The new Marshall Major V headphones use the same key elements that have made the Major models so successful since their launch, with their iconic design and square ear cups. This model boasts an even more impressive autonomy of up to 100 hours! With optimized musical qualities, minimized distortion and Bluetooth LE Audio wireless connectivity, the 5th generation Major headphones promise an optimal listening experience with all Bluetooth sources.
Included accessories
The Marshall Major V headphones are supplied with a partially coiled 3.5mm mini-jack cable for wired use. This practical design allows you to adapt the length to suit the situation. A USB-C charging cable, instructions, as well as legal and safety information are also included. To complete the package, we would have liked to see a carrying pouch.
Presentation
Improved iconic look
The Marshall Major V headphones retain their iconic look, with a folding structure and on-ear design. It’s important to note that these headphones exert pressure on the ears, which may be more or less comfortable depending on individual sensitivity and morphology. Fortunately, the ear pads are generously padded to distribute pressure evenly across the ear. At 186g, these headphones slightly heavier than their predecessor (165g), but they’re still comfortable.
They still feature an intuitive joystick for easy navigation and control. Marshall has also introduced a customizable M button on the left earpiece, enabling a dedicated action to be defined via the Marshall Bluetooth app.
Customizable sound
The Marshall Major V Bluetooth headphones feature dynamic 40mm transducers, specially optimized to guarantee a significant reduction in distortion. This design promises to deliver Marshall’s distinctive sonic signature, with a rich midrange and deep bass, and allows you to turn the volume up while maintaining clarity and intelligibility. Last but not least, you can customize the sound profile to suit your preferences using the Marshall Bluetooth app, available on iOS and Android. The latter provides access to a 5-band equalizer and various sound presets.
With the customizable M button, the Marshall Major V headphones offer quick access to the function configured on the Marshall Bluetooth app. By default, this button is set to launch Spotify Tap, but it can be fully modified to suit individual tastes, from adjusting EQ profiles to activating the voice assistant.
Bluetooth LE Audio and wired operation
Marshall Major V headphones can be used with both Bluetooth and wired connections. With support for Bluetooth LE Audio, in addition to the traditional AAC and SBC codecs, these Marshall headphones ensure superior audio quality for any wireless transmission. What’s more, this compatibility adds support for hearing aids and introduces Auracast broadcast technology. In the event of the battery running out, the headphones are also equipped with a 3.5mm mini-jack port for easy connection of compatible devices.
Multipoint connection is also included. This allows two devices to be connected simultaneously, so you can listen to music from a TV or computer while staying in touch on a smartphone. Handy!
Unbeatable battery life: up to 100 hours of playback
The Marshall Major V headphones impress with their XXL battery life of up to 100 hours of playback, far outperforming competing headphones. Equipped with a battery saving mode, they provide intelligent energy management to extend battery life. The wireless charging feature makes recharging the headphones effortless. Wired charging takes just 3 hours. And when time is of the essence, a quick charge offers 15 hours of autonomy after just 15 minutes of charging.
Key specifications
- Type: over-ear, closed-back
- Transducers: 40mm dynamic
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Battery life: 100+ hours of wireless autonomy
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (SBC/AAC/LC3) and wired 3.5mm mini-jack
- Weight: 186g
Listening conditions
We tested the Marshall Major V Bluetooth headphones with an Android smartphone and a Windows computer, both with a cable and via Bluetooth. We were therefore able to check the quality of the Multipoint connection. Verdict: the latter works perfectly, sound switches seamlessly from one source to another, with priority given to incoming calls. We listened to Hi-Res music streamed from Qobuz and Spotify to take advantage of the Spotify Tap function.
Listening impressions
The Marshall Major 5 Bluetooth headphones boast the same musicality as the rest of the brand’s equipment. Without touching the equalizer, the sound was punchy, with pronounced bass that wasn’t overpowering. On the tracks “GOSSIP” by Måneskin and “All Eyes On Me” by 2Pac and Big Syke, the electric guitar notes blended seamlessly with the various beat elements. The artists’ voices remained the focus, without encroaching on the rest. In general, the Marshall Major 5 headphones were most at ease with contemporary hip-hop, pop and rock music.
With the Latin/jazz track “Tite Jeanne” by The Bongo Hop, the vocals were perfectly reproduced, as were the various percussion instruments. The trumpet’s higher notes were sometimes too bright, and generated some fatigue after long listening sessions. However, the equalizer allowed us to correct this. To get the most out of these headphones, you’ll want to listen to more bass-driven tracks. The overall sound is warm and pleasant.
As for the microphone, Marshall claims that the Major V effectively filters out wind noise during phone calls to improve voice clarity. This feature proved quite effective during our test, although voices were sometimes slightly distorted. Overall, when making phone calls, these headphones offer similar performance to their main rivals in the same price range.
Marshall Major 5 VS Major 4
The Marshall Major 5 and Major 4 headphones both offer a more bass-driven sound experience, thanks to their 40mm transducers. Although slightly heavier (20g) than their counterpart, the Marshall Major 5 headphones stand out for their extra features, notably the equalizer available on the app. In terms of battery life, the Marshall Major 5 headphones come out on top again, with over 100 hours of wireless use. The addition of Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio guarantees an even more stable connection, lower power consumption and Auracast compatibility.
Who are Marshall Major V headphones designed for?
The Marshall Major V wireless headphones are designed to meet the needs of active music lovers. Their foldable design and on-ear format make them perfect for everyday use, whether on the move or at home. Thanks to their wireless charging and XXL battery life, these headphones ensure uninterrupted listening all day long, so you can enjoy your music for hours on end. The Marshall Major V are highly versatile, whether for listening to music with instant access to Spotify playlists or for making calls.
Conclusion
The Marshall Major V Bluetooth headphones impress with their distinctive, compact design and exceptional battery life of up to 100 hours. With Bluetooth LE Audio support, intuitive operation and a warm, dynamic sound profile, these are the ideal headphones for everyday music listening. They are particularly well suited to pop/rock/hip-hop tracks.
We liked
- The extremely long battery life
- The foldable design
- The 5-band equalizer
- The wireless charging compatibility
- The customizable M button
We would have liked
- A carrying pouch
- For the highs to have been less bright
