Compare Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones vs Marshall Major V

The lack of a built-in 3.5mm analog jack was a repeated drawback, even though USB-C-to-3.5mm wired listening is possible.

The 3.5mm input was valued for wired listening and audio sharing, with several reviewers calling the sharing trick useful or cool.

ANC was usually judged good, solid, or decent for daily use, but several reviewers said it still trails Bose, Sony, or the top tier.

Reviewers repeatedly flagged the absence of ANC as the Major V's biggest feature gap, especially for commuting, flights, and loud environments.

Advanced software features were considered solid and modern, but reviewers did not see them as uniquely class-leading.

Advanced software and feature impressions were mixed: battery preservation impressed, but feature depth lagged some competitors.

Aesthetics were distinctive and often praised, but some reviewers noted the retro Marshall look will not suit everyone.

Reviewers praised the distinctive vintage style and compact visual identity, though one found the look inconspicuous or barebones.

ANC background noise performance was decent: one review measured strong overall noise reduction, and another said white noise was not bad.

ANC-off listening measured slightly better in one review, suggesting ANC can subtly affect the sound signature.

ANC slightly affects audio performance, with one review noting higher sound-quality scores when ANC is disabled.

Android compatibility was positive in one review that found the headphones sounded good on Android.

Android compatibility was weakened by missing higher-quality Android-friendly codecs such as aptX or LDAC.

The app was viewed positively for customization, controls, battery options, and a generally intuitive experience.

App opinions were mixed: support and customization were major upgrades, but some reviewers found the app buggy, basic, or limited.

aptX support was criticized as absent, especially for Android or lossless-codec users.

aptX support was criticized because reviewers specifically noted that aptX or aptX Adaptive was missing.

Audio-video sync was a concern for gaming because one reviewer tied the lack of low-latency codecs to more noticeable latency.

Reviewers who discussed sync reported no noticeable delay or expected LE Audio benefits for video use.

Auracast support was treated as a positive future-facing feature, especially for Android and LE Audio readiness.

Auracast support was praised as rare and forward-looking, though some comments depended on future firmware or ecosystem adoption.

Auto-play and wear detection worked but was slow to react in one test.

Bass was usually described as punchy or well-balanced, though several reviewers said it could use more impact, cleaner control, or stronger low-end weight.

Bass impressions skewed positive for punch and warmth, though a few reviewers found the low end light or uneven depending on tuning.

Battery life had the strongest agreement: reviewers repeatedly described it as class-leading, incredible, extraordinary, or far ahead of competitors.

Battery life was the clearest consensus strength, with reviewers repeatedly praising the 100-hour class endurance and real-world longevity.

Bluetooth performance was praised in one review as stable and high-performance.

Bluetooth was described positively where reviewers referenced modern or useful wireless capabilities rather than just listing the version.

Bluetooth version support was tied to a stable, high-performance wireless connection in one review.

Build quality was generally strong and rugged, with praise for durability and materials, offset by one report of creaking.

Build quality was generally praised as rugged, tough, and durable, though not always premium-looking.

Hi-res playback support was a weakness because reviewers repeatedly noted no hi-res Bluetooth audio support.

Button controls were a standout strength, with reviewers preferring the tactile joystick and physical buttons over touch controls.

Physical button controls were one of the strongest points, with reviewers repeatedly praising the joystick-style knob as intuitive and reliable.

Cable quality received praise in one review for the black cable with brass tips and premium-feeling presentation.

Cable impressions were mixed: one reviewer liked the retro detail, while another disliked the tangling coiled cable.

The carry case was usually praised as sturdy, compact, premium, or travel-friendly, though a few reviewers found it bulky or unnecessary.

Carry protection was a consistent weakness because reviewers repeatedly complained that no case, pouch, or tote was included.

Charging was praised for fast top-ups, with reviewers citing up to 12 hours of playback from a short charge.

Charging was mostly praised for fast, USB-C, and wireless charging, though several reviewers found wireless placement fiddly or unreliable.

Clamping comfort was rated very highly, with reviewers reporting little to virtually zero pressure.

Clamp force feedback was mixed, ranging from gentle or moderate to too tight or uncomfortable depending on head shape and use.

Codec support was a clear weakness because reviewers noted no hi-res, lossless, or low-latency codec support.

Codec support was mixed-to-weak: LC3/LE Audio helped, but reviewers criticized the lack of higher-quality codecs.

Comfort was one of the strongest consensus wins, with reviewers repeatedly praising all-day wear, soft fit, and low fatigue.

Long-wear comfort was highly divided, with many praising light padding and hours-long comfort while others reported pressure, heat, or glasses discomfort.

Connectivity options were mixed: wired and wireless playback were useful, but the lack of a built-in 3.5mm jack and coiled cable hurt convenience.

