Marshall Heston 120 vs Polk Audio Signa S4

The Heston 120 treats music as seriously as movies. Its 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos array gives three-dimensional audio you can actually feel, and two built-in subwoofers mean lifelike low end with nothing extra to find space for.

Stereo separation is the standout, and it is why we would reach for this one over music, not just action scenes: it shines on albums the way a dedicated soundbar rarely does. Wi-Fi with AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify and TIDAL Connect makes it a proper streaming centerpiece even when nothing is on the TV, and the signature leather-finish look is a genuine bonus if you care how your gear looks.

It is the priciest option here, and with only a handful of reviews so far it is still building a track record. You are partly paying for that Marshall design and music-first tuning, and if that is what you want, it delivers.

The Signa S4 delivers the most satisfying upgrade per dollar in this lineup. You get genuine 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos from a 7-driver array with up-firing speakers, plus a 5.9-inch wireless sub that adds the deep bass a flat-screen TV simply cannot produce on its own.

That price-to-performance ratio is what earns it the value pick here: it costs about half as much as the Sonos while still delivering good virtual surround. Polk's VoiceAdjust lets you push dialogue forward so you stop reaching for subtitles during quiet scenes, and the ultra-slim 2.36-inch bar tucks in front of the screen without blocking it.

The honest limit is that the surround effect is virtual, not true rear speakers, and the slim bar caps how loud it can get on its own. For cinematic height effects on a sensible budget, though, it is the easy pick.