Marshall Major headphones are quite a popular model, many chose it because of its attractive design, sound and price. updated version received some changes and, alas, now it costs much more ...
Design, construction
Immediately please, if you already have a Marshall Major, write in the comments how satisfied you are with these headphones and whether you are going to change to the second model. Well, now let's get down to business. A few years ago, the Marshall Major appeared on the market, a fairly compact on-ear model for use with smartphones and other portable equipment. The novelty stood out interesting design, repeating the "adult" technology of the company, the headphones were comfortable to wear, well, the price played a role, for more than three thousand rubles the user received good gadget in beautiful packaging. Some of our editors went and go with the Marshall Major, many of my friends bought headphones at random, on a whim, and were satisfied. I want to remind everyone that tables and graphs are all great, but in the final decision, the emotion in the store matters more. A person comes for one, sees something else and completely changes his mind. Many of my colleagues complain on Facebook or social networks, they say, a person comes, asks questions about technology, asks for help, you help, and then bam, and this person, a faithful reader, bought something completely different. Time spent, words written, zero sense. It seems to have convinced, but here Her Majesty EMOTIONAL PURCHASE comes into play. And at least a stake on your head.
Second version popular model available in three colors: in addition to black, there is white and brown.
They look beautiful, but keep in mind that this is eco-leather and in life everything will be a little different than in the pictures. That is, the smell is not like that of the skin, and the feeling is not like that of the skin. On the inside of the headband - the name of the company, the cups are small, the wire is included in the plastic parts on the headband. The fastening of the cups allows you to fold the headphones, and then the Major can be put into a jacket pocket.
One of the new features is a detachable audio cable, the box says how to use the remote control. The instruction on the package is a new trend, and the trend is important, there are no extra pieces of paper, and that's good. The button on the remote control allows you to fully control playback, rewind tracks. Well, the removable cable is good because it can always be replaced. Pay attention to how well it is made, there is a spring, so that the braid is less bent, and a corrugated frame. Made beautifully, and the headphones are not perceived at all as inexpensive model. The designations of the left and right cups are on the inside of the headband, the cable connecting the cups is visible, it can be accidentally torn, and this is not very good.
On the front of the cups there are the usual vinyl inserts with the company logo, around there is velvety plastic (prints are not very visible), the shape of the cups is unusual, it is a square instead of a circle or an oval. The headphones sit well, but due to the shape, the front of the cup is pressed as if a little stronger. The flat and wide headband lies well on the head, people with any head size will be able to wear headphones thanks to the large extension of the guides (I remind you that this is a thick wire here).
The speakers are covered by the "braid" familiar from the first model, it has not changed at all. By the way, here is a review of the first Major, this model is still sold somewhere.
It is problematic to wear headphones around your neck, you need to pull out the cups to the end so that they do not choke, and then set them up again for wearing on your head.
Music
The site even has a chart, here, especially for those who do not have enough charts. Glad to help you.
The headphones use 40mm drivers, and here are other characteristics.
- Impedance: 85Ω
- Sensitivity: 96db
- Max Input Power: 50mW
There is no adapter for a regular jack in the kit, apparently, use with serious equipment is not implied. And in the first model he was. Probably, it became clear that Major is bought to listen from the iPhone and Galaxy, so there is no need to invent anything.
Noise isolation has improved, if you turn on three-quarters of the volume in the iPhone 6 Plus, ambient sounds disappear, although the noise of cars outside the window is still slightly audible in pauses. In general, compared with the first model, the sound insulation has not become much better.
The sound quality has also changed little. You don’t have to expect miracles here, no matter what they say about specially made speakers, but this model is 99 euros or 99 dollars in the USA, our price is about 7,000 rubles - with a change in course, the once budget model literally flew into space.
There is a difference in sound, the second generation model sounds better. Now the model copes better with complex tracks, although you can still find fault with detailing. There is no emphasis on low or high, the middle disappears a little. When several instruments or effects come into play at once, Major IIs are lost. The vocals are good, with the transmission of natural notes - but the more complex the track, the easier it will be for you to present it to your headphones. The model is versatile enough for any music, and it can be advised to those who are primarily looking for an unusual design and are not too confused about the sound quality.