Connectivity options were praised for wired listening, sharing audio, and useful device switching.

Design and aesthetics were mostly praised for the distinctive Marshall look, premium detailing, and rugged styling, though taste varied.

The retro Marshall design was widely praised as distinctive, classic, stylish, and aligned with the brand's rock identity.

The detachable analog cable was praised for enabling the music-sharing trick with another pair of headphones.

Durability over time was viewed positively because reviewers described more durable, repairable construction and long-term toughness.

Durability-over-time comments were positive where reviewers expected the headphones to survive years of use or abuse.

Ear cup padding was widely praised as extremely soft, plush, pillow-like, and important to comfort and sealing.

Ear cup padding was consistently praised as thick, soft, plush, or squishy enough to help the on-ear fit.

Ear cup rotation and swivel helped portability, though one reviewer found the twisting mechanism odd on the head.

One review praised the ear cups' 90-degree tilt as part of the flexible fit system.

Earpad/body-borne noise was a notable negative for one reviewer, who heard footsteps and heartbeat-like sounds.

EQ customization was broadly useful and responsive, though one reviewer wanted more precision than the five-band setup provides.

EQ customization was useful and often praised, though some reviewers said its effect was subtle or insufficient.

Features at launch were adequate but not standout, with one reviewer saying the standard feature set lacked a truly distinctive tool.

Launch feature set was criticized as limited, especially compared with competitors that include ANC, transparency, cases, or richer apps.

The default frequency response was judged broadly listener-friendly, especially for casual listeners.

Measured frequency-response commentary was negative, with one review saying the tuning deviated drastically from the preferred curve.

Headband adjustability earned a small positive note for visible adjustment numbering.

Headband adjustment was praised for smooth sliding rails and flexible adjustability.

Headband comfort was praised for reducing top-of-head pressure through light weight and support-strap design.

Headband padding feedback was mixed, with one review praising full soft coverage and another calling it thin.

Hinge durability was praised for being able to twist without showing signs of breaking.

One reviewer disliked the way the metal hinges stick out when folded, making hinge design a minor caveat.

Immersive audio quality was mixed, with some reviewers enjoying the added atmosphere and others finding the effect limited or not truly immersive.

Included accessories received praise for the attractive red-velvet case and included cables.

Included accessories were criticized as skimpy because reviewers expected more protection or extras for the price.

Instrument separation was a consistent strength when mentioned, with reviewers noting solid layering, instrument placement, and separation across bass, mids, and highs.

Reviewers who focused on separation generally praised stereo placement, detail visibility, and the ability to follow individual sound elements.

Integrated microphone feedback was mixed, with clear/crisp quiet-room results but criticism of vocal clarity or noisy-environment performance.

The integrated mic array was praised in one review as working well for clear recordings.

LDAC was only discussed as an absent higher-quality codec, making it a codec-support weakness.

LDAC was criticized as a missing advantage versus a competing Android-focused headphone.

LE Audio readiness was treated as a positive future-proofing feature by multiple reviewers.

LE Audio readiness was treated as a forward-looking advantage for streaming, sync, and Auracast-related future use.

Maximum-volume clarity was strong in the reviews that addressed it, with no audible or max-volume distortion reported.

Reviewers noted that the headphones could play loudly without obvious strain and still had headroom.

Microphone noise reduction was praised for handling simulated or real wind well, despite some vocal-clarity caveats elsewhere.

Microphone noise reduction received positive comments for cleaning up office, cafe, and ambient noise around speech.

Call microphone quality received strong praise from one reviewer, especially for windy phone calls.

Call quality was usually praised, with reviewers hearing loud, clear, understandable voice capture; one found it noisy but usable.

Midrange impressions were mixed: some praised vocals and instruments, while others heard under-emphasized mids, prominent high mids, or occasional clutter.

Midrange clarity was often praised for vocals and detail, but some reviewers heard recessed or deficient mids.

Multi-platform compatibility was positive where tested on both iOS and Android.

Multi-platform use was positive where one reviewer reported seamless switching between phone and laptop.

Multipoint reliability was strong where tested, with seamless switching or extremely reliable two-device use.

Multipoint generally worked well, though one reviewer noted playback must be paused on one device before switching.

Passive isolation was praised for the soft cushions and seal, which helped block noise even before ANC was considered.

Passive isolation was mixed: the pads muffled some office chatter and ambient sound, but on-ear fit still let plenty through.

Overall recommendations were positive but caveated: reviewers liked the package, especially for travel and rock-focused listening, while noting ANC, codecs, and wired tradeoffs.

Overall recommendations were mixed-to-positive: many reviewers recommended the headphones for battery, design, and casual use, but with clear caveats.

Portability and foldability were major strengths thanks to the compact folding design and small travel footprint.

