Engadget review positions Marshall Milton ANC as rare premium on-ear option
The $230 Marshall Milton ANC combines design cues from the brand’s Major and Monitor lines, offering active noise cancellation and extensive app customisation in a market with limited high-end competitors.
Engadget has published a review of the Marshall Milton ANC, a $230 premium on-ear headphone that serves as a distinct third pillar in the manufacturer’s audio lineup. The device merges design elements from the long-running Major series and the Monitor range, addressing a gap in the market for on-ear headphones featuring active noise cancellation (ANC). While the Major line has been in production for 16 years, it previously lacked noise-cancelling capabilities, prompting Marshall to evolve the Milton from an initial concept into a separate product category.
The headset utilises a 32mm driver to deliver a bass-forward sound profile with a mid-scoop, a tuning characteristic that can be adjusted via an extensive companion application. The app allows for deep customisation of equalisation, soundstage settings, and ANC levels, alongside features such as Auracast support, Spotify Tap integration, and battery preservation tools. Physical controls are minimal, consisting of a multi-directional brass button and a customisable key for toggling functions, while the device also supports Apple Find My and Google Find Hub for tracking.
Battery performance is a key selling point, with Engadget’s testing reporting life exceeding 50 hours with ANC enabled and over 80 hours without it. The reviewer noted that the headphones retained 10 per cent charge after more than a week of daily active use. The device also supports user-replaceable ear pads and batteries, and includes a USB-C to 3.5mm cable for wired listening, although the unit must remain powered on to function in this mode.
Sound quality is described as fun and lively, with LDAC codec support for high-resolution audio, though aptX is not supported. The review highlights that while the sound is balanced at maximum volume, some listeners may find the dynamic range limited compared to higher-fidelity over-ear models. The ANC is rated as effective for the form factor, providing significant noise reduction, though it lacks the total isolation found in larger over-ear designs due to the physical seal of the on-ear cups.
In the premium on-ear segment, the Milton faces limited direct competition. Engadget notes that rivals such as the Beats Solo 4 and Grado GW100x lack ANC, while the JBL Live 680NC offers noise cancellation at a lower price point but with a different aesthetic. The review concludes that the Marshall Milton ANC is a category-defining option for consumers seeking a feature-rich, lifestyle-oriented headphone with robust battery life and effective noise control.
