After shaking up the portable speaker market and establishing itself as a key player, Marshall presents a new product, different from its predecessors yet complementary, called Heddon. This connected audio hub doesn't just modernize your outdated amplifiers or active speakers: it transforms them into a true Auracast streaming station.
First and foremost, let's talk about the product's name. It's anything but insignificant. By naming this newcomer Heddon, Marshall pays homage to Heddon Street, the London alleyway immortalized by David Bowie on the cover of the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. A Rock 'n' Roll name for a product that bridges the gap with the future of wireless audio on the one hand, and continues Marshall's tradition of naming its products in tribute to British musical heritage on the other. Marshall Heddon: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Hi-Res Audio. The Marshall Heddon is a compact streamer (network player), dressed in the brand's signature grainy black vinyl and gold accents. On the back, there's a stereo RCA output and an optical output for connecting it to any traditional amplifier or active system.
When it comes to inputs, the Heddon is a workhorse. Compatible with dual-band Wi-Fi and equipped with an Ethernet port (when this is used, Wi-Fi is disabled), it includes AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Chromecast (built-in). This allows you to stream your playlists in Hi-Res Audio quality without the quality limitations of standard Bluetooth.
Marshall Heddon: the Auracast Bluetooth revolution. But the Heddon's true innovation lies in its ability to fully exploit Bluetooth LE Audio technology and, above all, the Auracast protocol. The principle is simple: the Heddon retrieves the audio stream via your home network and broadcasts it like a Bluetooth access point. All Auracast-compatible speakers within range can then instantly synchronize with the stream. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi multiroom, often limited to a single brand, Auracast here enables universal streaming with imperceptible latency and reduced power consumption. For owners of "old-school" Hi-Fi equipment, the Marshall Heddon is a godsend. It allows you to preserve the sonic signature of your vintage speakers while integrating them into a modern ecosystem, multiroom if desired, controllable via the Marshall Dedicated app. Imagine a turntable connected to the Heddon, its sound simultaneously streamed via Auracast Bluetooth to several speakers throughout the house (such as the recent Willen II or Emberton III). Available now. Suggested retail price: €199.
