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First Post
02-08-2025
- First Post
Marshall Monitor III ANC Review: Wireless headphones with balanced sound and great battery backup
Pros: Vintage Marshall design that mixes nostalgia with class Highly comfortable to wear for hours Balanced and detailed sound output Outstanding battery backup, fast charging Functional active noise cancellation Clean and useful companion app Dual-pairing support Cons: Scant codec support Transparency performance could have been better Wear detection is erratic at times Price: Rs 29,999 Rating: 4.1/5 When one thinks of high quality wireless headphones in India under Rs 30,000, three names come to mind straight away - Sony WH-1000XM5, Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless and Bose QuietComfort. We now have a fourth contender and from an equally renowned brand. The brand Marshall needs no introduction, just that it's better known for its speakers here than headphones. But they now look to challenge the above three with their Monitor III ANC wireless headphones. Let's see how that goes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Everything from the carry case to the headphones has a trademark Marshall styling Marshall Monitor III ANC - Build, design and comfort: 8.5/10 The Monitor III ANC unmistakably looks and feels like a Marshall product with that trademark design and finish. The leathery black back with the golden Marshall logo makes it look classy. The same finish extends to the bulk of the headband too. The carry case is sturdy, compact and elegant with pockets to store a few cables too The earcups have excellent padding and the headphones can be worn for long with any discomfort or sweating. The inside of the headband could have done with a bit of padding though. The black and gold theme lends a classy look to the product The headphones are made of high quality materials overall and the build is quite solid. Despite that, it doesn't feel heavy and weighs just about 250 grams. The weight distribution is spot on and you don't feel any burden when you wear it. The Marshall Monitor III ANC has a pair of 32 mm drivers, and the ear-cups are just large enough to go over the ears, at least in my case. The soft cushions exert minimal pressure to stay in place without a wobble without causing any ear fatigue. The multifunctional joystick lets you control the audio playback as well as adjust the volume Unlike its Sony and the Sennheiser counterparts, the back of the earcups does not have touch controls. You get a distinct multifunctional joystick on the right earcup for controlling the playback, volume and power among other things. Its golden tinge adds more character to the design. The Marshall companion app gives you access to sound and control tweaks among other things A USB-C charging port and an LED indicator are located on the left earcup, and there are two neatly camouflaged buttons on the hinges - one to toggle ANC and the other (denoted with M) can be assigned a task through the companion app. All the buttons are quite tactile. All key functions of these headphones can be accessed using three smartly placed buttons A headphone jack is missing here, however, the company bundles a USB-C to Aux cable to use this as a wired headphone in case it runs out of battery. A USB-C charging cable is also present in the package along with a stylish carry case that matches the decor of the earcups on the outside and has a posh red velvet interior with a compartment to hold a few cables and cards maybe. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The earcups have great padding which lets you wear these headphones comfortably for hours The earcups can be folded before being stored away, occupying less space in your bag. These headphones once folded occupy very little space Marshall Monitor III ANC - Key features: 7.5/10 The Monitor III ANC is Bluetooth 5.3 compliant but only supports SBC and AAC codecs. Strangely, there is no support for higher end codecs like aptX HD, aptX Adaptive or even LDAC, which one expects in this price bracket. There is multi-point support to pair this product with two devices simultaneously. You get wear detection sensors to automatically pause the audio when you take the headphones off, and resume when you put them back on. However, it is a bit temperamental. At times it pauses the audio a good 3 to 5 seconds after taking them off, and on occasions, it doesn't pause it at all. The wireless range is good with the headphones retaining a strong connection at 10 metres with a clear line of sight, and does well even with a concrete wall in between. Like most headphones, it does not promise any IP rated ingress protection, so avoid wearing them during a workout or in the rain. One needs to install the Marshall Bluetooth app to access certain settings of this product, update the firmware, tweak the audio and ANC and also play around with the soundstage. As I mentioned earlier, you can also assign a function to the M button through the app. