Review: Marshall’s II ANC headphones produce incredible audio
Source: Windows Central
I’ve used a lot of headphones in my time, primarily on the gaming side. Many of those headphones have audio tuned for gaming specifically, accentuating highs to enhance tactical play. Some of them do come with music modes, though, or have more balanced sound that can provide a more immersive experience.
Few can actually beat a pair of high-end headphones tailored specifically for music and movies, though, and that’s certainly true of the Marshall Monitor II ANC headphones I’ve recently been testing. I may lack the vocabulary to describe just how good these headphones sound, and quite honestly, they’ve changed the way I want to experience music in the future.
Sublime sound
Marshall Monitor II ANC headphones
Bottom line: Final words.
Pros:
- Utterly entrancing audio
- Iconic Marshall amp-style design
- Solid build quality
- Massive 30-hour battery life
Cons:
- Earcups may be uncomfortably small for those with larger ears
- Android app is very buggy
- On-ear controls are unintuitive
What you’ll love about the Marshall Monitor II ANC
Source: Windows Central
Category | Spec |
---|---|
Frequency response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
Drivers | 40mm dynamic, 32 Ω |
Weight | 320g |
Connectivity | 3.5mm wired, Bluetooth 5.0 wireless, USB-C charging |
Battery life | 30 hours with active noise-cancellation, 45 hours Bluetooth-only |
Microphone | Integrated mic for calls |
The Marshall Monitor II has changed the way I want to experience music. Simply sublime.
The headset itself features a collapsible design, and comes with a carrying case, 3.5mm cable for a wired connection, and USB-C for charging (praise the gods). The battery life is truly monstrous too, hitting around 30 hours with active noise-canceling (ANC) enabled.I found the headset to be very comfortable, wearing it practically all day for one of my testing sessions, although the earcups are a little on the small size. Users with preferences for larger earcups may want to be aware of that.
Source: Windows Central
There are a few nitpicks that stop the Monitor II headphones from being perfect, but it comes fairly close, and hopefully a lot of these gripes can be solved with software updates.
What you’ll dislike about the Marshall Monitor II ANC
Source: Windows Central
The on-ear controls aren’t very intuitive in general, really. Many quality wireless headsets in this price range offer some form of communication when you’re hitting the controls, to let you know what presets you’ve adjusted. The Marshall Monitor II ANC doesn’t, so you’ll have to learn by heart what each control does, save for taking the headset off completely to look at the buttons.
Finally, I have some concerns about the headset’s hinged design. By no means did I get a sense that it had poor build quality, but the hinge mechanism on its collapsible design makes me concerned for its long-term durability. The plastics Marshall have used seem quite tough, but I genuinely fear that if I put too much pressure on them, they might snap. If you’re willing to handle them with care, though, you shouldn’t have an issue.
Should you buy the Marshall Monitor II ANC?
Source: Windows Central
I sorely hope that Marshall invests in updating its app, given how buggy and clunky it is. I can only hope that my concerns about the durability of the plastics used are unfounded, too (and I’ll certainly update this in the future if I find any issues there).
The long story short is: after using these headphones, I honestly don’t want to experience music any other way.
Silky sound
Marshall Monitor II ANC
Sublime sound.
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