If you want better aptX
Choose Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 Headphones. It scores 4.6 vs 1.5 for aptX, with a 4.1 overall score.
Marshall Milton A.N.C. Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Milton A.N.C. for class-leading on-ear battery life, tactile controls, repairable parts, and lively sound. Skip it if you need over-ear isolation, dependable wear detection, natural call quality, or know that on-ear pressure bothers you.
Best for
Commuters, frequent travelers, and Marshall fans who want compact on-ear headphones with strong ANC, long battery life, physical controls, and replaceable parts. They particularly suit listeners who enjoy warm, bass-forward sound and are willing to use EQ.
Not for
Listeners who dislike pressure directly on their ears, need best-in-class over-ear isolation, or rely heavily on natural-sounding calls should skip them. They are also a poor fit for workouts or harsh weather because there is no official IP rating.
Verdict
The Milton A.N.C. makes a convincing case for premium on-ear headphones by combining unusually long battery life, effective adaptive ANC, excellent physical controls, and extensive repairability in a compact design. Most reviewers also praise its low weight, plush pads, and warm, energetic sound, while LDAC, USB-C audio, multipoint, Soundstage, and strong app support add real versatility. The tradeoffs come from the form factor and tuning. Passive isolation is limited, voices can break through ANC, and sound leakage rises at higher volume. Comfort is outstanding for many reviewers but sharply subjective, especially with glasses, piercings, or larger ears. The bass-forward default can require EQ, call quality varies, and the absence of wear detection feels dated. Overall, it is a strong commuter and travel choice for listeners committed to on-ears, not a universal replacement for premium over-ear headphones.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
89 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.040 (45%)
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Positive 3.5-4.432 (36%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.48 (9%)
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Negative 1.5-2.49 (10%)
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Very negative below 1.50 (0%)
Pros
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Battery life is the clearest consensus strength, repeatedly lasting around 50 hours with ANC and up to 80 hours without it. Multiple reviewers went a week or more without charging.
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Repairability is exceptional: the battery, ear pads, and several other parts can be replaced by the owner. This is one of the strongest long-term reasons to choose the Milton.
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The ear pads are easy to remove and replace, and cross-generation compatibility adds uncommon long-term convenience.
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Bluetooth setup is consistently fast and painless, helped by modern pairing features. Reviewers connected phones and computers without notable trouble.
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Multipoint is a standout success, switching smoothly between two phones or across phone, tablet, and computer setups.
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Initial setup and pairing are straightforward, with Fast Pair and a clean single-screen app interface reducing friction.
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Quick charging is excellent: a 15-minute USB-C charge provides about 9.5 hours of playback, enough for a commute or workday.
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Switching ANC on does not audibly alter the core sound signature, an excellent result for tonal consistency.
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The Milton received an Editors’ Choice award for its comfort, battery life, sound, ANC, and repairable design.
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Codec coverage is unusually broad, including AAC, SBC, LC3, and LDAC for flexible use across devices.
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Wired USB-C, USB-C-to-3.5mm, Bluetooth, LDAC, and multipoint provide excellent connection flexibility across travel and desk setups.
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Native Apple Find My and Google Find Hub support integrates the headphones cleanly with both major mobile ecosystems.
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The highly adjustable headband accommodates different head sizes and helps users position the cups more comfortably.
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The cushioned headband spreads pressure effectively and supports comfortable all-day wear.
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Pairing and playback work smoothly across phones, tablets, laptops, iOS, and Android, making the Milton easy to move between daily devices.
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Replaceable pads and other serviceable components reduce waste and make worn parts easier to renew instead of replacing the entire headset.
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Marshall’s brass joystick is one of the product’s most universally praised features. It is tactile, responsive, easy to find, and simpler than touch gestures.
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At roughly 200 grams, the headphones feel exceptionally light and distribute their weight well. This is one of the most consistent comfort advantages.
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USB-C audio is a major strength, providing simple, low-latency wired playback and often clearer, punchier sound than Bluetooth. It can also charge during digital use.
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Brass accents, textured surfaces, and solid construction make the Milton look and feel more expensive than typical on-ears.
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A large share of recycled material gives the construction meaningful sustainability credentials rather than a token eco claim.
