If you're a fan of classic rock, metal, prog or alternative, you'll know all about Marshall's reputation for their amps and speaker stacks - and the manufacturer has been making headphones for a few years too. They're just as highly rated and offer the same kind of robust sound and build quality that I've come to expect - and as a result, I've picked out the best Marshall headphones for this Louder guide.
In this article, I've got all the top picks, from true wireless earbuds to studio-quality over-ears. As well as filling you in on what each set of headphones offers, including key features, battery life and noise cancelling ability, I'll also explain what to look for when buying a pair of Marshall headphones so you're fully informed when buying a pair.
Quick list
My top pick goes to the awesome Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. These over-ear headphones feature 32mm dynamic drivers to push rock'n'roll firmly into your lugs and the delivery is solid. Noise cancelling is decent and these over-ear headphones are comfortable to wear. They also look the business, while battery is amazing with 70 hours of playtime with Active Noise Cancelling engaged.
The Major V are the upgrade to the much-loved Major IV on-ears. While the older model had an amazing 80 hour battery, the Major V up that to a whopping 100 hours. While the design remains the same (they fold like the previous model and have the same 3-hour charge to full power) Bluetooth has been upgraded from 5.0 to LE Audio-ready.
The fourth generation of Marshall's Minor earbuds are here and they're a great choice if you're after a good set of in-ears on a budget. Battery life is up from 5 hours to 7 hours from the previous gen, while their water resistance rating has moved up to IPX5 and Bluetooth is now LE Audio. Still no noise cancelling but for the price and performance, I don't think that's a problem.
While I like the Minor III above, if you're after Active Noise Cancellation tech in your earbuds, then the Marshall Motif II A.N.C. are the ones to go for. They can be adjusted with their customisable, touch sensitive controls, while you can tweak active noise settings via the Marshall app. Audio delivery is decent thanks to their 6mm drivers and they carry an IPX5 rating.
Marshall's Minor II are becoming harder to find, but if you're looking for a great pair of headphones while pounding out the miles on the treadmill, I think the Marshall Mode EQ are worth a closer look. There are four ear tip sizes, audio is booming, the cord is tangle free and you can flick between settings using the EQ switch. Want more? They also have a mic and remote. An excellent option for the gym - and they're a great price.
The Marshall Mode might not be quite as good as the Mode EQ, but they are a great entry level set of in-ear headphones and are available for a brilliant low price. Sure, there are no frills to these wired earbuds, but they're certainly a step up from many similarly priced headphones thanks to their well-balanced sound. They're comfortable too and come recommended if you're looking for a reliable set of cheap headphones.
Our top choice
✅ Buy if you want a great all-round set of Marshalls: The Monitor III ANC sport above average noise cancelling, massive battery life are comfy and sound terrific.
❌ Avoid if you're after a heavy duty noise cancelling: The ANC here is good, but there are better models out there if that's what you're after.
The flagship in Marshall’s Monitor line, these over-ear headphones boast Bluetooth 5.2 with LE Audio, above average noise cancelling, are comfortable, and have a simply massive life.
They look and wear great, Marshall’s signature multidirectional control knob managing volume and track control. The headphones fold down into a compact bundle, making it easy to transport them around, while 32mm drivers inside deliver mighty riffs and a tight yet vicious bass.
They're comfortable to wear for long stretches thanks to the soft ear cups, while the headband is flexible enough to add to the comfort levels.
In truth, these aren’t the most efficient noise cancellers but ANC technology is still worth having when you’re on the daily commute and will block out much of the annoying bus chatter - and the onboard tech is a step up from the Monitor II A.N.C. which remain a rock solid choice too.
Battery life is quite simply superb, with the Monitor III giving you a whopping 100 hours from a full charge - and you'll get an incredible 70 hours with noise cancellation activated.
While Marshall have a number of excellent headphones on the market, the Monitor III are, in my opinion, the best of the bunch and come highly recommended.
Read our full Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. review
Best on-ears
✅ Buy if you want massive battery life: With 100 hours of playback time, the Marshall Major V have some of the best headphone battery life available right now.
❌ Avoid if you need noise cancelling: The Major V are a step up from the older IV headphones, but there's still no ANC built in.
Marshall have upgraded their much-loved Major IV headphones to the Major V - a pair of on-ears that improve on the already awesome battery life of the older model. While the Major IV had 80 hours of battery life from a full charge, the Major V rock in with a face-melting 100 hours.
