Marshall is a ubiquitous name in heavy music. From Lemmy to The Lemonheads, Marshall amps have been front and centre – serving volume, grit and tone that’s come to define more than a few generations of rock. Having been the chief delivery service for your favourite guitar and bass tones past and present, it’s only right that the brand comes back around to serve those tones straight into your earholes.
The Marshall brand now includes an extremely healthy consumer audio arm, with a whole range of earbuds and headphones for rocking out while out and about. From entry-level in-ear headphones to brash, beautiful Bluetooth-bearing over ears, there’s a pair of Marshall headphones for everyone – but which are the best Marshall headphones?
Fear not, for I’ve laid out the answers in this very round-up – which corrals the cream of Marshall’s head-worn crop into a handy shortlist. 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.
For detailed advice, head on down to the FAQ section below; for the nitty-gritty on the best Marshall headphones on the market, read right on.
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.
Great as I found the Minor IV headphones above, if you're after Active Noise Cancellation you might be better off with these tech-rich earbuds. 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 an IPX5 rating guarantees uninterrupted wig-outery even in inclement weather.
If you're looking for a great pair of headphones while pounding out the miles on the treadmill, you needn’t look much further than the Marshall Mode EQs. 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 too.
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.
Audio rating: ★★★★★
Comfort rating: ★★★★★
Battery rating: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★
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.
"Marshall’s flagship over-ears do not disappoint. Combining the brand’s trademark rocker style, with fold down convenience, decent active noise cancelling and breathtaking battery life, they go a long way to justifying their toppy price point. Bass response could be better, but fed a hi-res audio signal you’ll not fail to be impressed by their crisp tone and obvious musicality. I reckon they’re the most impressive Marshall headphones yet."
Read more: 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.
Audio rating: ★★★★★
Comfort rating: ★★★★ ½
Battery rating: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★
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.
"Be in no doubt: Marshall’s Major V headphones rock. They’re not perfect - the lack of noise cancelling will rule them out for many, and the over-ear design won’t suit everyone. But when it comes to blending style and performance, they deliver well above their price point. They slam like bodies in a circle pit, have engaging musicality and boast a battery life few rivals can match. Definitely headphones to shortlist."
Read more: 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.
Audio rating: ★★★★
Comfort rating: ★★★★
Battery rating: ★★★
Overall: ★★★★
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.
Audio rating: ★★★
Comfort rating: ★★★★
Battery rating: ★★★½
Overall: ★★★★
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.
"They’ve got the looks that kill and a sound to match. Noise cancellation does the job but isn’t the best I've tried in this crowded field, while the customisable touch controls and EQ tweakability means you can really make these earbuds your own."
Read more: 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.
Audio rating: ★★★
Comfort rating: ★★★
Battery rating: N/A
Overall: ★★★
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.
Audio rating: ★★★
Comfort rating: ★★★
Battery rating: N/A
Overall: ★★★
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?
Marshall is a world-renowned brand, but its pedigree is undeniably with guitar and bass amps – at least, up until its first tests in this consumer-audio realm in 2010. Now, though, the Marshall brand has established itself much more firmly in the hi-fi space, with comprehensive ranges of headphones and in-ears, as well as a decent range of Marshall speakers and at-home hi-fis. But are they any good?
This is a fair question, and one you’d ask of pretty much any brand that’s new to you in a given market. Put simply, the answer is yes. Some models outperform others in distinct ways, though, and such is the purpose of my round-up above; up there, you’ll find the cream of a fairly high-quality consumer-audio crop.
In terms of comparison and competition, Marshall might most often be pitted against JBL, a brand which also comes with considerable live music credibility. JBL offers a comparable mix of headphone styles, but somehow Marshall’s design seems a little more granular.
Are Marshall products high-quality?
In evaluating the above Marshall headphones, it’s fair to say that Marshall’s consumer audio products are of commendable quality. Each set is built to last, and more than capable of handling the rigours of everyday life.
Marshall’s headphones aren’t just straight-up robust, but also smartly designed; both the Monitor III A.N.C. and Major V headphones are foldable, improving their durability when lugged around in a bag or backpack.
Since I'm talking construction, it would be remiss of me not to mention Marshall’s commitment to material sustainability here. Their headphones make prodigious use of recycled plastics, with the Monitor III A.N.C. comprising 66% recycled plastics and the Major V an impressive 86%. Not just hard-wearing, but hard on pollution.