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Apple Find My and Google Find Hub support make misplaced headphones easier to locate across both major phone ecosystems.
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Compact folding, low weight, strong ANC, and marathon battery life make the Milton especially well suited to commuting and air travel.
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ANC can improve listening by reducing surrounding noise and revealing musical details without forcing higher volume.
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The self-healing earcup finish resists minor scratches and scuffs, supporting better cosmetic durability over time.
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The solid-metal folding mechanism feels more substantial and durable than the pronged hinge design used on the Major V.
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Adaptive ANC, adaptive loudness, Soundstage, Find My, battery preservation, and programmable controls create an unusually complete smart-feature package.
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Despite a relaxed clamp, the headphones remain secure during normal use and distribute their low weight evenly.
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The software suite is unusually deep for on-ear headphones, with ANC adjustment, Soundstage, adaptive loudness, battery preservation, timers, and customizable controls.
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Movies and TV benefit from clear, spacious, immersive sound, making the Milton more versatile than simpler on-ear models.
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The textured faux leather, brass accents, and exposed-wire details create an elegant, instantly recognizable Marshall look. One reviewer strongly criticized the square earcup design for poor ergonomics.
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Build quality is consistently praised as sturdy, substantial, and well made. Metal mechanisms, a flexible headband, and durable textured surfaces inspire confidence.
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The Milton launches with a notably complete feature set, adding adaptive ANC and advanced codecs to Marshall’s compact on-ear format.
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Bass is a defining strength: deep, punchy, and visceral without usually burying vocals. Several reviewers still find the stock low end too heavy.
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The foldable, lightweight form is highly portable and can fit in small bags or even large pockets. Two reviewers note that the cups do not fold flat, making slim-bag storage awkward.
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Overall satisfaction is high, with several reviewers adopting the Milton as a daily favorite. The major dissent comes from one reviewer whose ears did not fit the small square cups.
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The Marshall app works on both Android and iOS, giving both platforms access to sound and ANC customization.
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Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio, and Auracast give the Milton unusually strong future readiness, though some capabilities are still developing.
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The detachable USB-C-to-3.5mm cable makes it easy to switch between wireless and legacy wired sources without carrying a permanently attached lead.
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The Milton gets comfortably loud well below maximum output. Pushing to the limit is unnecessary and can introduce slight harshness.
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Most reviewers describe the sound as warm, energetic, clean, and enjoyable across genres. A minority dislike the bright, bass-heavy default and say it needs EQ.
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The larger memory-foam ear pads are usually praised as soft, plush, and much improved over the Major V. One reviewer’s ear shape and piercings made the small square cups extremely uncomfortable.
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Instrument separation is consistently good, especially over wired playback. It is clear enough for complex music, though not at top audiophile level.
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The overall recommendation is strongly positive for commuters, travelers, Marshall fans, and listeners who want premium on-ear features. Buyers sensitive to on-ear pressure or seeking over-ear isolation should be cautious.
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Most reviewers find these among the most comfortable on-ear headphones, with low weight and soft pads enabling long sessions. Fit remains subjective: a few felt pressure after hours, and one reviewer found the small square cups unusable.
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The Marshall Bluetooth app is widely praised for clear organization and genuinely useful controls. Minor drawbacks include loading hiccups, pairing reports, and cumbersome EQ comparisons.
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The five-band EQ is effective at taming excess bass, recessed mids, or bright treble. Fine-tuning is useful, though the missing reset and zero markers make experimentation less convenient.
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The Milton stays composed at high output, with balance and percussion generally intact. One reviewer heard a small amount of harshness only at absolute maximum volume.
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Most reviewers consider the price fair or excellent given the comfort, battery, ANC, and repairability. Some still see $230 as expensive for on-ears, especially when discounted over-ear alternatives are available.
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LDAC is a welcome first for Marshall and can reveal more detail with compatible Android devices. One technical test questioned whether the headphones deliver the full high-frequency extension associated with Hi-Res labeling.
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The drawstring pouch is useful, compact, and sometimes described as premium. It protects against basic bumps but is not a rigid travel case.
