Marshall has announced a new music streaming hub called the Heddon that can broadcast to multiple speakers using the Bluetooth Auracast feature that’s finally starting to catch on. Similar to Sennheiser’s BTA1 TV Transmitter announced earlier this week, the Heddon doesn’t require wireless audio devices to go through a pairing process to stream audio, as long as they also support Bluetooth Auracast. But while Sennheiser’s transmitter has an HDMI port for broadcasting audio from movies and TV shows, Marshall focuses on music.
The Heddon hub includes Wi-Fi which is used to directly connect to streaming services including Spotify Connect and Tidal. Other platforms like Apple Music can be used, but they need to be streamed through other devices like your phone that connect to the hub using AirPlay or Google Cast.
Marshall says the Heddon’s Auracast broadcasting is compatible with its Acton III, Stanmore III, and Woburn III Bluetooth speakers. Assuming it’s using a standard Bluetooth connection and not a proprietary implementation, any wireless speaker, headphones, earbuds, or even hearing aids that support Auracast should be able to access its broadcasts.
Older versions of Marshall’s wireless speakers, including its Acton II and Stanmore II, can only connect to the Heddon using RCA to AUX or RCA to RCA cables, and just one at a time. While the hub has two stereo pairs of RCA ports on the back, only one is for connecting to a speaker. The other two are line in ports for connecting older audio devices like a record player.
The Marshall Heddon is available now for $299.99, which is more than twice as expensive as Sennheiser’s $129.95 BTA1 transmitter. When purchased with an Acton III, Stanmore III, or Woburn III wireless speaker the Heddon will get a half price discount. And if you buy two or more of the aforementioned speakers, Marshall will include the hub for free.