Which Marshall headphones should you choose? Guide to the series Major, Minor, Mode, etc.
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1. Marshall Major: closed-back headphones with a replaceable cable and Marshall's signature rock 'n' roll design
Marshall Major - stylish closed-type on-ear headphones with a wired connection and the classic “rock and roll” Marshall design, when almost all elements are covered with artificial leather, the famous logo is emblazoned on the earcups, and the twisted wire with a shiny metal connector looks like it was just pulled out of guitar amp. In many ways, it was this aesthetic that set the vector for the development of the brand for years to come, attracting the attention of a wide variety of users.
Another feature of the Marshall Major is a well-thought-out, practical and foldable design with a comfortable headband, which provides a comfortable level of pressure without excessive pressure at the points of contact with the head, and also guarantees good passive noise insulation. In terms of sound, these are perhaps the most interesting headphones in the brand’s range. The first and second versions lacked balance; many users often resorted to an equalizer. But already in the 2018 Major III model, the sound leveled out, the sub-bass became clearer and since then only small details have changed, but the overall picture remains the same.
A distinctive feature of the Major series is:
- Closed design with high-quality passive noise insulation.
- Wired or combined connection.
- Detachable cable.
- 80 – 100 hours of battery life for models with Bluetooth.
- Built-in conversational microphone.
- 40mm dynamic drivers that provide balanced and rich sound.
Marshall Major lineup:
The very first Majors were equipped with a regular cable; in subsequent versions the cable became removable. In 2020, the fourth revision of Major headphones hit store shelves, the key features of which were a wireless Bluetooth module and a battery with 80 hours of battery life. At the same time, the regular audio cable did not go away, and the customer could use them like regular wired headphones. In 2024, the wizards at Marshall introduced the Major V model, which is visually almost identical to its predecessors, but at the same time has a couple of improvements under the hood. Its battery life has increased to 100 hours, plus AAC/LC3 codecs have appeared. Marshall also said it has reduced harmonic distortion, resulting in a slight improvement in sound quality.
2. Marshall Minor: Classic earbuds with a rock 'n' roll design
With the Minor series, Marshall is releasing everyday earbuds headphones in the style of the classic AirPods, but with a memorable design. They are intended for fans of the brand and tech users who are looking not so much for headphones for music and conversations, but for a stylish accessory. The charging case is made of plastic, but it is decorated with leather, which is not immediately noticeable. The headphones themselves are deliberately made of rough, rough plastic, which contrasts with the knurled base with a brass frame.
Unlike more common vacuum headphones, which provide better noise isolation and have more pronounced bass, earbuds headphones typically have a looser fit and may not provide as deep bass. In terms of functionality and shape, Marshall experimented with adaptive ear pads and tried different control schemes (like magnetic play/pause mounts), but has since focused on improving battery life, refining the mobile app, and continues to play with design.
A distinctive feature of the Minor series is:
- Universal design that does not cause any discomfort.
- Bluetooth connection.
- Signature, highly recognizable Marshall design.
- 5 – 7 hours of battery life (note: in third- and fourth-generation models).
- Optional IPX4 waterproof rating.
The lineup:
Marshall does not force updates to its lineup at all, announcing new products when it considers it necessary. As with the Major on-ear headphones, the first samples were completely wired, the second generation added an optional Bluetooth connection, and from the third generation they finally moved into the True Wireless category. In 2024, they introduced the fourth generation with increased battery life, LED charging indicator and basic IPX4 water resistance. Minor IV can work up to 7 hours on a single charge, and the charging case extends battery life to 30+ hours. For comparison, Minor III held a charge for no more than 5 hours, while the second generation was limited to 2-3 hours.
3. Marshall Mode: Affordable earbuds headphones with both wired and Bluetooth connections
The Marshall Mode family includes vacuum-type earbuds headphones with different connection types. Unlike Marshall Minor earbuds, they fit completely into your ear canals, blocking outside sounds. To connect to a smartphone, tablet, laptop or other mobile device, you can use either a classic audio cable or a wireless Bluetooth receiver. Battery life can range from 5 to 8 hours. The wireless options come with a stylish charging and carrying case.
