When searching for new tech, trust is paramount. At ZDNET, our mission is to deliver reliable, expert advice, and our “ZDNET Recommends” badge signifies countless hours of independent testing, rigorous research, and thorough comparison shopping. We meticulously gather data from diverse sources, including vendor specifications, retailer listings, and extensive customer reviews, ensuring our recommendations reflect real-world user experiences.
Our commitment to unbiased reporting means that while we may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through our links, this never influences our editorial content or the price you pay. Our dedicated team writes solely for you, our reader, striving to provide the most accurate information and knowledgeable advice possible. Every article undergoes stringent review and fact-checking to uphold the highest journalistic standards.
Today, we’re diving into the all-new Marshall Milton ANC headphones, a remarkable pair that skillfully blends the best aspects of over-ear designs into a more comfortable on-ear form factor. These headphones beautifully bridge the gap between Marshall’s premium Major series and their more budget-friendly Monitor line, offering a compelling package of performance, style, and innovative features.
Iconic Design Meets Unrivaled Comfort
The Marshall Milton ANC headphones exude the brand’s distinct, luxurious aesthetic with their signature leather-textured finish and prominent gold logo motifs. They echo the design of the Major 4, featuring similar square earcups with rounded edges that conveniently fold for enhanced portability. This thoughtful design ensures they’re not just stylish, but also practical for everyday carry.
Despite their robust appearance, the Milton ANC are remarkably light on the head, with TPU-molded earcups engineered for extended comfort. Even in warm climates, these headphones perform admirably, resisting the discomfort of trapped sweat that often plagues other models. While most headphones can feel cumbersome after a long commute, the Milton ANC remained comfortable, proving their superior ergonomic design.
It’s worth noting that if you wear glasses, you might experience a slightly tighter clamping force after about 45 minutes to an hour of use. However, this is a minor caveat in an otherwise stellar comfort profile. These headphones truly impress with their ability to maintain comfort during prolonged listening sessions, a crucial factor for many users.
Intuitive Controls and Future-Proof Repairability
The Milton ANC headphones boast a pair of intuitive physical buttons, a welcome feature for those who prefer tactile control over touch gestures. On the right earcup, a multi-directional brass button serves as your power control, volume adjuster, and playback manager. This single, elegant button simplifies essential functions.
The left earcup houses a customizable M-button, responding to both single and double presses. This button can be assigned to toggle Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), EQ settings, Marshall’s spatial audio mode (Soundstage), or your device’s voice assistant, with the double press defaulting to Spotify Tap. While the controls are highly intuitive, a long-press option for the M-button would add even more versatility.
Marshall also prioritizes longevity with these headphones, a refreshing commitment in today’s fast-paced tech world. The Milton ANC feature user-replaceable batteries and ear pads, with the latter easily swapped using a simple twist-and-pull mechanism. This enhanced repairability significantly extends the headphones’ lifespan, making them a more sustainable and cost-effective choice in the long run.
Immersive Sound and Impressive ANC
Powered by 32mm dynamic drivers, the Milton ANC supports a range of Bluetooth 6.0 codecs, including AAC, SBC, LC3, and the high-fidelity LDAC. They also incorporate Auracast support, a forward-thinking feature that allows you to find and join audio broadcasts, albeit currently in beta. Multipoint connectivity lets you seamlessly switch between two connected devices, enhancing convenience for daily use.
Out of the box, the Milton ANC delivers a powerful, bass-forward sound profile that remains clear and energetic without overwhelming vocals or instruments. Tracks like AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” burst with life, while Regina Spektor’s “Us” showcases crisp, clear vocals even at higher frequencies. Marshall’s Soundstage feature adds a spatial dimension, making for a more immersive experience, which can be fine-tuned via virtual room settings in the app.
Achieving effective ANC in on-ear headphones is notoriously challenging due to their design, which provides less passive noise cancellation than over-ear models. However, the Marshall Milton ANC punches above its weight in this regard. It excels at eliminating consistent low-frequency hums, like those from air conditioners, and effectively reduces general street noise.
While the ANC won’t match the absolute silence offered by flagship over-ear headphones from brands like Sony or Bose, its performance for an on-ear design is truly impressive. Additionally, a decent transparency mode is available for when you need to stay aware of your surroundings, balancing immersion with situational awareness.
Smart Features and Marathon Battery Life
The Marshall Bluetooth app stands out for its user-friendliness, presenting all essential features on a single, uncluttered screen. From ANC adjustments and M-button customization to Soundstage and Spotify Tap, everything is easily accessible. A standout feature is Battery Preservation, which allows you to optimize battery health by controlling charging speed, temperature, and maximum charge levels.
One notable omission is wear detection, meaning the headphones won’t automatically pause music when removed. This can take some getting used to if you’re accustomed to earbuds with this feature. However, the inclusion of an Auto Power-Off feature helps mitigate this, conserving battery life if you forget to manually switch them off.
A major highlight for the Milton ANC is its integration with popular tracking services: they are among the first headphones to support both Apple Find My and Google Find Hub. This allows you to locate your headphones directly through your phone’s native Find My app, a significant advantage for peace of mind. Pairing is straightforward, making them easily trackable like any other third-party item.
Battery life is another area where the Milton ANC truly shines, boasting an incredible 80 hours of playback with ANC off and up to 50 hours with ANC activated. These impressive figures mean less frequent charging and more uninterrupted listening. Our testing confirms these claims, with the battery enduring extensive use without needing a recharge for extended periods.
The Verdict: A New Benchmark for On-Ear Headphones
The Marshall Milton ANC headphones represent a fantastic balance of wearability, style, audio performance, and smart features, all at a competitive price point. While competitors like the Beats Solo 4 offer a similar price, they lack active noise cancellation, and more affordable options like the JBL Live 680NC can’t match the Milton ANC’s iconic aesthetics and comprehensive feature set.
We’re proud to award the Marshall Milton ANC our Editors’ Choice award for its exceptional battery life, supremely comfortable build, rich sound quality, and diligent noise cancellation. Marshall has truly pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in the on-ear category, integrating smart features like native Find My support and admirable user-repairability. For $230, you get a compelling package that sets a new standard.
Source: ZDNet – AI
