When it comes to testing the best Marshall headphones, we first and foremost took a dive into their audio delivery. As you'd expect with a product carrying the Marshall name, we have high expectations due to their legendary status in the music world and it was the obvious place to start. Similarly, not allowing the user to adjust the in-app equaliser feels like an oversight. I found the default Marshall tuning pretty much perfect, but those seeking more comprehensive control over the sound signature will find the Motif’s audio options wanting.

Usability is good – one touch controls Play/Pause, two touches will skip you forward. The buds will Auto Pause when you take them from your ears. Finally, while total battery life is passable at 20 hours with ANC on, the in-ear stamina leaves a lot to be desired, so anyone who engages in extended listening sessions may find the Motif ANC dying prematurely. If true wireless staying power is of utmost importance to you, the Creative Outlier Pro offer a highly impressive ten hours of battery life with ANC enabled, and up to 15 hours with it switched off. Below the image of the earphones, you can enable the ANC or transparency modes, as well as turn both off. You can also adjust the strength of the relevant mics for each mode, though the default setting for both is 100%. Whilst we will do everything we can to meet the delivery times above, there may be factors outside of our control and we cannot guarantee delivery within this time frame. The last feature of note is an eco-charging setting that claims to increase the longevity of your earbuds by preventing them from charging past 80%. We haven't tested this model long enough to verify that claim, but capping their charge to 80% means you have to deal with shorter runtimes in the interim. Otherwise, the app lets you install firmware updates and access various links to the Marshall store.

Another attractive feature is the ability to share your audio using the included 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. Plug the cable into the Major IV, connect it to any pair of headphones with a 3.5mm port and whatever you’re listening to will be played through the other device as well. A section of the cable stretches so you don’t have to worry about pulling the headphones off your head if one of you moves, which is a nice touch. Opportunities to take advantage of such a feature may not present themselves too often – particularly at the moment – but it’s a thoughtful and useful inclusion nonetheless. Marshall and Zound first collaborated in 2010 in a deal that resulted in Marshall’s range of headphones and Bluetooth speakers.

Controls are equally simple to navigate. Marshall has taken a “less is more” approach, and I can’t fault the execution. A single multidirectional knob on the right earpad handles all of your key commands. Pressing and holding the knob powers the Major IV on or off, with a single press playing or pausing audio. Comfort and battery life (where applicable) have also been taken into consideration. We like listening to expended periods of music and these two factors remain important to take on board. While some of the Marshall headphones in our list have an average battery life from a full charge, their out-of-doors battery usage can be enhanced with chargers. Marshall’s most obvious competitor in the headphone market is JBL, a brand which also comes with considerable live music credibility. JBL offers a comparable mix of headphone styles, but somehow the Marshall design just feels a little more granular – they get you closer to the stage. Who owns Marshall Amplification? As mentioned, the app lets you customize what the touch-and-hold gesture controls. You must choose among Noise Control (default), EQ, Voice Assistant, and Nothing options. Each mode, except for the last one, lets you cycle through a few related options without diving into the app. For instance, in the EQ mode, you can choose from three sound presets. That's fine, but we really wish we could use faders to construct a custom EQ profile, or at least edit one of the few existing options. As of this writing, neither is a possibility. Marshall Amplification was was formed in 1962 and remained under family ownership for more than 60 years until March 2023, when they were sold to Swedish speaker manufacturer Zound Industries. Marshall still own a 24% stake in the company, making them the largest shareholders in the newly-titled Marshall Group. The takeover deal covers Marshall Amplification and its subsidiaries Marshall Records, Marshall Live Agency and Natal DrumsIsle of Man, Isle of Wight, Northern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands) may take longer to reach you. The last couple of niggles aren’t as impactful but are still worth bearing in mind if you’re considering purchasing the Motif ANC. First, given how much the Motif cost, I’d like to see high-resolution codec support. Sound quality is great but would be even better were you able to make use of aptX Adaptive or LDAC. READ NEXT: The best headphones for every budget Marshall Major IV review: What do you get for the money?