While we're in familiar territory when it comes to the design, the foldable Major V's Bluetooth has been upgraded from 5.0 to LE Audio-ready which is more power efficient than regular Bluetooth. Charging time remains the same as before: three hours for a full wireless charge which given the massive battery is excellent.
The Major V also have a customisable 'M' button on the earcup which, in conjunction with the Marshall app, lets you either change your EQ settings, activate voice assistant or fire up Spotify Tap - a feature that'll play music from the streaming service based on your listening habits.
Build quality is excellent with soft ear cups, while the headband is ultra flexible to ensure a good fit.
Sound quality is top drawer, with a nice balance thanks to Marshall's custom-tuned dynamic drivers, but we wish this latest generation of Major headphones had ANC. Hopefully next time.
Read our full Marshall Major V review
Best budget buds
✅ Buy if you want well-priced Marshall in-ears: The earbud market is crammed, but the Minor IV are worth a closer look if you're on a budget.
❌ Avoid if you want more balanced sound: Out of the box, the Minor IV are a bit top end heavy, so a fiddle with the Marshall app is needed to get the best out of them.
If you’re looking for great value Marshall earbuds that don’t disappoint, then the Marshall Minor IV should be your first port of call. Like the Motif model, they adopt a stick design with touch sensitive controls, but the open-fit design seems a little more comfortable, probably because it’s not trying to accommodate all that noise cancelling gubbins.
Marshall app integration allows you to tweak the earbuds' settings on the go and they sound pretty good indeed when out and about, but you will have to fiddle around with the EQ settings for best performance. The app also lets you fine tune battery preservation levels to keep you rocking for longer.
Speaking of which, the battery life of the Marshall Minor IV is up to 7 hours from a full charge compared to the 5 hours the Minor III delivered. Add in the charging case, and you'll get 30 hours of music. And, if you're in a rush, then a quick 15 minute blast will give you 3 hours of sounds.
The Minor IV have been created from 90% recycled plastic which is always good to see and Marshall say the materials used come from the likes of CDs, electric bikes and washing machines.
The Minor III have that distinctly stippled Marshall finish and are IPX4 rated, so you can play out in the rain. More importantly, they use relatively chunky 12mm dynamic drivers, for enhanced bass and the brand’s guitar-friendly mid-range. Bluetooth aptX gives them a sonic edge too.
There's no voice command or noise cancelling, but given the price and the nature of the buds, this isn't really a problem for me. If ANC is top of your list, then you'll need to shell out a bit more cash for the Marshall Motif II A.N.C. More of that below.
Best ANC in-ears
✅ Buy if you want in-ears with noise cancellation: The Motif II ANC are great performers with their flagship feature and look the business.
❌ Avoid if you want more robust headphones: Out and about, we found these a little too lightweight for running but the audio is still decent.
The Motif II A.N.C.s are the second generation of Marshall’s True Wireless Active Noise Cancelling earbuds. They look the absolute business, embracing the stick design popularised by Apple's AirPods and boasting a sleek black finish with knurling and gold detail on the stems.
We love the touch-sensitive controls, one tap to Play/Pause, a long touch to engage noise cancelling and so on and there's also the option to customise certain controls to your liking. We found the touch controls to be a little sensitive, sometimes inadvertently pausing a track when adjusting an earbud, but overall they work well.
Playback time for the earbuds alone is 6 hours, but with the accompanying charging case (which can also be charged wirelessly) you'll have up to 30 hours of playtime without needing to plug the case in. This is a real step up from the 20 hours of the first generation model.
Active Noise Cancelling is one of the headline features of the Marshall Motif II A.N.C.s. For optimal performance it's important to get a good fit, so we experimented a lot with the small, medium and large tips provided. Once we had a good seal, we found noise cancelling to be decent enough to drown out most of the noise in the office and to drown out traffic noise, but it's not the best we tried.
If you want some degree of control over your sound, you can use the accompanying Marshall Bluetooth app to tweak EQ the Motifs to your personal taste, or select one of the EQ presets. We settled on bass boost, which added extra punch to our tunes without muddying things, whilst retaining plenty of the top-end detail.
These buds are splash proof IPX5-rated too, so they're earbuds you can rely upon on the go.
Read our full Marshall Motif II A.N.C. review
Best for the gym
✅ Buy if you want Marshalls for the gym: The Mode EQ are wired so you won't have to worry about losing an earbud on the treadmill.
❌ Avoid if you want something more aesthetically pleasing: They look fine, but the wired in-ears are starting to feel a bit old-fasioned.