Listened to the most with Marshall Major II new album The Chemical Brothers, called Born in the Echoes, is available for purchase on iTunes. A friend says that it’s not the same anymore, the old people are baked. But! Of course, there are no things like this.
Or like this.
Or even like this. Everyone remembers Block Rockin Beats. Surely many of you still play this track in the car, in training or in other circumstances. A cult composition, appeared in 1997.
Well, I can also remember Hold Tight London, not so famous track, but loved by many.
Probably not a single track from the new album will become so famous.
Members of The Chemical Brothers are great, if only because they continue to do what they love. Yes, and the album turned out to be combat. There are things a little strange there, like Taste of Honey, but there is also I`ll see you there - it would be quite suitable as a soundtrack for "Cards, Money, Two Smoking Barrels" or Snatch (here, by the way, Major II give up here and there and do not pull out).
findings
Headphones now cost about 7,000 rubles, for this money the choice of models is very, very large, and there are devices that are much more interesting than Marshall, both in design and in sound. Let me remind you about the Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear, the price is about 6,500 rubles, there are also Harman / Kardon Solo and Harman / Kardon CL, Bose SoundTrue On or Over-Ear - and this is far from the end.
I think the Major supplier should have explained difficult situation on the manufacturer's market. Now the price of 7,100 rubles for Major II is simply inadequate, there are models more well-known firms, with the best sound. What can the updated Major offer? Detachable cable? It seems to me that this is not serious. Headphones are not worth their money.
But if you come across the first model for 4,000 - 4,500 rubles, you can safely take it.
In the bottom line, an interesting model in terms of design with a good sound. If you like these headphones - you can buy. Just listen first and twist it in your hands.
The Marshall Major was a nice on-ear model, but not a standout. Now it has been replaced by Major II, which, although similar in appearance to the basic version, have significantly improved construction, design and sound, and are strong competitor in the headphone segment this class for about $100.
To begin with, we note that the ear cups have become more rounded, and their attachment to the headband is more flexible, so the Major II sits more comfortably on the head and is more comfortable to wear. The connecting cable is equipped with a remote control with a microphone for answering phone calls(when Major II is connected to a smartphone) that works with devices running both Android and iOS. The cable has an angled connector that is more secure than the previous straight version. However, when you connect the headphones to iPhone in protective case I had difficulties - perhaps this connector is not "compatible" with all covers.
Each earcup has 3.5mm cable jacks, which you can plug into the side that's most convenient for you. Also, the free connector can be used to connect another headphone, for example, to listen to music together.
Marshall claims the Major II's vinyl finish is more durable than the basic version, and although I can't tell how it will behave over time, the coating looks very durable. Perhaps, in terms of manufacturing quality, Major II is very close to special version Major 50 FX, which we like a lot too.
Sound quality
sound Headphones Major II is better than the previous model, they have higher quality low frequencies and increased detail. Their sound character is warm and not too demanding on the quality of recording compositions, the headphones are suitable for listening to music of various genres, although they always retain transparency. Sometimes sub-$100 models have a bit of a bass boost, which results in an overall smeared sound, but the Major IIs are well balanced and sound like the more expensive headphones we've tested.
We compared the Major II to the Beyerdynamic DTX350p ($70), an overhead model that was featured earlier in our review. The Major IIs sound a bit more open and natural than the DTX350p, which has a bit more bass work.
On Beck's Golden Age album, Major II sounded more dynamically alive than Beyerdynamic, and on the track "Paper Tiger" Beck's vocals were quite penetrating. However, the Beyerdynamic bass line was still better transmitted. On The Beta Band's "Life", which was heavy on bass, the accentuated low end of the Beyerdynamic resulted in the bass dominating the vocals and percussion, and background sounds were lost. And when listening through the Major II, the bass level didn't obscure the instruments in the background.