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Marshall Monitor III ANC - Performance: (8/10) Before we get to the sound quality, let's talk a bit about the ANC here. When it comes to ANC, Sony has raised the bar significantly in this segment, and this Marshall product doesn't come close to dethroning the WH-1000XM5. The ANC on the Monitor III ANC is certainly functional and can effectively eliminate some low frequency sounds like the whirr of a fan or that of a vehicle engine. But it isn't as effective when it comes to anything above lower midrange frequency sounds, even when you set the ANC to maximum from the app. The passive noise isolation is good, and in combination with the ANC, it does suppress the background buzz to a certain degree in busy areas or public transport. When you need to be aware of your surroundings, switching to Transparency mode lets ambient sounds through. While the ambient sounds feel natural, human voices could have done with a bit of amplification. I really had to strain my ears to have a conversation wearing the headphones when outdoors, and more often than not, I had to take them off. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moving on to the sound quality, it is comparable to the XM5 and the Sennheiser Momentum 4, though the tuning is a little different from both. You get slightly boosted low frequencies for the extra warmth, though not as much as on its Sony counterpart. The Sennheiser output is a bit more detailed in comparison. Having said that, the Monitor III ANC produces a fairly balanced sound that is thoroughly enjoyable across various genres of music. One can only wonder how much better it would have sounded on a superior codec. The bass here is tight and punchy and does not overshadow the mids. The mids are reproduced well with crisp vocals and good instrument separation. The highs are largely well-tempered yet sharp and without any sibilance. However, there was a bit of a clash between the upper midrange frequencies and the highs in certain tracks. You can resolve this to an extent through the 5-band equaliser available in the app, but the default tuning generally works well in most cases. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These headphones are loud enough around the 60% volume level and I don't remember going beyond 75% even outdoors. One good part about the Marshall Monitor III ANC is that there is a good balance between the three frequency ranges even when listening at a lower volume, which is not the case in several headphones. The default soundstage is decently broad for closed back headphones. I said default because you can adjust it from the app by simulating different room sizes. You can certainly try it but I found the results a bit cosmetic. These headphones are great for music, and can be used for watching movies or webseries too as they offer very good dialogue clarity and a reasonable thump in action sequences. We did not face any latency issues either as there was no perceptible delay between audio and video when streaming content. Marshall Monitor III ANC - Call quality: (7.5/10) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The call quality here is pretty good for over-the-ear headphones. Your voice is transmitted with sufficient clarity to the person on the line. There were absolutely no complaints when indoors. When outdoors, it doesn't filter out all the ambient noise but largely keeps it in check without impacting the conversation much. The overall performance in this department is satisfactory. Marshall Monitor III ANC - Battery life: (9.5/10) This is an area where the Marshall outshines the competition. The company promises an insane battery backup of 70 hours, and that too with ANC on. The number is pegged at 100 hours without ANC! During my test run, I managed to get upwards of 75 hours on a full charge with intermittent use of ANC, after which I lost track of the time. Even at that point, there was some juice left in the tank, which is incredible. At a couple of hours of daily listening and very little calling, these Marshall cans can go on for a month before the need for a top up. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The next best thing is the 50+ hours I got on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless with ANC on all the time; not a bad result either. This pair of headphones supports fast charging too with just 15 minutes of charging providing you with close to 12 hours of playtime, which can get you through a working day or most longhaul flights. It can be charged fully in less than three hours using a standard USB-C charger. The app provides you with a handful of charging options to improve battery health. The USB-C port can be used to charge this device as well as to use it as wired headphones Marshall Monitor III ANC - Price and verdict The Marshall Monitor III ANC is priced at Rs 29,999 with a one year warranty. That may be 5K lower than the launch price of the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless in India, but those two can now be purchased for well under 30K. That being said, 30K is a fair price for what this Marshall offers, especially its balanced sound output and crazy good battery backup. So should you buy this over the Momentum 4 Wireless or the XM5? You certainly won't be disappointed if you do, but let reason dictate your buying decision. All three headphones sound great, though personally I would put the Momentum 4 slightly ahead of the other two in this department. When it comes to ANC, Sony is a clear winner. And you know by now, Marshall takes the battery crown. Choose one depending on the feature that matters to you the most. At their current selling price, Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless at a shade under 25K offers the best balance of features, performance and value.
