The recently released Marshall Major IV headphones, priced at $149.99, deliver a comfortable, lightweight experience alongside the convenience of wireless charging. They also boast an impressive battery life of up to 80 hours, making these headphones a compelling and versatile choice. Whether you're listening at home or traveling, they present a strong option distinguished by exclusive features not commonly available from other headphone brands.

Basics

These are the fourth-generation Marshall Major wireless on-ear headphones, introducing several enhancements to the series. Notable among these is a redesigned folding mechanism that increases portability for travel – and facilitates a new capability: wireless power via the Qi charging standard.

Marshall has significantly extended the battery performance, claiming an impressive 80 hours of playtime, a substantial increase from the 30+ hours offered by the previous model. The headphones retain the signature square earcups characteristic of Marshall products, though the surface texture has been updated to a smooth finish instead of the textured synthetic leather previously used (which is still present on the headband). The familiar multi-directional control dial from earlier Major models is also included, alongside a 3.5mm jack for both traditional wired listening and audio sharing with another pair of headphones.

The package includes a coiled 3.5mm audio cable, evoking the style of classic Marshall amplifiers, and a USB-C cable for conventional charging. A full charge—providing over 80 hours of playback—takes three hours, while a new rapid-charge function delivers 15 hours of use after only 15 minutes of charging.

Design and performance

The Major IV headphones showcase the signature Marshall design – a welcome characteristic. Their appearance is striking, featuring the recognizable script logo prominently displayed on each earcup. As previously noted, the surface of each earcup is now smooth with a matte finish, contributing to a refined look, and a silicone rim on each enhances stability when positioned for wireless charging.

These are comfortably worn, compact, over-ear headphones, and their comfort is enhanced by the use of lightweight materials during manufacturing. While remarkably lightweight, they possess a solid feel, constructed from high-quality components, suggesting considerable long-term durability.

Marshall’s multi-directional control knob is both a visually appealing gold accent and a practical control system, allowing for easy and responsive management of audio playback and volume levels.

In terms of audio performance, the Major IV delivers impressive sound quality for headphones in its price category. The low frequencies are full and impactful, and the higher frequencies are crisp and well-defined. It’s important to note that these headphones do not include active noise cancellation, so some external sound will be audible, but they still provide reasonable sound isolation for an over-ear design. Furthermore, the exceptional battery life achieved by Marshall in the Major IV significantly elevates the listening experience. Offering over 80 hours of playtime is truly remarkable, potentially allowing for a week or more of use between charges with regular operation.

In conclusion

Marshall has successfully created a remarkably worthwhile product with the latest Major IV headphones. Integrating fashionable design, strong functionality, and superior build quality into a headset boasting exceptional battery endurance and distinctive wireless charging features represents a significant accomplishment – and additions such as the option for 3.5mm wired audio sharing further enhance its appeal. These headphones are an excellent choice for daily use and are sure to become an essential companion wherever you go.