Compared to the (discontinued) Major FX-50s, which have meaty and very rich basses, the Major II sounds lighter and more airy, although they also have no shortage of low frequencies. In general, Major II headphones can be considered top model in the company's catalog, and yet they cost even less than the FX50.
Conclusion
With improved design and more High Quality sound, Marshall Major II noticeably outperform previous version and are one of best headphones for this price.
Main technical specifications Marshall Major II
Type - overhead, dynamic, closed
Emitter - 40 mm
Frequency range - 10 Hz - 20 kHz
Resistance - 85 Ohm
Sensitivity - 96 dB
Input power - 50 mW
Cable - detachable, can be connected to both cups, remote control with microphone (iOS, Android compatible)
Liked
Affordable and comfortable to wear, the Marshall Major II on-ear headphones have better bass and higher sound transparency than the base model. The earbuds can be folded flat and come with a detachable cable with remote control and microphone.
Did not like
The remote control does not allow you to adjust the sound volume; The package does not include a carrying case.
Verdict
Design - 8/10
Features - 8/10
Sound quality - 8/10
Quality / price ratio - 8/10
Overall rating - 8/10
Conclusion
A combination of improved design and high quality sound makes the Marshall Major II a strong model in price category about $100.
In preparing the review, materials from www.cnet.com were used (translated from English - hifiNews.RU)
Marshall has long been known to music lovers as a manufacturer primarily of amplifiers and acoustics. But a few years ago they decided to do headphones, and released a rather compact and interesting Marshall major model, mostly for portable equipment, since the foldable design and small size Suitable for use on the road, and for the home you can pick up something more convenient. Marshall Major II is an updated and slightly improved version of the headphones. Of the innovations, a twisted detachable cable with a microphone that allows you to use the headphones as a headset, and the cable can be connected to any headphone cup, and slightly modified drivers, as a result of which it expanded slightly frequency range, and the sound of the updated headphones has become more bass. This model is made to some extent in retro style, square-shaped cups with slightly rounded corners, and wire attachment to the headband. The design is foldable, and when carried, it won’t take up much space, but it’s not very convenient to wear them around the neck, because you have to fully extend the cups and “adjust” them on your head each time. The quality of the materials in these headphones is decent, both in appearance and to the touch. The cups are made of matte velvety plastic, which does not leave prints, and on the outside of the insert with the manufacturer's logo. Speakers closed interesting material, resembling a "braid". The headband, as well as the ear pads, are covered with very soft eco-leather, which many people save on, which is really great. There are no issues with the assembly either, all the parts are assembled without gaps, and when bent, there are no squeaks or attempts to figure it out in the hands. The seams on the headband are even. These headphones are from a series of things that are nice to take in your hands, and it’s not a shame to give them. Sound quality is a very subjective concept, but I think many will like it, dense sound with a little emphasis on bass, vocals sound very natural and clean. Highs are slightly weakened, which I personally like, there are no sibilances. The stage is small but good records everything is distinguishable, the instruments do not mix together. If you start to find fault and look for cons, then perhaps not everyone will be comfortable. Specifically, I was not particularly comfortable, they are too small for me, and there was no uniform pressure to the ears, so it was not possible to achieve acceptable noise isolation. If you are primarily interested in workmanship and design, you can safely take it. Headphones are not even bad, but I would recommend at least a little listen and measure, if of course there is such an opportunity.
Which headphones to choose so as not to regret the money spent.
Why is it so difficult? Yes, because due to the abundance of models, many headphones are similar in size and price. And you have to choose almost at random, not knowing how this or that accessory will behave in the harsh conditions of a Russian city.
For example, Beats EP - cool and status. Materials, quality, again, all sorts of celebrities flaunt in them. And nearby on the shelf are Marshall Major 2, spreading the aura of rock and roll, made in the style of famous guitar amps, and in general, a brand with a long history.
I had to walk alternately in these headphones, comparing the sensations and other factors in everyday use. Read, make your choice and enjoy.
1. Portability
We buy headphones in order to enjoy music in the bustle of the city, on the street. In any weather and time of day. For this headphone should be comfortable for carrying.