Tom's Guide
03-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Quick! Don't miss $155 off Sennheiser's excellent sounding Momentum 4 headphones
Sennheiser's one of those brands that everyone's heard of, but might not have sampled. That's a massive shame, because the likes of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are some of the best noise canceling headphones you can buy today, with great sound and epic noise-canceling. Even better, you can currently pick up a pair with a massive $155 discount, bringing them down to $295 if you head over to Amazon right now. That's one huge saving — and it looks like stock might run out soon! Sennheiser's answer to the WH-1000XM5 and the QuietComfort Ultra are sometimes forgotten, but they deserve all the accolades. They're a comfortable pair of headphones that sound excellent and block out loads of noise. It's the battery life that truly wows, however — there's 60 hours worth with ANC turned on. They more than earned their 4.5-star review. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless are a steal at this price. They lead the way in battery life when you compare them to the established competition, double the staying power of the Sony WH-1000XM5, and nearly triple that of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Turn the ANC off and that battery life boosts even further, making sure that they last that weekend trip when you forgot to pack your USB charger. You muppet. There's more to them than just game-changing battery, of course. They sound better than their rivals, with Sennheiser's famous audio architecture providing a clear, balanced sound that outperforms almost everything that costs the same. They're comfortable, handsome, and feature some solid touch controls to make them easy to use when you're on the go. What more could you want? How about excellent call quality to make sure that you can hear every word when you're catching up with your mom in your weekly catch up. You're welcome. They fall down slightly in the clamping force and size — they are a little tight on some heads, and they're a relatively small pair of headphones (larger-headed people might want to look elsewhere. Might I suggest the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 for the discerning gentleman/gentlelady?) All in all, though, this is a great pair of headphones at an excellent price. And to think Prime Day hasn't even begun yet!
Stuff.tv
01-07-2025
- Stuff.tv
The Nothing Headphones 1 are divisive, but I found lots more to like here than just bold design
Stuff Verdict Nothing's first headphones will please its passionate fanbase. Distinctive design, effective ANC and enjoyable audio impress, but they don't disrupt the market like the firm's previous audio efforts. Pros Funky looks meet functional controls Competitive noise cancelling and dynamic sound Comfortable and with enough battery for all-day listening Cons Some features restricted to Nothing smartphones You'll either love or hate the styling Can't match (pricier) class leaders on audio or ANC Introduction It was only a matter of time, wasn't it? Having cut its teeth on multiple generations of true wireless earphones, burgeoning tech brand Nothing has finally taken a stab at its first pair of over-ears. Headphone (1) evolves the firm's signature see-through styling and ditches touch inputs for intuitive physical controls, while speaker specialist KEF has lent an audio helping hand. These eye-catching cans represent a change of tactics, though. Instead of sitting in Nothing's established budget territory, Headphone (1) is heading upmarket to take on the best headphone front runners. At $299/£299/€299 they undercut the usual suspects from Sony, Bose et al – but clash directly with previous-gen greats like the Sony XM5, Bowers Px7 S2e and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. All are still capable of going a few rounds against a young upstart. Has Nothing done enough here to stand out from the pack on more than looks alone? How we test headphones Every pair of earphones and headphones reviewed on Stuff is used for a minimum of a week's worth of daily listening. We use a playlist of test tracks made up of multiple genres to assess sound, and use our years of experience to compare to other models. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Design & comfort: hip to be square There's really no mistaking Headphone (1) for anything but a Nothing product, with transparent ear cups that proudly show off a mix of geometric shapes and textures that hint at the electronics underneath. I get cassette tape vibes, if you're old enough to know what those are. The circle-meets-square shape is pretty out there, especially if you go for the white version; slap on some silver face paint and your Dr Who Cybermen cosplay is basically complete. The black model is only a little subtler. Few over-ear headphones stray so far into fashion statement territory. It'll surely prove divisive, even among Nothing fans, but I like that the firm is willing to take risks. Fair play for resisting the urge to add glyph lighting LEDs, too – although given Phone 3 has ditched them in favour of a dot matrix, maybe that didn't take much restraint after all. Elsewhere things are a little more traditional, with oval-shaped ear cushions stuffed with memory foam and lined with faux leather for maximum sound isolation (at the cost of sweaty ears after prolonged listening sessions). The head cushion gets the same treatment, while the headband slides smoothly to adjust the fit. The ear cups then have tilting, pivoting arms that can each turn 90 degrees, letting you wear the headphones flush around your neck – handy, as it doesn't fold for travel. Even with the headband at its most extended, though, I found the square parts would butt into my chin more than a regular-shaped pair might. Comfort