Marshall Monitor III ANC review: headphones for any situation

With the Marshall Monitor 3 ANC Bluetooth headphones, the famous British brand unveils a versatile model designed to meet all everyday needs. Featuring active noise cancelling (ANC) and a transparency mode, it also stands out for its new “Soundstage” spatialization function, which expands the soundstage for greater musical immersion. Will the Monitor III ANC prove to be the ideal wireless headphones for everyday use?

Included accessories

The Marshall Monitor 3 ANC Bluetooth headphones come with a hard carrying case inspired by the company’s guitar cases, with a beautiful red velvet interior. There’s also a dedicated USB-C charging cable and a USB-C to mini-jack 3.5mm audio cable. Finally, a user guide and legal and safety information pamphlets are included.

Presentation

Iconic, compact design

The Marshall Monitor 3 ANC headphones’ design remains faithful to the British brand’s iconic aesthetics. The elegant black finish is enhanced by gold accents, including the brand logo and multifunction button, adding a touch of modernity. Built to last, the headphones are crafted from scratch-resistant textured plastic, offering a robust design and rugged durability.

Designed for use on the go, the Marshall Monitor 3 ANC are foldable, making them easy to slip into its supplied case. This accessory provides effective protection for the headphones, and has a particularly compact format, offering a practical solution for transport and storage.

In terms of comfort, the Monitor 3 ANC headphones score top marks, thanks in particular to their featherweight of 250 grams, which means they can be used all day without discomfort. What’s more, their thick, leatherette-covered ear pads completely envelop your ears. They are detachable and replaceable for greater longevity. Whether on the move or on the sofa, the Marshall Monitor 3 ANC adapt to any situation, without compromising on style or comfort.

100 hours of uninterrupted playback

The Marshall Monitor 3 ANC headphones impress with their XXL battery life of up to 100 hours, noise reduction off, and up to 70 hours with ANC, far outperforming competing headphones. Equipped with a battery preservation mode, they provide intelligent power management to extend battery life. The wireless charging feature makes recharging the headphones effortless. It takes just 2 h 30 to fully charge the headphones. And even when time is of the essence, a 15-minute quick charge provides 12 hours of autonomy. Note that the headphones must be switched on to use them with a cable.

Active noise cancelling and Transparency mode

The Marshall Monitor 3 ANC Bluetooth headphones promise a noise-free listening experience thanks to their active noise cancelling. This system analyzes ambient noise in real time to attenuate it. Although not on the same level as market leaders such as Sony or Bose, this function remains effective, particularly on low frequencies such as road noise or that of an extractor fan. However, there is still room for improvement, particularly on high-pitched sounds and voices, which are not completely masked.

The headphones also stand out with their adaptive volume technology, which automatically adjust the sound level according to variations in ambient noise. Whether you’re in an open-plan office, on public transport or at home, this feature guarantees optimal listening at all times.

And for those who want to remain aware of their surroundings without taking off their headphones, the transparency mode is an invaluable ally. This option lets outside sounds pass through while you continue to listen to your music. Ideal for hearing a station announcement or engaging in a short conversation.

Soundstage spatial audio

True to their heritage, the Marshall Monitor 3 ANC promise deep, punchy bass, warm, detailed midrange and crystal-clear highs. Whether you’re a fan of rock, jazz or electronic music, the Monitor III ANC aims to bring out the richness and subtlety of each musical style.

The big change is that these headphones incorporate a new feature: Soundstage sound spatialization. This technology promises to expand the soundstage for enhanced immersion, creating a veritable sonic cocoon. The app lets you adjust the size of the virtual room (small, medium, large, very large) and the intensity of the effect on 10 levels.

For those who like to personalize their listening experience, the Marshall Monitor 3 ANC wireless headphones feature five-band equalization via the Marshall Bluetooth app. These settings can be changed with a few gestures, adapting the sound to your preferences and your current playlist. Five presets are also included: Marshall sound, more bass, more midrange, more treble, less midrange.

