If you want better Codec support
Choose Marshall Milton A.N.C.. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for Codec support, with a 4.3 overall score.
Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Marshall Monitor III ANC for class-leading battery life, plush comfort, rugged travel design, and lively rock-friendly sound. Skip them if you need elite ANC, hi-res codecs, or a built-in 3.5mm jack.
Best for
Best for travelers, commuters, and Marshall-style fans who want very long battery life, soft comfort, rugged folding portability, and a lively sound that suits rock and instrument-forward music.
Not for
Not for buyers who need class-leading ANC, hi-res or low-latency Bluetooth codecs, a passive 3.5mm jack, or the most natural spatial audio and transparency modes.
Verdict
Reviewers consistently framed the Marshall Monitor III ANC as a characterful premium travel headphone rather than a pure tech benchmark. The strongest agreement centers on the enormous battery life, soft long-wear comfort, compact case, tactile controls, and rugged Marshall styling. The main tradeoff is performance polish: ANC is usually described as good or decent rather than Bose/Sony level, codec support is limited, and the missing built-in 3.5mm jack frustrates wired-use buyers. Sound impressions are generally positive, especially for rock, metal, jazz, and other instrument-driven genres, though bass lovers and spatial-audio fans may find stronger alternatives.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
81 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.034 (42%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.432 (40%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.48 (10%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.47 (9%)
Pros
-
Battery life had the strongest agreement: reviewers repeatedly described it as class-leading, incredible, extraordinary, or far ahead of competitors.
-
Comfort was one of the strongest consensus wins, with reviewers repeatedly praising all-day wear, soft fit, and low fatigue.
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Portability and foldability were major strengths thanks to the compact folding design and small travel footprint.
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Button controls were a standout strength, with reviewers preferring the tactile joystick and physical buttons over touch controls.
-
Travel friendliness was a major strength due to battery life, compact folding, wired flexibility, and protective case design.
-
The carry case was usually praised as sturdy, compact, premium, or travel-friendly, though a few reviewers found it bulky or unnecessary.
Cons
-
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.
-
Codec support was a clear weakness because reviewers noted no hi-res, lossless, or low-latency codec support.
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Water and sweat resistance was a weakness because reviewers noted the headphones are not waterproof and should avoid rain or gym use.
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Hi-res playback support was a weakness because reviewers repeatedly noted no hi-res Bluetooth audio support.
-
aptX support was criticized as absent, especially for Android or lossless-codec users.
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Earpad/body-borne noise was a notable negative for one reviewer, who heard footsteps and heartbeat-like sounds.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Over-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Cable quality, Streaming service integration, Portability/foldability, near average in Aesthetics / discreet profile, Active noise cancellation, below average in Built-in DAC and hi-res playback, Codec support, 3.5mm analog input availability.
Comparison summary
81 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher38 (47%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts28 (35%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower15 (19%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in DAC and hi-res playback | 2.0 | 4.0 | -2.0 |
| Cable quality | 5.0 | 3.0 | +2.0 |
| Codec support | 2.0 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
| 3.5mm analog input availability | 2.1 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
| Streaming service integration | 5.0 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
| Portability/foldability | 4.8 | 3.6 | +1.2 |
| Audio-video sync accuracy | 2.8 | 4.3 | -1.5 |
| aptX | 2.0 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Built-in DAC and hi-res playback
Choose Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 Headphones. It scores 4.6 vs 2.0 for Built-in DAC and hi-res playback, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better 3.5mm analog input availability
Choose Sony 1000X The Collexion. It scores 4.5 vs 2.1 for 3.5mm analog input availability, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better aptX
Choose Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE Headphones. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for aptX, with a 4.3 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- More expensive: price T3 says the Marshall is less expensive than Apple AirPods Max.
- Worse: battery life TechRadar says the Marshall lasts much longer than Apple AirPods Max.
- Compared: overall premium headphone competition RecordingNow says the Marshall competes very well against Apple AirPods Max.
- Compared: overall premium headphone competition RecordingNow says the Marshall competes very well against Sony WH-1000XM6.
- Worse: battery life Reviewer says the Marshall more than doubles Sony WH-1000XM6 battery life.
- Worse: battery life TechRadar says the Marshall exceeds Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 battery life.
FAQ
How good is the battery life?
Reviewers strongly agree that battery life is the standout feature. Multiple reviews describe the 70-hour ANC-on claim and up to 100 hours with ANC off as class-leading or far ahead of rivals.
Are the Marshall Monitor III ANC comfortable for long sessions?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly praised the light weight, soft ear pads, low clamping pressure, and ability to wear them for long workdays or travel sessions.
Is the noise cancellation top-tier?
No. Most reviewers called ANC good, solid, or useful for travel and daily environments, but several said Bose and Sony still perform better.
Do they have a 3.5mm headphone jack?
They do not have a built-in 3.5mm analog jack. Several reviewers disliked this, though the headphones can use wired audio through USB-C with an included USB-C-to-3.5mm cable.
What music do reviewers think they suit best?
Reviewers most often connected the tuning to rock, metal, jazz, classical, and other instrument-driven music. Some said EQ helps modern pop, hip-hop, or electronic music, but bass-heavy listeners may want more slam.
Are the app and controls useful?
Yes. The app, physical joystick, ANC button, M button, EQ, Spotify Tap, and battery-preservation options were generally praised, although spatial audio and wear detection drew mixed reactions.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.8
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 3.9
Article Reviews
androidcentral.com
- Review score
- 4.5
techradar.com
- Review score
- 4.1
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