was otherwise pretty good, with just the right amount of clamping force and enough padding in all the right places that I could wear them for an entire work day and not feel worse for it once I'd clocked off. That's a big deal, as at 329g these are heavier than pretty much all of the class leaders. They would definitely shift around on my head when I was running, so I would't recommend them for exercise. Some of that weight can be chalked up to the metal used for the square parts of each ear cup. Everything else is made from polycarbonate. Nothing knows a thing or two about picking plastics that don't feel cheap, of course, so Headphone (1) largely holds its own on the materials front against similarly-priced rivals. I'm honestly a bit surprised it went to the effort of getting an IP rating, as I rarely see one on over-ear headphones; IP52 is pretty basic, but means you don't have to worry about sweat doing damage. Features & battery: button it Open the box and you'll find the Headphone (1) nestled in its bundled hard-shell carry case, which has a fairly large footprint but is slim enough to slide easily in and out of a rucksack. It's got a mesh pocket for stashing all the cables you could need. USB-C and 3.5mm are included for charging and analogue listening; you'll find ports for both on the right ear cup, next to the power switch. Physical controls are the order of the day here, with real thought having gone in to how you operate them all by touch alone. You spin the chunky roller to adjust volume, click it in to play or pause tracks, and long-press it to swap between noise cancelling modes. Nudging the slender Paddle button left or right skips tracks forward and backward – and holding it in fast-forwards or rewinds whatever's playing, if you media player supports it. I've found it very intuitive, and love not having to worry about overly sensitive touch surfaces accidentally skipping songs. The button that launches your phone's smart assistant lives on the outer part of the ear cup. On Nothing phones starting with Phone 3, it can be programmed to channel hop between different audio apps and favourites, or record a voice note with a long-press and send it straight to Nothing's Essential Space app. I like the idea of jumping between podcasts and Spotify playlists without having to reach for my phone, though I've not had the chance to test this out ahead of Phone 3's launch. Headphone (1) is quick to connect over Bluetooth 5.3, with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair both on board. It's got dual connectivity for fast swapping between two devices, too. You'll have to head for Nothing's X app if you want to swap from AAC or SBC streaming (whichever your kit defaults to) to the higher quality LDAC. Voice calls are clear enough, with four of the six internal mics and some clever algorithms able to keep wind noise to a minimum while outdoors. I can't fault the wear detection, either; it never threw a false positive and paused my songs while I was moving. Nothing earns praise for battery life, too. I came very close to the firm's claimed 35 hours of ANC-on listening, which is a few hours more than either the Sony XM6 or Bowers Px7 S3 can manage – despite costing considerably more. There's easily enough juice here for a long-haul flight, and all the airport faff on either side. Disable noise cancelling and it'll do 80 hours per charge, while a five minute top-up is enough for over two more hours of ANC streaming. Sound quality and noise cancelling: we're in the big leagues now Without keen pricing to fall back on, the Headphone (1) has nowhere to run when it comes to performance. It gets off to a good start, with respectable noise cancelling ability. The sounds of next door's builders buzz-sawing through patio tiles were easily drowned out with music at a modest volume, and it all but deleted the low-frequency drone of my desk fan. Wind noise from having it blowing directly at my face wasn't a big deal either. The distinctive design posed a slight dilemma in how to test them on public transport or busy public spaces, but I managed to stay incognito long enough to confirm noisy subway carriages aren't a major concern. While Bose and Sony still set the standard, coping better with sudden changes in background noise and chatty fellow passengers, Nothing has largely kept in step with similarly-priced rivals. Sound quality is a similar story. The 40mm dynamic drivers deliver a lush, energetic presentation that isn't short on volume and doesn't skimp on low-end shove, even before you reach for the Bass Enhance settings. The sub-bass synths on Modestep's Shutting down slice through the mix, without taking away from the mids. My review sample showed some specific low-frequency distortion at extreme volumes with ANC enabled, but after speaking to other testers this seems to be an isolated issue. I'm waiting for Nothing to respond. KEF's tuning curve definitely leans towards a fun, v-shaped sound that won't sway audiophiles searching for neutrality or an analytical listen. That's not to say mid-range detail is lacking or pushed to the back of the mix; Zakk Wylde's thundering vocals still take precedence on Black Label Society's Stillborn. The closed-back drivers don't have the widest soundstage, but tunes don't sound overly enclosed or 'inside your head' either. This is an enjoyable listen overall, but Headphone (1) can't quite match the high frequency precision of Sennheiser's latest. It avoids sounding muddy, but the breathy vocals of Billie Eilish's Everything I Wanted didn't sparkle in quite the same way. Disabling noise cancelling sees this end of the spectrum sharpen up, but at the expense of bass presence. I definitely preferred to listen with ANC enabled. Interface: solve for X The latest version of Nothing's X companion app doesn't mix things up all that