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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. Usability is good – one touch controls Play/Pause, two touches will skip you forward. The buds will Auto Pause when you take them from your ears. Whilst we will do everything we can to meet the delivery times above, there may be factors outside of our control and we cannot guarantee delivery within this time frame. Below the image of the earphones, you can enable the ANC or transparency modes, as well as turn both off. You can also adjust the strength of the relevant mics for each mode, though the default setting for both is 100%.
The Motif ANC operate over Bluetooth 5.2 – the latest version – but codec support is limited to just SBC and AAC.The earbuds are rated IPX5, meaning that they are protected against jets of water from all directions, while the case is IPX4-rated so has a decent level of water resistance, too. Not all wireless earbuds’ cases possess an IP rating, so it’s refreshing to see one here, and the case itself is one of the most striking around. Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Northern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands) may take longer to reach you. Victoria Marshall added: “With Marshall Group, the potential to further impact an ever-modernising music industry is a highly genuine one. Together, we will preserve the Marshall legacy and shape the future of ‘Live Loud’. Having worked alongside my father during his later years, I know he would be excited at this direction and the potential to reach a larger worldwide audience with innovation and passion which he always had in spades.” How we test
The fourth-generation Major IV possess all of the style we’ve come to expect from Marshall, while more than doubling the battery life of their predecessor. They’ve also undergone a few smart design tweaks, making them an attractive option for those seeking eye-catching, on-ear cans. While EQ personalisation would be welcome, the default Marshall tuning is nothing short of outstanding. The Motif’s dynamic drivers may only be 6mm in size, but these are earbuds that possess real oomph. I rarely felt the need to go any higher than 50% volume such was the power of the sound they delivered.
Marshall’s most obvious competitor in the headphone market is JBL, a brand which also comes with considerable live music credibility. JBL offers a comparable mix of headphone styles, but somehow the Marshall design just feels a little more granular – they get you closer to the stage. Who owns Marshall Amplification? Finally, while total battery life is passable at 20 hours with ANC on, the in-ear stamina leaves a lot to be desired, so anyone who engages in extended listening sessions may find the Motif ANC dying prematurely. If true wireless staying power is of utmost importance to you, the Creative Outlier Pro offer a highly impressive ten hours of battery life with ANC enabled, and up to 15 hours with it switched off. Marshall and Zound first collaborated in 2010 in a deal that resulted in Marshall’s range of headphones and Bluetooth speakers. READ NEXT: These are the best Bluetooth headphones to buy right now Marshall Motif ANC review: What did we like about them? The soundstage is broad and no song on the aforementioned playlist illustrated this better than Malevolence’s “Remain Unbeaten”. The thrashing instrumental sections were pleasingly uncluttered, ensuring that every guitar strum and crashing drum was articulated cleanly.Marshall estimates that the buds can last roughly four-and-a-half hours (with ANC on) or six hours (with ANC off) per charge. It claims that the case holds between 20 and 26 hours of additional battery life (depending on your use of ANC). Of course, your results will vary based on your volume levels. The last couple of niggles aren’t as impactful but are still worth bearing in mind if you’re considering purchasing the Motif ANC. First, given how much the Motif cost, I’d like to see high-resolution codec support. Sound quality is great but would be even better were you able to make use of aptX Adaptive or LDAC. The last feature of note is an eco-charging setting that claims to increase the longevity of your earbuds by preventing them from charging past 80%. We haven't tested this model long enough to verify that claim, but capping their charge to 80% means you have to deal with shorter runtimes in the interim. Otherwise, the app lets you install firmware updates and access various links to the Marshall store.
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