Intuitive controls

The Marshall Monitor III ANC headphones feature simple, effective controls. There’s a handy multi-directional control knob for easy management of all essential functions: adjusting the volume, changing tracks, answering a call or activating Bluetooth pairing. In addition, a customizable M button can be configured to quickly access features like Spotify Tap, toggle between different EQ presets to adjust the sound to your preferences, or activate your smartphone’s voice assistant. Finally, the ANC button lets you switch between the active noise reduction and transparency mode.

Bluetooth LE Audio and wired connection

The Marshall Monitor 3 ANC Bluetooth headphones can be used with a wired or wireless connection. Compatible with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard, they offer a stable, high-performance wireless connection, supporting SBC, AAC codecs, as well as LE Audio technology. The latter, combined with Auracast, opens up new possibilities, such as audio sharing with other compatible devices, for an even more connected experience. The Multipoint feature also proves highly effective, with sound switching seamlessly from one source to another, with priority given to incoming calls. For those who prefer a wired connection, the headphones also come with a USB-C to 3.5mm mini-jack audio cable.

Key specifications

• Type: Bluetooth wireless, closed-back, over-ear
• Active noise cancelling and Transparency mode
• 32mm dynamic transducers
• Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Impedance: 35 ohms
• Sensitivity: 117 dB
• Bluetooth 5.3: SBC, AAC, LC3
• Autonomy: up to 100 hours (ANC off), up to 70 hours (ANC on)
• Weight: 250g

Test conditions

We tested the Marshall Monitor 3 ANC Bluetooth headphones with an Android smartphone and a Windows computer in both wired and Bluetooth mode. We listened to Hi-Res music streamed from Qobuz and Spotify to take advantage of the Spotify Tap function.

Our impressions

The Marshall Monitor III ANC Bluetooth headphones’ sound signature was true to the brand’s reputation. Right from the first track, without adjusting the equalizer, the sound stood out for its dynamism, with pronounced but well-balanced bass. Tracks like Linkin Park’s “In the End” and Eminem’s “My Name Is” revealed great harmony between the different elements of the beat, with vocals that were perfectly enhanced without overpowering the instruments. These headphones particularly excelled with hip-hop, pop and rock.

Moving on to Latin/jazz with IZA’s “I Put a Spell on You”, vocals and percussion were rendered with precision. However, the highest notes lacked sharpness and became fatiguing over time. The equalizer lets you adjust the treble to make it less prominent. Ideal for bass-heavy tracks, the Marshall Monitor III ANC deliver a warm, immersive sound. The Soundstage function creates an impression of reverberation, simulating the diffusion of a song in a large room. It’s an interesting feature for certain live music and gaming applications, but its usefulness remains rather limited.

Marshall Monitor III ANC compared to the Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Marshall Monitor III ANC, with their iconic Marshall amp-inspired design, offer a warmer, more dynamic sound signature, characterized by deep bass, ideal for lovers of rock and energetic music. They also feature Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), though it is not quite as effective as that of the Momentum 4. Moreover, the latter offer a more precise and balanced sound.

Marshall Monitor 3 ANC VS Marshall Monitor 2 ANC

Who are these headphones designed for?

The Marshall Monitor III ANC Bluetooth headphones are designed to adapt to any situation. Their compact, foldable design makes them an ideal companion for use both on the move and at home. Featuring ANC, a transparency mode and Soundstage spatial audio, they’re ideal for music lovers and comfort seekers alike. With an impressive battery life of up to 100 hours and warm bass perfectly suited to hip-hop, pop and rock, they are a high-performance, intuitive pair of headphones.

Conclusion

The Marshall Monitor III ANC Bluetooth headphones combine iconic design, optimum comfort and an exceptional 100-hour battery life. The rich sound, supported by Soundstage spatialization, will delight fans of rock, pop and hip-hop. While the overly bright highs and perfectible noise reduction on voices are to be noted, these versatile headphones remain a solid choice for everyday use.

We liked

• The extremely long battery life
• The comfort
• The compact folding format
• The 5-band equalizer

We would have liked

• Smoother highs
• More effective ANC on voices