Review of Marshall Mode II lightweight and damn loud wireless headphones

Marshall is famous for its excellent audio equipment, including cable headphones and wireless speakers. But now the company will try its hand at wireless in-ear headphones with the Marshall Mode II model.

The wireless headphone market is incredibly crowded, so Marshall faces some serious competition. Can Mode II beat the best wireless headphones?

Description

The body of the Major 2 headphones is lined with eco-leather; it feels soft and pleasant in the hand, and the design is not shaky. I'm glad that the Marshall can be folded, although when folded they are still large, but they should fit in the pocket of a winter jacket.

The Marshall inscriptions, leather texture, button, and metal bends are stylishly designed; you won’t be embarrassed to wear them with wealthy friends or on the street.

All stitches of the Major 2 Bluetooth headphones are well and evenly executed. You won't find threads or parts that spoil the look or stand out from others. Elements coated with gold look rich. The main color of Marshall headphones is black.

Design

Zound Industries (the company that licensed the Marshall brand for personal audio products) has always done an incredible job of incorporating design elements from the iconic Marshall guitar amps into their gadgets. When creating Mode II, the company did not change tradition.

The charging case is made of the same textured black plastic as the Marshall Emberton speaker. It features the full brand logo, while on the headphones themselves only a stylized letter “M” fits. In a sea of ​​bland black plastic headphones, the Mode IIs stand out with a sleek, retro look that only Marshall provides.

The dedication to design can even be seen in the USB-C cable: it's longer than standard headphone cords and looks like a guitar patch cord, which is pretty cool.

I can walk around in Marshall Mode II for several hours without my ears getting tired.

Both the headphones themselves and the charging case are surprisingly small and lightweight. Only 44.5 grams, making them more portable than AirPods Pro or regular AirPods with a wireless case.

The headphones have a very low fit: they do not protrude, but are almost flush with the edge of the ear, due to which they do not interfere with putting on a hat or helmet.

But their diminutiveness is not something to worry about. Mode II have a durable design, and their body will protect against minor troubles or collisions with other objects if you carry them, for example, in a bag. The headphones are also suitable for training thanks to IPX5 water protection (withstand a directed stream of water). Even the case has an IPX4 protection standard (splashproof), which is almost unheard of in the world of completely wireless headphones.

Characteristics table

Marshall Minor II Bluetooth comparison

Marshall Minor II Bluetooth vs JBL T205BT vs Xiaomi Mi Collar Bluetooth Headset Youth

Differences JBL T205BT:

JBL T205BT wireless earbuds

• Different look . A more versatile design, the battery is built into the remote control rather than separate.
• Available in a large number of colors.
• Smaller and lighter.
• Various emitters . The membrane diameter is smaller – 12.5 mm, sensitivity is lower – 100 dB.
• Less autonomy .
  Only 6 hours. And there is no fast charging.
• Bluetooth 4.2 . Not 5.0.
• No aptX support.
• The landing is more comfortable.
• The sound is simpler . Not so natural, less low frequency, less speed and less well-developed scene.
• Cheaper. 20$

Differences of Xiaomi Mi Collar Bluetooth Headset Youth:

Xiaomi Mi Collar Bluetooth Headset Youth

• Different look.
• Available in only 1 color. Maximum - two.
• Has a neckband.
• Smaller and lighter.
• Various emitters.
• Less autonomy.
  7 o'clock. No fast charging.
• Bluetooth 4.1 . Not 5.0.
• No aptX support.
• The sound is worse. In all respects.
• Cheaper. 30$

Equipment

1. Headphones Marshal Major 2
2. AUX cable
3. USB charging cable
4. Marshall manual, documentation.

For its price segment, the equipment, although small, is beautifully and qualitatively designed. Since Marshall sells more in the American market, the manufacturer decided to make the box in two colors.

The AUX Bluetooth headphone cable is non-standard; there is a twisted wire in the middle of it, and there is also a microphone. It allows you to easily stretch the cable to the required distance, and even if you accidentally drop the phone, the Marshall cable will not immediately come out of the socket, but will soften the fall by stretching.

The plugs of the Major 2 Bluetooth headphones are painted gold on both ends, and the connection point with the wire is carefully twisted into a flexible spring for preservation. If desired, you can connect another cable and it will also work. The kit includes a USB cable with the company name on the end, lined with soft material that is pleasant to touch. The company name is proudly marked at the end.

Marshall headphone documentation is a time when it's worth opening rather than putting it back in the box. In it, the manufacturer took care to disclose the list of factors that should be taken into account if you are going to keep your ears healthy (after all, there is room to roam around with the equalizer and volume). You can read about the rules for using Major 2.

Marshall Minor II Bluetooth Headphones Review