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The tuning is broadly balanced and cohesive, but one reviewer found the dynamic range compressed. It favors an enjoyable presentation over strict analytical neutrality.
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USB digital audio is driver-free, near-zero latency, and slightly clearer and more resolved than Bluetooth, making it useful for computers and production work.
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ANC is widely considered excellent for on-ear headphones and works well on engines, traffic hum, offices, and flights. It still cannot consistently match the deep isolation of leading over-ear models.
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Clamp is generally secure without excessive pressure, and several reviewers found it gentler than typical on-ears. Glasses and very long sessions can still produce pressure.
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Transparency mode is useful and mostly natural for conversations and awareness. Some reviewers hear a slightly occluded top end, extra wind, or less-than-crystal-clear passthrough.
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The included USB-C-to-3.5mm cable supports legacy wired sources and seatback systems. Analog mode still requires battery power, so it is not a true passive fallback.
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The pouch and USB-C-to-3.5mm cable make the package practical for travel and wired sources. The overly short USB-C cable is the main accessory complaint.
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The design is recognizable and lifestyle-oriented but still understated enough to avoid feeling gimmicky.
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Bluetooth 6.0 and LE Audio provide a strong foundation for future features, but parts of the ecosystem remain immature.
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Spotify Tap provides a convenient double-press shortcut when users want instant music without browsing.
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Vocals and instruments are generally clear, but the default tuning can recess the mids. EQ helps restore presence for acoustic music and speech.
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The USB-C-to-3.5mm cable is rugged and well finished, and one reviewer called it exceptional. The short USB-C charging/audio cable drew strong criticism for being impractical.
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Soundstage mode can add convincing room-like depth and immersion, and several reviewers kept it enabled. Others find it subtle, bass-reducing, artificial, or inferior to true spatial audio.
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The native soundstage ranges from intimate to surprisingly spacious for on-ears. Marshall’s Soundstage mode can add width, though the result depends strongly on the setting and content.
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Treble is usually detailed and controlled, with several reviewers praising the lack of harshness. Two tests found the upper mids and highs overly bright or close to sibilant.
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Call quality varies substantially: some tests found speech crystal clear, while others heard robotic, scratchy, or unnatural voices. Intelligibility is generally maintained.
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Glasses compatibility is split: the pads can avoid pressing directly on frames, but firm clamp may cause pressure after about an hour.
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Configurable auto-off timers help prevent idle drain. One reviewer also observed brief adaptive-ANC dropouts, suggesting some power or mode behavior still needs refinement.
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Wind handling is mixed. Calls can suppress wind very well, but transparency and ANC microphones may feed wind noise back to the wearer.
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Background suppression works well in some call tests, even against loud music. Other tests still picked up ambient noise, making performance inconsistent.
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The included presets are serviceable rather than exceptional. Reviewers often preferred building a custom EQ to fix the stock tuning.
Cons
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ANC reduces steady noise well, but the on-ear seal prevents a consistent sense of deep silence. A faint hiss and persistent voices are occasional concerns.
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Auracast support is promising but remains beta and receiver-only, with device compatibility still limited.
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A report of occasional left-right imbalance adds a minor reliability concern, although cleaning or a forced reset may correct it.
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Auracast and LE Audio have room to expand through future updates, but current beta limitations mean buyers are partly relying on Marshall’s roadmap.
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Passive isolation is the predictable weak point of the on-ear design. The pads help, but the incomplete seal lets voices and sharper sounds pass through.
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Sound leakage becomes noticeable at higher volumes, and the on-ear fit allows outside sound in as well. This is a format tradeoff rather than a minor edge case.
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The cups fold inward but do not rotate fully flat. That is compact enough for most bags but awkward in very slim storage.
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The integrated microphones keep calls intelligible, but at least one test found voices scratchy and unnatural compared with stronger competitors.
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The lack of an official IP water or sweat rating is a repeated weakness. Light rain may be tolerated, but workouts, heavy sweat, and downpours are risky.
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The headphones do not detect when they are removed, so music keeps playing until paused manually. Reviewers consider this a noticeable omission at the price.
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The headphones lack a spoken battery-level announcement and do not clearly identify connected devices by voice, forcing users to check the app.
