Marshall’s Motif II ANC True Wireless Earbuds Are Classic Rock Earbuds

Marshall’s New Motif II ANC true wireless earbuds have a classic rock sound and improved ANC.

Marshall’s latest true wireless earbuds have just dropped on my desk for review. One of the best-known brands in the music business continues to produce wireless speakers, earbuds and headphones that draw on the iconic guitar amplifier heritage of the company to create audio products with a muscular sound and some great design.

The Motif II ANC is the first pair of true wireless earbuds to be launched since UK-based Marshall Amplification and the Swedish Zound Industries merged to create the new Marshall Group. Marshall Amplification has been making guitar amplifiers since the early 1960s and is one of the most recognizable brands in the music industry.

Since 2006, Zound Industries has been developing a unique line of audio products inspired by the characteristics of the Marshall brand: robust construction and bold sounds. The two companies are now one; we can expect the innovation to continue with this brand-new pair of true wireless earbuds.

The new Marshall Motif II ANC true wireless earbuds are comfortable to wear and offer a good battery ... [+] life with up to 10 hours of playtime on a single charge. The charging case holds two more complete charges for topping up the earbuds between listening sessions.

The Marshall Motif II A.N.C. can play for up to 30 hours before the earbuds’ charging case needs topping up. The earbuds can play for up to 10 hours before they need to be returned to their case for recharging. As well as extended battery life, the Marshall Motif II A.N.C. earbuds also offer active noise cancellation to cut unwanted background sounds like an aircraft engine or road noise when driving.

The ANC of these new earbuds has been improved on recent models, although they still won’t do quite as good a job as a pair of over-the-ear headphones, which can passively block more noise than a pair of earbuds can. However, with the ANC turned on, these earbuds can eliminate most continuous and annoying sounds when traveling on a crowded train or on a busy road. The ANC enables the user to focus more clearly on the music or podcast they are listening to.

The Motif II A.N.C. earbuds also have a Transparency mode that mixes external sound with the playing music. This feature is worth turning on if you’re in an airport waiting for a travel announcement. Transparency mode is also ideal for runners or cyclists who need to be aware of any hazards or oncoming traffic that might otherwise be blocked out with full ANC turned on.

These new earbuds from Marshall are well made and feature that same robust finish seen on Marshall ... [+] guitar amplifiers.

Marshall’s Motif II A.N.C. earbuds are Bluetooth LE Audio-ready. The company says this feature can deliver a robust wireless connection while serving up high-quality audio with an increased range and lower latency, which is especially useful when watching a movie or playing a game.

The Motif II A.N.C. earbuds have been designed to make their rechargeable batteries last longer. Regarding their environmental impact, the earbuds and charging case are made from 70% post-consumer plastic recycled from old electronic products, used water bottles and car light lenses.

The Motif II A.N.C. earbuds are easy to pair and can be customized using the Marshall smartphone app. The build quality of the earbuds is second to none, with the robust Marshall finish seen on the company’s classic guitar amplifiers.

The ANC mode on the Marshall Motif II ANC true wireless earbuds has three modes: On, Off and ... [+] Transparency.

Each earbud has touch controls for playing, pausing and skipping audio. There’s also an auto-pause mode that stops the music whenever you take one of the earbuds out of your ears. The ANC modes are also available via the touch of the controls so you can cycle through ANC, Transparency and Off modes by setting those as custom controls using the smartphone app.

As with all Marshall audio products, the sound produced by the Motif II A.N.C. earbuds is big and bold, with a gorgeously warm bass and enough crispness in the treble to create a convincing soundstage. The app provides a graphic equalizer for customizing the sounds still further. I played the excellent “Tango to Evora” from Loreena McKennit’s fabulous album The Visit to test the earbuds. The way the Motif II A.N.C. played this evocative track showed that these earbuds aren’t just for thrash metal fans.

I also noted that the earbuds are far more effective at blocking out unwanted sounds with ANC turned on. Marshall has significantly improved the Motif II A.N.C. earbuds feature, and they’re as good as most of the best on the market. They even work well in flight and effectively cut the sound of aircraft engines, whether listening to an album, a podcast or watching a movie.

The new Marshall Motif II ANC true wireless earbuds will be a sure fire hit with existing Marshall ... [+] fans but don't be put of bet he strong rock vibes, these earbuds play music nicely across all genres.

Verdict: Marshall’s first pair of true wireless earbuds since the merger of Marshall Amplification and Zound Industries is a genuine triumph. Existing Marshall fans will love the Motif II A.N.C. earbuds. Anyone with a pair of first-generation Motif earbuds will want to upgrade for the improved battery life, better ANC and great all-round sound. If you love the Marshall brand and want earbuds to present your favorite music with energy and verve, the Motif II A.N.C. earbuds are a no-brainer.

Pricing & Availability: The Marshall Motif II A.N.C. earbuds are available globally and cost $199 / £179 / €199.

More info: marshallheadphones.com

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