Global currencies: DOLLAR, POUND, STERLING, WON

• Buffalo ___: BILL, NICKEL, SOLDIER, WING

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 2, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Better than good

The words are excellent.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to describe exceptional things.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is They're Great.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 13

• Expectations

• Plains

• They're Great

• Aunts

• Lakes

• Minds

• Apes

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

The lowest point.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter N.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

NADIR

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025:

AcrossGive away a secret

• The answer is Blab.

A, B, C or D, but not E

• The answer is Grade.

Rhimes who created "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal"

• The answer is Shonda.

Many posts by Instagram influencers, informally

• The answer is Sponcon.

"Look, here's the thing ..."

• The answer is Listen.

Performed in a play

• The answer is Acted.

Clutter

• The answer is Mess.

DownLiterary sisters behind "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights"

• The answer is Brontes.

Poked with a knight's weapon

• The answer is Lanced.

Extra feature

• The answer is Add On.

Edamame or chickpea

• The answer is Bean.

Abruptly stops texting

• The answer is Ghosts.

Valuable substance in the "Dune" universe

• The answer is Spice.

Word after grand, body or poetry

• The answer is Slam.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

Marshall, the iconic UK-based guitar amp company, has finally taken the leap from wireless headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers into the world of TV audio with its first soundbar. And it’s a Dolby Atmos and DTS-X doozy.

The Marshall Heston 120 is big, brash, and has a price to match. That makes the Heston more expensive than soundbar heavyweights like Sony, Bose, and Sonos, which means that Marshall can’t rest on the power of its brand — the Heston 120 must deliver a powerful home theater experience to be ranked among the best soundbars.

Spoiler: It does. It may not be perfect, but if you’re in the market for a simple yet high-performance TV speaker, the Heston 120 should be on your shortlist.

Marshall Heston 120 review: Design Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Take a look at literally any of Marshall’s audio products, and you will see the company’s guitar amp heritage proudly echoed for all to see. And despite the fact that the Heston 120 is a soundbar, not a dedicated music speaker, I’d argue it’s one of the most authentic-looking Marshall home products so far.

Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on your taste.

I’ll be honest, when I first unboxed the 43-inch wide Heston 120 and found myself staring at its many gold-tone accents — especially those unique top control knobs — I worried it would prove too visually distracting. After all, when you’re watching a movie, the screen should be the only thing you’re looking at.

One month later, I’m still aware of the tops of those knobs, but I’ve also become quite fond of seeing the Heston in front of our TV, whether we’re watching content or not.

The black cabinet, with its faux-leather construction, distinctive Marshall logo, and salt’n’pepper fabric grille (which Marshall insists on calling a ‘fret’) — it’s not just a soundbar, it’s a conversation piece.

Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

At three inches tall, it looks great sitting on a surface (and it probably won’t block the bottom of your screen), but you can also wall-mount it with an optional set of brackets that Marshall sells separately.

I don’t tend to get very physical with my soundbars, but if you’re concerned about how the Heston deals with rough handling, apparently, the fret, end caps, drivers, and even the circuit boards are all replaceable.

Those top-mounted controls really help evoke the guitar amp vibe, and I love the red LED ring indicators that surround them. But having them as the only visual indicator for things like source, volume, and tone might not be the right call. When seated on our sofa, they’re invisible, and the Heston 120 doesn’t have a front-facing alternative.

Marshall Heston 120 review: Set up Unboxing the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Getting the Heston set up couldn’t be easier. Once you plug the speaker into your TV via an HDMI cable and then plug it into the wall with the power cord (both included in the box), you’re pretty much good to go, at least for TV sound. You can control the volume using your TV’s remote.

But don’t stop there.

Download the Marshall app (iOS/Android) and let it walk you through the quick process of getting the Heston connected to your Wi-Fi network. Doing so will enable Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and a variety of other handy features, including the soundbar’s built-in room correction process, which takes less than two minutes to complete.

Because the Heston doesn’t ship with its own remote, the app is also the way you’ll control the speaker’s source (TV/HDMI/Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/Aux-in) and sound mode (music/movies/night/voice) from your sofa.

Marshall Heston 120 review: Connections and Controls

Around the back of the Heston 120, you’ll find one of the most extensive collections of ports I’ve seen on a soundbar at this price. In addition to the standard HDMI-eARC port, you get an HDMI input (with HDMI 2.1 including Dolby Vision and 4K/120Hz passthrough), a set of analog RCA inputs, and a mono subwoofer output.

Seriously, so many ports. Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

The HDMI input is very handy—it helps to offset the HDMI port on your TV needed for the soundbar’s connection. But it’s the subwoofer output and stereo inputs that deserve a special call-out. Sony, Bose, Sonos, Samsung, and LG — these brands all offer subwoofers for their soundbars, but you’re limited to the wireless models that they manufacture. With the Heston 120, you can use any subwoofer with a wired input.