Are Marshall headphones better than Marshall earbuds?
The headphone/earbud debate is not a new one – and is much less of a potential no-brainer now than it may once have been. Generally speaking, headphones benefit from larger drivers, which enable more natural extension into lower frequencies. This doesn’t mean that headphones fundamentally have more bass than earbuds, but rather that lower frequencies are much more detailed.
Headphones also benefit from the small distance they introduce between driver and earhole. This physical space is great for sound-staging, and also for reducing the sense of claustrophobia that sometimes comes from wearing earbuds. However, all of this does not necessarily add up to Marshall’s headphones being ‘better’ than their earbuds.
Earbuds, after all, have their own benefits which might appeal to rock'n'rollers on the go. For one, they’re much more portable, whether wireless earbuds encapsulated in a minuscule box or wired earphones you can wrap around your favourite legacy media player.
I personally would opt for a good pair of Marshall headphones over earphones, purely to benefit from a less-contrived bass response and from the longer battery life promised by the Monitor III A.N.C. You, however, might find the Motif II A.N.C.s far more practical for gadding about with – and no less adept at serving some serious sound.
What should I look for in a pair of Marshall headphones?
The range of Marshall headphones and earbuds on the market is, in short, broad. Between them, they cover a large variety of specs and use cases, which might make choosing the right ones a bit of a tricky undertaking if you’re not sure what you’re looking for.
If you want a pair of headphones that’ll last you a while between charging, then the Marshall Major V is up there thanks to its 100-hour battery life. However, if you value the peace and quiet afforded by active noise-cancelling, the Monitor III A.N.C. would be the better choice. For something a little more pocket-sized, you can’t go wrong with the Minor IV earbuds
Who makes Marshall headphones?
Given Marshall’s historical expertise in designing and manufacturing guitar amps, it’s natural to wonder where the sudden influx of consumer audio products has really come from. The answer, though, is simple as: Marshall makes Marshall headphones!
More accurately, Marshall headphones are the fruit Marshall Group – a conglomerate of audio brands including Marshall Amplification (the guitar-amp bit of the business), Natal Drums and Urbanears, all under the Marshall umbrella.
Marshall Group is the result of a relatively recent merger between Marshall Amplification and Zound Industries, a consumer-audio brand that designed headphones and Bluetooth speaker systems. It’s Zound’s expertise, coupled with the unmistakable black-and-brass of Marshall’s brand, that make Marshall’s headphone range what it is.
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.
Why you can trust us
Louder’s reviewers are a collective of passionate music fans, musicians and professional product testers, who between them have racked up years of product testing and written thousands of words on music listening gear across hundreds of reviews on Louder and for other publications.
As lifelong music fans, we're serious about the tech we listen to our favourite artists on. We want them to sound amazing, giving us all the detail those bands intended us to hear, and deliver the perfect balance of bass, mids and highs. We're looking for pure immersion in our chosen sounds, whether it's a classic rock album, a cutting-edge noise band, a heavy hitting metal outfit or synth-based unit.
And we tested the Marshall headphones in this guide on albums we know inside and out, and that we've listened to on a variety of systems already, so we know exactly what we should be hearing and when we're being short-changed by lacklustre audio.
We take into account every aspect, covering audio quality, comfort, Bluetooth capability, battery life and value for money.
We test products in a variety of settings too, from distraction-free intentional listening at home where we can really focus on the music, to our daily commute to the office and out and about on journeys to the gym, pub, shops etc. These scenarios are real-world and mean we can experience products exactly as you would and report our findings honestly.
Meet the experts
You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
Paul has spent the past nine years testing and writing about gadgets and technology for the likes of Louder, T3 and TechRadar. He might not have the wealth or the looks of Tony Stark, but when it comes to knowing about the latest cool kit, Paul would surely give Iron-Man a run for his money. As for his musical leanings, Paul likes everything from Weyes Blood to Nirvana. If it's got a good melody, he's on board with it.
Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 11 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog.
Latest updates
Recent updates
20/02/25: The guide has received updated product entries on the Marshall Motif II and Mode EQ to bring them up to date. Expert verdict entries have been added where applicable in the product guide, while a new FAQ section has been included. A section detailing why you can trust the Louder team has been added, and there's also now a "meet our experts" section so you get to know the faces behind the creation on this guide.
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