Portability and foldability were consistently praised because the headphones collapse very small and fit easily in bags.

Premium feel was praised through richer materials, superior build impressions, and a luxurious presentation.

Premium feel was mixed: the design could look special, but some reviewers said the materials did not feel expensive.

The preset EQ experience was praised in one review, especially the bass boost setting for adding dynamic sound without excess bass.

Preset EQ feedback was limited but positive when reviewers singled out balanced or useful presets.

Replaceable earpads were praised as easy to remove or replace and useful for longevity.

Replaceable earpads were a plus in reviews that noted removable pads or replacement cups.

Replaceable pads and headband parts were a repairability plus where described.

Sensor performance was a concern because one reviewer reported random wear-sensor triggers.

Smart listening features were mixed: adaptive volume, Spotify Tap, and battery preservation drew praise, while missing convenience features held the score down.

Smart listening features were useful for quick Spotify, EQ, or assistant access, though one reviewer found the M button nonessential.

Smart Pause performance was criticized for random triggering in one longer test.

Setup simplicity received praise from one reviewer who called pairing/setup easy.

Setup was easy out of the box in one review, but app responsiveness and connection reliability were criticized elsewhere.

Sound leakage was viewed positively in one review because the plush ear cups helped minimize leak.

Sound leakage was mixed-to-negative, with some office-safe results but several warnings about leakage at higher volumes.

Reviewers generally liked the sound, describing it as pleasing, energetic, balanced, or excellent, with the strongest praise for rock and instrument-driven listening.

Most reviewers liked the lively Marshall-leaning sound, but several found it average, treble-heavy, distant, or not competitive for audiophiles.

Soundstage width drew mixed reactions, from solid or opened-up presentation to narrow, cluttered, or not true-spatial enough.

Soundstage ranged from surprisingly wide and dynamic to compact, intimate, or under-imaged depending on the reviewer.

Spatial audio was divisive: some liked the extra space, but others found it unnatural, underwhelming, or below true Atmos-style experiences.

One review said Dolby Atmos playback still had kick despite the lack of noise cancelling.

Connection stability was praised as stable and high-performance in one review.

Fit stability was mixed: some reviews praised secure fit, while others found head movement could shift or dislodge the headphones.

Streaming service integration was praised strongly for Spotify Tap, especially for starting playback without pulling out a phone.

Spotify integration was praised by Spotify users as genuinely useful for starting or cycling music quickly.

Sustainability and repairability were praised for replaceable parts and repair-minded design, with a caveat that batteries are not user-replaceable.

Repairability was viewed as a plus because reviewers noted battery replacement through Marshall's repair program.

Sustainability materials received a modest positive note for recycled plastic use.

Transparency mode was considered usable and sometimes natural, but reviewers also noted hiss, limited realism, or weaker performance than the best rivals.

Travel friendliness was a major strength due to battery life, compact folding, wired flexibility, and protective case design.

Travel friendliness was mixed-to-positive: small size and battery helped, while no ANC and no case limited flights and loud travel.

Treble feedback was split between clear, impressive highs and complaints about sibilance, fatigue, or sharpness on some tracks.

Treble was described as crisp and detailed by some reviewers, while others found the top end harsh, exaggerated, or clustered.

USB-C was useful for charging and wired listening, but reviewers criticized the one-port limitation and need for power in wired use.

USB-C charging was viewed positively, especially as a more reliable option than fiddly wireless charging.

Value was generally fair to good, especially on sale, but reviewers noted strong cheaper or better-performing rivals.

Value was split: reviewers liked the battery, design, and sound for the price, but many felt ANC competitors offered more.

Voice assistant use was positive in the review that tested Google Assistant and Siri.

Voice prompts and feedback added personality through Marshall-style guitar sounds during power and pairing.

Marshall's guitar-riff feedback tones were described as a nice brand touch by reviewers who mentioned them.

One reviewer found the headphones plenty loud, with comfortable listening volume well below maximum.

One reviewer found normal listening volume more than sufficient, with extra output available if needed.

Water and sweat resistance was a weakness because reviewers noted the headphones are not waterproof and should avoid rain or gym use.

Reviewers treated the lack of IP or water resistance as a real limitation for rain, sweat, hikes, and outdoor use.

Wear detection auto-pause was only moderately successful, working but reacting slowly.

Wear detection performance was a weakness in one longer test because the sensor randomly triggered.

Weight comfort was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling the headphones light for the class and easy to wear.

Low weight was a consistent strength, with reviewers calling the headphones light, barely noticeable, and easy to wear.

Wind handling was mixed: one reviewer found wind susceptibility in ANC/transparency, while another found moderate wind manageable.

Wind handling was only discussed in microphone-test contexts and was generally positive alongside noisy-condition call performance.