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Wear detection is absent, so playback does not pause when the headphones are removed. This is the most repeated missing feature and feels outdated at the price.
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The absence of Dolby Atmos and head tracking disappoints reviewers who expect full spatial-audio support at this price.
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The missing wear sensor is one of the product’s clearest feature gaps, leaving users without automatic pause when the headphones come off.
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Smart Pause is effectively unavailable because there is no wear detection. Playback must be paused manually when the headphones are removed.
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Wear detection does not merely perform inconsistently; it is absent. Reviewers accustomed to automatic pausing found that omission frustrating.
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There is no aptX support, which is a clear limitation for listeners whose devices or libraries depend on that codec.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Over-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Sustainability and repairability, Replaceable pads/headband, Codec support, near average in App, Value for money, below average in aptX, Smart Pause performance, Voice prompts/feedback.
Summary
88 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher46 (52%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts25 (28%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower17 (19%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| aptX | 1.5 | 3.4 | -1.9 |
| Sustainability and repairability | 5.0 | 3.6 | +1.3 |
| Smart Pause performance | 1.8 | 3.4 | -1.6 |
| Voice prompts/feedback | 2.2 | 3.7 | -1.5 |
| Wear detection auto-pause | 2.0 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
| Integrated microphone | 2.5 | 3.9 | -1.4 |
| Sensors | 1.8 | 3.2 | -1.4 |
| Replaceable pads/headband | 5.0 | 3.6 | +1.4 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Voice prompts/feedback
Choose Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones. It scores 4.5 vs 2.2 for Voice prompts/feedback, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Wear detection auto-pause
Choose Sony 1000X The Collexion. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for Wear detection auto-pause, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Water/sweat resistance rating
Choose Baseus Inspire XH1 Headphones. It scores 4.5 vs 2.2 for Water/sweat resistance rating, with a 3.9 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: detail and expressiveness The Milton is less detailed and expressive than Sony’s flagship.
- Better: everyday value and comfort The reviewer thinks the Soundcore covers more everyday needs than the Milton.
Beyerdynamic Aventho 100
- Better: call quality The Beyerdynamic is recommended for more natural, well-rounded calls.
- Worse: battery life The Milton offers longer ANC-on battery life.
FAQ
How good is the noise cancellation?
It is very good for on-ear headphones and handles engines, traffic hum, offices, and flights well. Voices and sharper sounds still pass through more than they would with leading over-ear ANC.
Are the Milton A.N.C. comfortable for long sessions?
Most reviewers found them exceptionally light and comfortable, sometimes for nine to eleven hours. Fit is unusually subjective, though, and glasses, piercings, larger ears, or sensitivity to on-ear pressure can change the experience.
How long does the battery last?
Testing broadly supports about 50 hours with ANC enabled and up to 80 hours without it. A 15-minute USB-C charge provides roughly 9.5 hours of playback.
Do they sound good without EQ?
Most reviewers enjoy the warm, energetic, bass-forward tuning. Some find the bass excessive, the mids recessed, or the upper range too bright, but the five-band EQ can correct those issues.
Can they be used wired?
Yes. They support USB-C digital audio and include a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable for legacy sources, but analog wired mode still requires the headphones to be powered on.
What important feature is missing?
Wear detection is absent, so music does not pause automatically when the headphones are removed. Reviewers also note no official water-resistance rating and inconsistent call quality.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Aaron X Loud and Wireless
- Review score
- 3.6
YouTube - Smart Home Sounds
- Review score
- 4.5
Article Reviews
androidcentral.com
They sound great, but I can't let go of this one thing...
- Review score
- 3.2
architeg-prints.com
Marshall Milton ANC headphones blend iconic design with active noise cancellation and rich features in a comfortable, mid-price package.
- Review score
- 4.2
loudnwireless.com
The Marshall Milton ANC is not for everybody. Could it be for you?
- Review score
- 3.5
bgr.com
Marshall's Milton A.N.C. headphones are great for audiophiles, fans of the brand, and anyone who wants an affordable pair of classic-looking...
- Review score
- 4.5
zdnet.com
Marshall revamped its midrange headphones with stellar comfort, repairability, and a marathon battery life.
- Review score
- 4.3
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