Available in Black or Marshall's popular Black & Brass colour variations, the Mode EQ are a great-sounding pair of wired in-ear headphones. Sure, wired ear buds are starting to feel a little dated as wireless tech takes over, but I think these are an especially good option if you're in the market for a pair of in-ears that can be slung into your gym bag without any concerns.
They easily stay in place thanks to their four ear tip sizes, while the audio quality is very good indeed thanks to their custom-tuned dynamic drivers and the Mode EQ will give you more than enough musical bliss then our running or in the confines of the gym.
The equaliser switch lets you flick between sound settings and they come with in-built mic and remote for total control. Unlike some wired in-ears, the Marshall Mode EQ's cord is tangle free, so no more frustrating knots to be negotiated before use.
Best entry level
✅ Buy if you want a pair of no-fuss headphones : There's a definite lack of bells and whistles with the Modes, but given the price, they do the job nicely.
❌ Avoid if your phone has no jack input: An adapter may be needed depending on your phone: wireless in-ears may also be a better option.
Headphones don’t get any more straightforward than the Marshall Mode in-ear headphones. They have a rubber-coated tangle resistant chord so you won't spend ages desperately attempting to undo a knotted clump when you're in a hurry to leave the house.
They're also wired headphones, with the 3.55mm cable plugging straight into your smartphone or dedicated music player - although bear in mind you might need a small adapter depending on what type of device you're using
Of course, there are plenty of cheap wired earbuds filling the online marketplace, but only the Mode boast the Marshall logo on the cable microphone clip, and distinctive Marshall ‘M’ on the buds. Inside are high output, low distortion drivers, tuned for a smooth mid-range and toppy treble.
This might be an issue if you're looking for a bit of hefty bass, but for casual listening on the bus or train, they perform just fine.
Four different size sleeves are included in the pack, so you can ensure a snug, comfortable fit which is a nice touch, while it's hard to argue with the price. For us, they're a neat set of in-ear headphones to keep in your backpack or bag for life on the move.
FAQ
Are Marshall headphones good?
A fair question, seeing as Marshall’s focus for decades was guitar amps. The answer is, at least for some models (the ones featured in this guide, basically), very. The brand channels a formidable live music legacy, and that plays a part in how they’re tuned and their distinctive style look. The same goes for Marshall speakers, too.
Marshall’s most obvious competitor in the headphone market is JBL, a brand which also comes with considerable live music credibility. JBL offers a comparable mix of headphone styles, but somehow the Marshall design just feels a little more granular – they get you closer to the stage.
Who owns Marshall Amplification?
Marshall Amplification was was formed in 1962 and remained under family ownership for more than 60 years until March 2023, when they were sold to Swedish speaker manufacturer Zound Industries. Marshall still own a 24% stake in the company, making them the largest shareholders in the newly-titled Marshall Group. The takeover deal covers Marshall Amplification and its subsidiaries Marshall Records, Marshall Live Agency and Natal Drums
Marshall and Zound first collaborated in 2010 in a deal that resulted in Marshall’s range of headphones and Bluetooth speakers.
Speaking about the deal, Terry Marshall said: “Since my father and I created the original Marshall amp back in 1962, we have always looked for ways to deliver the pioneering Marshall sound to music lovers of all backgrounds and music tastes across the world - and I’m confident that the Marshall Group will elevate this mission and spur the love for the Marshall brand.”
Victoria Marshall added: “With Marshall Group, the potential to further impact an ever-modernising music industry is a highly genuine one. Together, we will preserve the Marshall legacy and shape the future of ‘Live Loud’. Having worked alongside my father during his later years, I know he would be excited at this direction and the potential to reach a larger worldwide audience with innovation and passion which he always had in spades.”
How we test
When it comes to testing the best Marshall headphones, we first and foremost took a dive into their audio delivery. As you'd expect with a product carrying the Marshall name, we have high expectations due to their legendary status in the music world and it was the obvious place to start.
We pushed our selection of Marshall headphones through a range of music genres - from bass-heavy bruisers, riff-filled wonders and gentle acoustic pieces to get a proper feel for what they can deliver.
Comfort and battery life (where applicable) have also been taken into consideration. We like listening to expended periods of music and these two factors remain important to take on board. While some of the Marshall headphones in our list have an average battery life from a full charge, their out-of-doors battery usage can be enhanced with chargers.
Ultimately, we want to give you all the info you need to make an informed decision if you're in the market for a pair of Marshall headphones.
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