Unveiling the Marshall Motif II ANC: A Fashionable Earbud Set with Iconic Audio Quality

Some Noticeable Information

The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds offer a unique design inspired by the brand's iconic guitar amps, making them stand out from other wireless earbuds.

The earbuds offer a unique sound profile with emphasis on the midrange, which may require adjustment but ultimately provides an enjoyable listening experience. Although the active noise cancellation and transparency modes of the Motif II ANC earbuds perform adequately, they may not match the effectiveness or natural sound quality of competing brands within the same price range. Nevertheless, if you prioritize style and a distinctive audio experience, these earbuds are a reliable option.

Looking for wireless earbuds with a distinct style? Look no further than the Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds. Unlike most other brands, Marshall has designed these earbuds based on their iconic guitar amps, giving them a unique aesthetic. Not only do the Motif II ANC earbuds stand out visually, but they also offer a distinctive sound signature, similar to Marshall's amplifiers. In addition to their impressive design and sound profile, these earbuds are surprisingly comfortable to wear.

The Marshall Motif II ANC headphones have definitely made progress compared to their previous models. However, are they on par with other brands in terms of features and noise cancellation? They come close, but whether they are suitable for you will depend on the compromises you are willing to make.

The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds retain the brand's iconic style seen in their other speakers and headphones, while also enhancing the sound quality and features compared to the original. These improvements make them the top earbuds offered by the company.

Marshall's Motif II ANC earbuds come with a battery life of 6 hours when active noise cancellation (ANC) is enabled, and 9 hours without ANC. They also feature noise cancellation and microphones, providing a convenient and immersive listening experience. The earbuds utilize Bluetooth 5.3 LE for seamless connectivity. Additionally, they have an IPX5 rating for water resistance and an IPX4 rating for the case. Supported codecs include SBC, AAC, and LC3.

Weighing only 0.15oz (4.31g), the earbuds are lightweight and comfortable to wear. They are also waterproof, ensuring durability. Charging can be done via USB-C or Qi wireless charging. The earbuds incorporate 6mm drivers, delivering exceptional sound quality. Priced at $200 (MSRP), they are available in black. However, spatial audio functionality is not included.

Overall, the Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds offer excellent sound quality with a distinctive audio signature, making them a desirable choice for music enthusiasts.

Both earbuds and case are water resistant

Fantastic look and feel

Comfortable for hours

Cons ANC isn't on par with top earbuds

Transparency mode works but sounds strange

$200 at Best Buy $199.99 at Marshall

Marshall Motif II ANC Price and Availability

The Marshall Motif II ANC is a successor to the initial Marshall Motif earbuds, which are currently still accessible. Similar to the original model and numerous renowned guitar amps of the company, the Motif II ANC earbuds are exclusively offered in black. These earbuds are priced at $200, although occasional discounts can already be found.

Design and Fit: Great Look, Better Feel

Hannah Stryker

The first influence of Marshall's guitar amps is immediately apparent on the case. Unlike the plain plastic found on other wireless earbud cases, this case is covered in a texture reminiscent of the Tolex material used to cover Marshall amps. Not only does this provide a better grip, but it also gives a surprisingly authentic feel.

While the earbuds have a more rectangular shape compared to their competitors, they are not drastically different. However, there is one notable feature: the plastic stems have a knurled texture resembling the metal knobs found on guitars. This adds a pleasing aesthetic touch and also enhances the earbuds' grip.

The plastic construction of the earbuds gives them a lightweight feel, despite their metallic appearance. I barely noticed them in my ears once I put them on. The medium-sized ear tips provided a perfect fit for me, but if you have larger or smaller ears, there are also small and large silicone tips included. Personally, I found the earbuds comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

Both the case and earbuds have water-resistant properties, although their levels of resistance differ. As stated on the Marshall website, the earbuds are rated IPX5 for water resistance, while the case has a slightly lower rating of IPX4.

Sound and Call Quality: Signature Style

Hannah Stryker

The Motif ANC II earbuds come with 6mm drivers and a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. Initially, they only supported the standard Bluetooth SBC codec and Apple's AAC codec. However, they have now added support for the LC3 codec, which is a part of Bluetooth LE Audio.

Marshall's guitar amps are well-known for their distinctive midrange, particularly the upper midrange. It is worth mentioning this because unlike many other earbuds, the Motif II ANC deliver a similar and pleasing midrange sound. Typically, headphones and earbuds aim to avoid having their own sound, but surprisingly, the unique midrange sound of the Motif II ANC enhances the overall audio experience.

One immediate observation I made is that when compared to the Apple AirPods Pro, the Motif II ANC headphones do not have as much bass right out of the box. Initially, I was tempted to utilize the in-app EQ to rectify this, but after listening for approximately an hour, I found that I had become accustomed to the headphones and no longer noticed any deficiency in the lower frequencies.

While listening to “Love is a Bull Market” by Nation of Ulysses, the midrange emphasis flawlessly accentuated the angular guitars; however, there was a subtle exaggeration in the cymbals. This particular recording tends to sound harsh regardless of the listening device, so I did not view it as a significant concern. If this is something that bothers you, reducing the treble through the Marshall app’s EQ will resolve it.