Those other brands occasionally include an optical input — great for connecting a CD player or network music streamer — but an analog input is a rarity, and it’s more flexible, letting you connect those digital devices as well as a purely analog source like a turntable (if you have a preamp).

There’s also a USB-C port, but this is just for power. Why is it there? A stick-style streamer like the Amazon Fire TV Stick could occupy the HDMI input and draw its power from the USB-C port, for a super-clean installation.

On the networking side of the equation, the Heston supports both wired Ethernet (10/100) and Wi-Fi 6. With Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, UPnP, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect, the Heston can play almost any source of music you have access to, at very high resolutions.

Finally, you also get Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs for ad-hoc audio streaming from a mobile device.

As I said earlier, the Heston’s controls are aesthetically beautiful. They’re also a joy to use, with a delightful knurled finish and the sort of precise tactile feedback I’ve come to expect from Marshall’s excellent wireless speakers. The three main knobs (volume/tone/source) are accompanied by three preset buttons and a sound mode button (more on these later).

Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Their proud, highly visible presence on the speaker’s top surface hints at the fact that Marshall places an equal emphasis on music listening.

There’s no way to mute the volume, but the source knob doubles as a playback control, with a single click to play/pause, a double click to skip forward, and a triple click to skip back.

Like many soundbars these days, there’s no power button. Once you plug it in, the Heston is effectively on all of the time, though it hangs out in a low-power standby mode when it hasn’t been actively used in a while.

Marshall Heston 120 review: Great for movies and TV shows Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Under the hood, the Heston 120 sports 11 discrete drivers and amps. And though that’s fewer than you’ll find in the Sonos Arc Ultra ($999, 14 drivers/15 amps), Marshall’s soundbar can easily compete with the Ultra for raw power and emotion.

With frequencies that get as low as 40Hz, the two built-in subwoofers generate the kind of deep low-end that lends itself to both movies and music. They provide a decent level of power — Max Rockatansky’s opening monologue in Mad Max: Fury Road comes across as deep and gravelly, as it should —  though it stops short of the Arc Ultra’s impressive low frequency energy. 

My other go-to Dolby Atmos test clips from No Time To Die, Dune, and Unbroken proved that the Heston 120 is a capable spatial audio speaker, with good width, depth, and height. In Movie mode, dialogue clarity is strong and gets clearer when you use the dedicated Voice sound mode. Once again, the Arc Ultra proved more agile, with better definition for surround sound effects.

The Marshall app is commendable for its simplicity. Most of the settings are all accessible from the homescreen, but I found myself wishing for a few more adjustments. A notable omission is the lack of individual channel levels, especially for the height drivers. To get the most out of the Heston’s Dolby Atmos capabilities, I had to drive it loud. At 50 percent volume, the virtual surround channels and height effects lacked oomph. At 75 percent, they roared to life. With more control over these channels, I suspect I could have heard them better, even at a lower overall volume.

Credit: https://mashable.com/review/sonos-arc-ultra-soundbar

As you might expect, adding a wired sub improves the whole experience. In my case, with an Energy S8.2 sub, it added significant power to the lows. The soundbar diverts all frequencies lower than 50Hz to the sub, a setting that Marshall says will be adjustable with a future firmware update. Curiously, when you connect a sub, the app doesn’t prompt you to recalibrate the room correction — possibly because it doesn’t really control any of the sub’s parameters other than the frequencies it receives.

It’s worth noting that the Heston 120 also supports DTS-X, a Dolby Atmos competitor. I tried a few DTS-X demo clips, and they sounded amazing. However, DTS-X fans may want to double-check the specs on their favorite DTS-X movies. While the Heston had no trouble decoding Dolby Atmos at up to 9.1.6 channels, its DTS-X decoding proved to be more limited.

Marshall says it will downmix DTS-X 7.1.4 to 5.1.2, but when I ran a channel-by-channel test, the soundbar skipped the rear height and side surrounds.

Marshall Heston 120 review: For Music

I’ve reviewed a lot of soundbars, and it’s rare for them to do as good a job with music as they do with movies. The Heston 120 is one of those rarities: Listening to streaming music is a blast. 

I credit the Heston’s built-in subwoofers for the sound, which has a warm tone when using the default Music mode. It can get remarkably loud, with no noticeable distortion, even when playing tracks like Billie Eilish’s bad guy — a torture test for low-end fidelity. Marshall doesn’t discuss how it processes two-channel stereo, but I’m fairly certain there’s some upmixing happening to take advantage of the soundbar’s multiple drivers. Instead of getting a phantom center channel, it’s a much more expansive soundstage. I happen to like it, but if you don’t, there’s no way to alter it.

Your best bet is to use the lossless, Wi-Fi-based Google Cast protocol from apps like Amazon Music or Qobuz on an iPhone. Alternatively, if you’re on Android, you can also Google Cast Apple Music. Tidal users can leverage the Tidal Connect system from either platform.

Equally good are music apps on a connected streaming device like an Apple TV or Nvidia Shield.

Finally, if you don’t mind a lossy connection, Apple AirPlay and Bluetooth are also available.