much, having previously ditched the dot matrix font for something a little easier to read. Anyone that's used a pair of the firm's wireless earbuds will recognise most of the features on offer, including customisable controls, a choice of noise cancelling modes, and a prominent battery life indicator right on the home screen – handy, as the headphones won't announce how much juice is left when you turn 'em on. You have to dig a bit to find wear detection, the low latency mode, and dual device connectivity. This is also where you'll apply firmware updates and access the Find My Headphones tool, which plays a loud noise should you misplace them. The big new addition is spatial audio, with fixed and head-tracking virtual upmixing on tap. The former helps expand the soundstage, creating the sensation your tunes are coming from further away. The latter pins sound in front of you, like you're at a gig or concert. It's as love-it-or-hate-it as any other take of the tech I've tried, and I'm not keen on the way treble takes extra presence with it enabled. I appreciate Nothing bringing is two-stage equaliser across from its in-ear range. There's a simple three-way slider for bass, mid and treble, plus a couple of presets that cover the basics; headphone geeks should head to the advanced EQ, which has choice of simple and advanced (8-band) EQ, the ability to make multiple profiles for different genres, and a QR code reader for importing community-made resets. Bass enhance also reappears, with five levels to pick from. I found level two could be a bit much for certain heavy electronic tracks, but it goes all the way to five if you want a skull-shaking low-end – and don't mind losing some definition elsewhere in the mix to bloated bass frequencies. Nothing Headphone 1 verdict If you're already sold on Nothing's styling, you'll be more than happy with how the Headphone (1) performs. It has punchy audio, effective noise cancelling, and very competitive battery life. It's no class leader on any one front, though, and is far from an impulse purchase like the firm's cheaper earbuds. You could spend similar money on the outgoing Sony XM5 if you want superior ANC, and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless may be a better choice for critical listening. But if you like your tech to also make a fashion statement, this is basically in a class of one. Stuff Says… Score: 4/5 Nothing's first pair of headphones will please its passionate fanbase. Distinctive design, effective ANC and enjoyable audio help it take on established rivals, but they don't disrupt the market like the firm's other efforts. Pros Funky looks meet functional controls Competitive noise cancelling and dynamic sound Comfortable and with enough battery for all-day listening Cons Some features restricted to Nothing smartphones You'll either love or hate the styling Can't match (pricier) class leaders on audio or ANC Nothing Headphone 1 technical specifications Drivers 40mm dynamic ANC Yes, adaptive Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.3 Codecs supported SBC, AAC, LDAC Durability IP52 Battery life 35 hours (ANC on) / 80 hours (ANC off) Dimensions 174x78x189mm, 329g
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
There's a big saving on these five-star headphones in the Memorial Day sales
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Memorial Day sales have thrown up another great deal. The five-star Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are now $102 off, dropping to just $277 at Amazon. They have been cheaper before – about a month ago, they dropped to $270. But this is still a good price on a sublime pair of headphones. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless was $379 now $277 at AmazonThe five-star Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are a stellar set of cans that we praised for providing clean, neutral and musical sound, a mighty 60-hour battery life and effective ANC. Competition is fiercer than ever now, but these still hold up as a great pair of headphones. Five starsRead our Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review Deal also at Best BuyView Deal The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are getting on a bit now – we first reviewed them back in December 2022. At the time we declared them "one of the best-performing ANC over-ears at their price". Since then, the market has moved on, and competition is fiercer than ever. Not only do they have to compete with established models like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but fresh rivals too like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. But the Sennheiser's appeal endures. That's largely down to the incredible 60-hour battery life that none of these rivals can, well, rival. The Momentum 4 Wireless also support the high-quality aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec, and the Sennheiser Smart Control app gives you a deep level of personalisation. Most importantly, when it comes to sound quality, they offer a clear, direct, detailed and lively profile. As we say in our review: "When first playing music through them, we are also struck by their tonal balance, which has shed a layer or two of the richness that has characterised older Momentums, in favour of more neutrality this time round. "That's no bad thing. They sound sharp and sprightly, and that added leanness hasn't come at the expense of substance across the frequencies: highs are well-honed, mids are pleasingly plump, and lows strike a good balance between being taut and tubby." Sound good, right? And with $102 off, dropping the price to just $277 at Amazon, we recommend them wholeheartedly. MORE: Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review Our pick of the best wireless headphones you can buy right now These are the best audiophile headphones on the market