In general, Marshall Mode is suitable for music lovers who prefer to listen to music on the go, but would not like to be burdened with on-ear headphones. In terms of sound, they are suitable for a wide variety of musical styles, but it should be noted that there are cheaper models on the market with a higher sound level. Therefore, in literally every review you can find a variation of the phrase “stylish and beautiful, but the sound could be more interesting.”
A distinctive feature of the Monitor series is:
- Passive noise insulation.
- Available in models with both cable and wireless connections.
The lineup:
The first Mode model came out back in 2014 and were typical earbuds headphones of that time: a cable connection, a clip with a microphone on the cable, replaceable silicone tips, and that’s basically it. A little later, Marshall released a Mode EQ modification with a built-in equalizer and several preset sound profiles. Well, in 2021, a second, much more modern version of Mode was released with Bluetooth v 5.1, IPX5 and a built-in battery for 5 hours of continuous music listening.
4. Marshall Monitor: full-size on-ear headphones for fans of high-quality sound
Not all owners of Marshall Major headphones were satisfied with their sound and convenience, so in 2013 the manufacturer launched a new Marshall Monitor series, which could fully compete with premium headphones from Sony, JBL and Sennheiser. Upon a quick inspection, they can easily be confused with Marshall Major headphones: both here and there we are talking about rather large, closed-type over-ear headphones, with the difference that the Monitor models belong to the full-size class and completely cover the ears, and do not just cover them.
Compared to the Major series, the Monitor models offer brighter and more powerful sound with an emphasis on highs and mids. They have a more balanced sound with warm, soft lows suitable for long listening sessions. The quality of materials and workmanship is also one level higher. And among their additional features are support for ANC, a detachable cable, an energy-efficient fifth-generation Bluetooth wireless interface and a battery capable of playing music for 30 - 45 hours (note: depends on ANC).
A distinctive feature of the Monitor series is:
- Comprehensive ANC and Talk through transparency mode.
- Folding design with swivel bowls.
- Combined connection.
- Battery for 30 – 45 hours of battery life.
- Fast charging.
The lineup:
The first iteration of the Monitor headphones came out back in 2013 and was equipped with a detachable cable with a remote control and replaceable magnetic ear pads. As wireless headphones came onto the scene, Marshall introduced an updated version of the Monitor with a fourth-generation Bluetooth receiver. Released in 2020, the Marshall Monitor II headphones took the series to the next level with ANC, Talk Through mode, fast charging and Bluetooth 5.0.
5. Marshall Motif: Premium In-Ear TWS Headphones
Marshall Motif is the brand's first full-fledged true wireless headphones with built-in ANC. Before the launch of this series, the brand already had a separate line of earbuds headphones called Mode, but these were predominantly old-school wired options, devoid of any additional features. In contrast, representatives of the Motif series boast an energy-efficient Bluetooth connection, a customizable noise reduction system with a transparent mode, and simultaneous connection to several devices. Plus, they have a richer and richer sound.
These are also the first headphones in the series to support LE Audio. This is a new audio transmission technology designed for use with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), which provides high quality audio even at low bitrates and requires less energy to transmit audio than previous versions of the Bluetooth protocol.
A distinctive feature of the Motif series is:
- Active noise cancellation system with transparent mode.
- Long battery life and fast charging.
- Moisture protection IPX5.
- Supports current audio codecs and LE Audio.
- Signature, highly recognizable Marshall design.
The lineup:
The Motif line is quite young - the first iteration of the headphones went on sale at the end of 2021, and in 2024 the brand released the second generation with support for Bluetooth LE Audio and increased battery life. To maintain continuity with the debut model and other headphones of the brand, Marshall designers tried to practically not change the appearance of the capsules themselves and the charging case.
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