Marshall’s New Hub Streamlines Multi-Speaker Bluetooth
▼ Summary
– Marshall has announced the Heddon, a new music streaming hub that uses Bluetooth Auracast to broadcast audio to multiple compatible speakers without a pairing process.
– Unlike Sennheiser’s similar transmitter for TV audio, the Heddon focuses on music and connects directly to services like Spotify Connect and Tidal via Wi-Fi.
– The hub’s Auracast feature is compatible with Marshall’s latest speakers and should work with any standard Auracast-supported wireless audio device.
– It includes RCA ports to connect older speakers or audio sources, but older Marshall speakers can only connect via cable, one at a time.
– The Heddon costs $299.99, but is discounted when bought with newer Marshall speakers and is free with the purchase of two or more.
Marshall has launched a new audio hub designed to simplify multi-speaker streaming through the emerging Bluetooth Auracast standard. The Heddon hub allows users to broadcast audio to multiple compatible speakers and headphones simultaneously without the traditional pairing process. This positions it as a central solution for creating a seamless, multi-room music experience, though it takes a different approach than some competitors by focusing primarily on music streaming services rather than home theater integration.
The Heddon connects directly to popular streaming platforms like Spotify Connect and Tidal via its built-in Wi-Fi. For services such as Apple Music, users can stream from their phone or other devices to the hub using AirPlay or Google Cast. The core feature is its support for Bluetooth Auracast broadcasting. This means any Auracast-enabled speaker, earbud, headphone, or hearing aid can tune into the audio broadcast from the Heddon without going through a manual pairing routine for each device. Marshall confirms compatibility with its latest Acton III, Stanmore III, and Woburn III Bluetooth speakers.
While the system is built for modern wireless streaming, it hasn’t forgotten about legacy equipment. The hub includes both line-in and line-out RCA ports. This allows users to connect older audio sources, such as a turntable, to the Heddon. It also provides a wired connection path for previous-generation Marshall speakers like the Acton II or Stanmore II, though these older models can only connect one at a time via an RCA cable, missing out on the multi-speaker wireless broadcast feature.
It’s important to note the Heddon is positioned as a music-centric hub. This distinguishes it from similar devices, such as Sennheiser’s recently announced BTA1 transmitter, which includes an HDMI port specifically for broadcasting TV and movie audio. The Marshall hub is available now for $299.99. The company is offering bundle discounts to make the system more accessible; purchasing the Heddon with a new Acton III, Stanmore III, or Woburn III speaker cuts the hub’s price in half. For those investing in two or more of those new speakers, Marshall will include the Heddon hub at no additional cost.
(Source: The Verge)