If you’ve never heard Dolby Atmos Music on a speaker system, you’re in for a treat. Fire up a track like M.I.A.’s Marigold, or the excellent Atmos version of The Doors’ classic, Riders On The Storm, and I suspect you’ll seek out Atmos content at every opportunity.

The only downside to Atmos on the Heston is the way the speaker handles volume levels. For some reason, Atmos content plays much quieter than two-channel mixes. If you’re listening to an entire Atmos album (say, Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms), it’s no problem. But bounce between Atmos and stereo, and you’ll be wishing Marshall had included a remote control to help you stay on top of the volume changes.

Those preset buttons (both on top of the speaker and in the app) are handy, but limited. You can program with any radio station from the Marshall app’s built-in Airable Internet radio service, or any Spotify station or playlist. Unfortunately, the Spotify integration didn’t work for me while using a free subscription, and there’s no way to use the presets with other services like Apple Music, Tidal, or Amazon Music.

Marshall Heston 120 review: Sound adjustments Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Like most soundbars at this price, the Heston 120 has built-in room calibration. The effectiveness of this feature can depend on a lot of factors, like room shape and size, furniture placement, the capabilities of the soundbar, and the algorithms used to do the calibration. In my case, the Heston’s calibration helped to reduce some bass muddiness while increasing high-frequency definition.

If you’re not happy with the calibration, you can repeat the process or disable it entirely. Either way, you’ve also got two more options to fine-tune the sound.

The speaker’s sound modes deliver an instant change of emphasis, and each input (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc) will remember the last mode you applied. Movie mode boosts lows and highs for more cinematic punch. Music mode keeps things balanced for a more neutral presentation. Night reduces dynamic range, so you’re less likely to bother neighbors or family members, and Voice de-emphasizes lows and lower-mids while boosting the frequencies that belong to dialogue.

However, each sound mode can be further tweaked by using the bass/treble knob. Push it once to swap between these adjustments, then spin the dial.

If you really want to get granular, the Marshall app lets you manually tweak a five-band equalizer. These changes can be done per mode (different tweaks for Music vs. Movie, for instance), but they can’t be saved if you try different combos.

Marshall Heston 120 review: Untapped potential Credit: Simon Cohen / Mashable

Most high-end soundbars either come with their own wireless surround speakers and a subwoofer (LG, Samsung, JBL) or they’re designed with expansion in mind (Sonos, Bose). At the moment, the Heston 120 offers neither, but Marshall says that will change soon.

A dedicated wireless sub is on the way, and the plan is to let users expand the Heston via Marshall’s line of third-gen Homeline portable Bluetooth speakers — all the way from the tiny Emberton III to the Woburn II.

I didn’t get to test this capability, so I can’t say how it performs compared to existing solutions. Marshall says it will use Bluetooth Auracast as its wireless protocol for these add-on speakers, which is an industry first for a soundbar. Time will tell if it’s as reliable and effective as Wi-Fi.

Is the Marshall Heston 120 worth it?

Yes. Considering its price, design, features, and performance, the Heston 120 is an excellent choice for a single-speaker home theater sound system. While not as precise or immersive as the Sonos Arc Ultra for movies, its support for DTS:X, HDMI input, and wired subwoofer output make it a more versatile choice. It’s also a superb music speaker that offers the highest quality wireless streaming protocols (like Google Cast), so you can get up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution from your music, something the Arc Ultra can’t do.

Enthusiasts may wish for more control, especially around two-channel stereo and individual channel levels, but if you’re among the set-it-and-forget-it crowd, I doubt you’ll mind this at all.

Finally, there’s the potential for discrete surround and subwoofer additions via Marshall’s range of existing Bluetooth speakers. It’s always a bit iffy to buy a product for its promised features, but if this comes to fruition, it could make the Heston 120 one of the most compelling soundbars on the market.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Heston 120 soundbar $999
Learn More Marshall Heston 120 review: Just the specs

• Dimensions: 43.3 x 5.7 x 3.0 inches

• Wall-mountable: Yes, wall-mount sold separately

• Remote included: No

• Number/type of drivers: 11 (2 tweeters, 5 full-range, 2 mid-woofers, 2 subwoofers)

• Number/power of amps: 11 class D (2 x 50 watts, 9 x 30 watts)

• Channels/configuration: 5.1.2

• Ports: HDMI eARC, HDMI IN (Pass through), RCA Stereo, RCA Mono (Sub Out), USB-C

• Video specs/formats: HDMI 2.1 eARC, 4K 120 Hz, Dolby Vision, HDCP 1.4

• Wired/Wireless networking: Bluetooth 5.3/Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet (10/100)

• Wi-Fi streaming platforms: Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect

• Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, LC3

• Audio codecs: MPEG-4, ALAC, FLAC, LPCM, Ogg, Vorbis, WMA, WMA9 

• Audio formats: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS-X

• Expandable: via Auracast (future update)

• In the box: soundbar, HDMI cable, power cable, Quick-start guide

• Colors: Black