Hannah Stryker

The Motif II ANC earbuds performed exceptionally well with Fleetwood Mac's "Walk a Thin Line," capturing the subtle nuances of the drum transients and Lindsay Buckingham's delicate strumming on the acoustic guitar. The higher notes and even the sibilance in the vocals were accurately reproduced, maintaining a balanced sound without any excessive emphasis. These impressive results were achieved even with the default EQ settings intact.

The signature midrange sound has a drawback when it comes to the spoken word. Podcasts and audiobooks had a slightly harsh tone on the default “Marshall” EQ setting, but switching to the Bass Boost EQ preset effectively resolved any issues.

The built-in microphone performs as expected for wireless earbuds. It successfully captured my voice both indoors and outdoors, but I don't think the microphone's quality is worth raving about.

The noise cancellation feature on the Motif II ANC is functional but lacks distinction. If there is no audio playing, some noise still manages to pass through, and enabling music playback enhances the cancellation efficacy further. The Transparency mode can be fairly effective, although it may not provide a completely authentic listening experience. While you can hear your surroundings, the sound may come across as somewhat artificial.

Marshall Motif II ANC Microphone Audio Sample: Indoors

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Marshall Motif II ANC Microphone Audio Sample: Outdoors

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Software and Controls: Everything You Need

Hannah Stryker

During the process of connecting my iPhone with the Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds, I received a prompt to download the Marshall Bluetooth app, which is compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Although not necessary for using the earbuds, it is highly recommended, particularly for the enhanced EQ options it offers.

You can still control a lot even without the app. With a single tap on either earbud, playback can be paused or resumed. Additionally, two and three taps allow you to skip forward and backward, respectively. By default, a long press on either side will cycle through ANC and Transparency modes. Although not all controls can be customized, some can be personalized in the app.

A convenient feature is the presence of sliders for both ANC and Transparency modes. These sliders allow you to adjust the level of a specific feature that you hear. This becomes particularly useful with the Transparency mode, as it enables you to choose how much or how little of the surrounding environment you want to be aware of.

Equalization is an incredibly valuable feature offered by the app, offering multiple preset options in addition to the default Marshall EQ preset. For those who desire greater control, the app allows you to create customized EQ curves spanning across five bands, encompassing frequencies ranging from 160Hz to 6.25kHz.

Battery Life: Nothing Groundbreaking, But Solid

Hannah Stryker

While many wireless earbuds typically offer around four to six hours of listening time, the Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds take it a step further. These earbuds provide up to six hours of listening time with ANC enabled and an impressive nine hours with ANC turned off. Additionally, when combined with the charging case, you can enjoy a total of up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC or up to 43 hours without ANC.

The case takes approximately 1.5 hours to charge when connected via a USB-C cable, and the earbuds also recharge within the same duration when placed in the case. In case you're in a rush, a quick 15-minute charge provides an hour of play time.

Alongside the USB-C cable, the case supports wireless Qi charging, providing an alternative option for charging.

Competition: How Do The Motif II ANC Stack Up?

Hannah Stryker

Marshall has set its sights on some formidable competition with the Motif II ANC. For iPhone users, the second-generation AirPods Pro pose a close challenge. They offer enhanced ANC and currently have the best Transparency modes, although their design is considerably more plain.

Meanwhile, if you're an Android user, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro emerge as one of the primary contenders. They excel in integration with Samsung phones but lack the same style and signature sound as the Motif II ANC.

Should You Buy the Marshall Motif II ANC?

The sound signature of the Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds is one of their standout features. Although the initially midrange-pushed sound may have felt slightly strange in comparison to the AirPods Pro, I quickly adjusted to it and found myself truly appreciating it. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised by the appealing look and feel of both the earbuds and the case, which contributed to creating a distinct impression.

When comparing the Motif II ANC to other top contenders in this price range, the ANC and Transparency are the main points of consideration. While both features perform adequately, they are not as effective as the aforementioned competing brands. The Transparency mode, in particular, has a peculiar sound that is easily noticeable, although it doesn't hinder the ability to hear surrounding sounds. If you are in search of high-end earbuds with a trendy design and unique sound profile, the Motif II ANC is an excellent choice, as long as you are willing to utilize the somewhat unconventional ANC and Transparency modes.

The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds maintain the brand's iconic style seen in their other speakers and headphones while enhancing the sound quality and features of the original. This results in the company's most impressive earbuds to date, ensuring an exceptional audio experience.

$200 at Best Buy $199.99 at Marshall

Editor's P/S

**Positive:**

The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds are a great choice for those looking for a stylish and high-performing pair of earbuds. The earbuds offer a unique design inspired by the brand's iconic guitar amps, making them stand out from other wireless earbuds. The earbuds also offer a unique sound profile with emphasis on the midrange, which may require adjustment but ultimately provides an enjoyable listening experience. Additionally, the earbuds are surprisingly comfortable to wear, even for extended periods of time.

**Negative:**

However, the Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds do have some drawbacks. The active noise cancellation and transparency modes of the earbuds perform adequately, but they may not match the effectiveness or natural sound quality of competing brands within the same price range. Additionally, the earbuds do not offer spatial audio functionality, which is a feature that is becoming increasingly common in wireless earbuds.