Our Verdict
The Major II are not the most versatile headphones. They have a simple, lightweight design that's decent for critical listening and studio recording. However, they don't isolate enough for loud environments and their build quality feels a little cheap.
- Lightweight, and stable design.
- Low leakage.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Slightly tight on the head.
- Fragile build quality.
Decent for neutral listening. They do a good job reproducing the bass and mid-range but struggle a bit with the higher frequencies. They should sound good enough for most casual listeners. However, their lack of a decent soundstage and poor treble range is not ideal for a pure neutral listening experience.
Mediocre-at-best for commuting. They do not provide enough isolation for loud environments like being on a bus or a plane. On the upside, they are decently compact to carry around.
Average for sports use. They're lightweight and moderately stable enough on the head to not easily fall during exercise. However, they're not made for sports and their control scheme is mediocre-at-best, forcing you to adjust the volume or change tracks directly on your mobile device.
Mediocre for office use. Although they don't leak much, except at high volumes, their poor isolation will not prevent the noise of a lively office from seeping into your audio.
Average for gaming. They have a wired connection, so they have negligible latency which is suitable for gaming. They also have a decent microphone that's compatible with some consoles. Unfortunately, they lack a good app to customize their sound profile like most gaming headsets, and they're also a bit tight on the head to wear for really long gaming sessions.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 02, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Marshall Major II are an above-average-sounding, mid-range on-ear. They're a bit plasticky and don't have the sturdiest build quality but they deliver a decently well balanced audio reproduction, they're compact, lightweight and don't leak much. However, they may feel a bit tight on your head out-of-the-box, and they don't block a lot of noise, so they won't be the best headphones for commuting. They're also slightly lacking in features especially when compared to some of the competing models below. See our recommendations for the best noise canceling headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones under $200 and the best on-ear headphones.
If you prefer the compact design of in-ears, then go for the Jaybird X3; however, if you're not a big fan of the in-ear fit and also do not need a wireless design, then go for the Marshall Major II instead. The X3 are wireless and compact enough to fit into your pockets, which makes them a bit more practical for most listeners than the Major II. They also provide better isolation against ambient noise thanks to their in-ear fit and low leakage (so you can play your music at higher volumes and not distract the people around you). They're also a much better choice for sports than the Marshall. On the other hand, the Major II are completely passive, so you do not have to worry about battery life, latency, or wireless reliability. They also have an on-ear fit that some may prefer over in-ear designs like the Jaybirds.
If you just need budget wired headphones then the Marshall Major 2/Major II could be a viable option but in most cases, the wireless noise-canceling Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are a much better and more versatile pair of headphones. The Bose block a lot of noise with their noise cancelling feature which makes them more suitable for commute and travel. They're also a lot more comfortable and have an over-ear fit that most will prefer over the on-ear design of the Marshall. The Marshall, on the other hand, are completely passive, so you don't need to worry about battery life. They're also a bit more compact to carry around than the Bose but don't come with a case like the Bose do.
If you want the convenience of a wireless and wired design, go for the Marshall MID ANC Wireless. However, if you only need a wired headset at a budget price, go for the Marshall Major II. The MID ANC are wireless and also noise cancelling, which makes them a more versatile everyday option. They also have a better-balanced sound quality and come with a cable, meaning that you can use them passively if the battery dies. The Major II are completely passive, so you do not have to worry about a battery in the first place. They also have a slightly more compact design but don't look or feel as premium as the MID ANC.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M60x are better headphones than the Marshall Major 2/Major II. The Audio-Technica have a better-balanced sound quality than the Marshall. They're also better built and look more premium and durable than the Marshall, and come with three sturdy and durable audio cables. On the upside, the Marshall have a limited in-line remote that gives you some control over your audio. They're also a lot more compact to carry around, being lighter, smaller, and more foldable than the Audio-Technica.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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