In terms of carrying, Marshall Major 2 is more convenient - they fold, unlike the Beats. It is a pity that there is no cover included with the Marshals - they would not have had a price.
But the Beats EP, although they do not fold, they fit into a special bag with a tightening neck, which is included.
On the one hand, folding cups are more convenient, but on the other hand, the solid design of the headphones is also a plus, they are more difficult to bend or break in a backpack.
Opinion: if you are a neat person and do not carry stones in your backpack or bag, in fact the portability of the Marshall Major 2 is preferable for you. And if you like to wear headphones around your neck when you take them off your head, then only the Beats, they are comfortably worn around the neck, thanks to the shape of the headband.
2. Materials
Different brands - different combinations of metal, leather and other components. Both in the Beats and in the Marshalls, plastic is used to a minimum: the headband in both models is steel, only in the Marshall Major 2 it is covered with leather.
Beats EPs look less "rich" and more modern. Polished metal, smooth shapes - it is clear that the manufacturer relies on the young and progressive.
Marshall tries to cater to people of all ages by combining vinyl in earcup designs with brass inserts. golden color, steel fittings and a vintage feel.
The main trim elements are the same - both models use high-quality leather for ear cups, soft and odor-free.
Opinion: The Beats EP looks like a product of the 21st century, while The Marshals is more like a fantasy from the past in modern processing thanks to the materials used. If you are a progressive person who does not like hints of the past, you will definitely like the Beats EP.
3. Convenience
This is one of the most important criteria choice, because what's the point of a chic sound, if the headphones are tight, fall off or sit uncomfortable on your head so that you want to take them off as soon as possible?
I wore each pair of test models for several days, and found an interesting pattern. Winter is the time for hats and headphones have to be worn over a headdress. So: Marshall Major 2 comfortable to wear over a hat than the Beats.
Perhaps it's the size of my head or some other features of my skull, but after 1.5 hours from the Beats EP, my head starts to hurt in the place where the headband is. And this only happens when you have a hat on. If you wear "Bits" without a winter headdress - everything is in order, complete comfort and pleasure.
With Marshall Major 2 there is no such problem. I think that the reason for this is the short power reserve of the Beats cups, if someone has a big head, then in addition to the Beats EP hat, they will simply be small and will sit back to back on the head, pressing too hard on the crown and causing discomfort after a short time .
Opinion: If you love hats and wear hats, try on the Beats EP before you buy to see how comfortable you are in them. If you live in warm countries or despise hats, you are in luck, because the Beats, in fact, sit on your head more comfortably and from the outside look less massive than Marshall Major 2.
4. Features
Marshall Major 2 is unconditionally in the lead in this point, thanks to the ability to connect to a sound source via Bluetooth. They have a removable wire - disconnected, connected to the smartphone via the “bluetooth”, and on the go.
Headphones out of power? Stick the wire and listen to music further. Everything is simple and convenient. There is no difference in sound, there are no wires either - nothing rubs under the jacket, does not pull and does not interfere with getting a smartphone and waving it in different directions.
In Beats EP, the wire is non-removable, the possibilities wireless connection no. But there is another plus: a full-fledged remote control on the headphone wire. Three keys with which you can control your iOS gadget. It's convenient and great for everyday scenarios. iPhone usage with headphones.
But the Marshall Major 2 in this regard has a short remote control on the wire: it has only one button. With it, you can receive a call, end a call and stop or start playing a track. No rewinds, volume control and other cute actions that we are so used to with Apple's native headset.
Opinion: Hate wires? Take Marshall Major 2 and take out your smartphone every time you need to turn up or down the volume on the player. Used to using a full-fledged remote control on a wire? Take Beats EP, which are fully compatible with iGadgets and have a three-button remote control on the wire.
5. Sound
There should be numbers, etc. specifications. But who reads them? When was the last time you compared the numbers and specifications of the headphones? Here's something. I’d rather write about my feelings, and then you yourself will listen to both models in the nearest store and compare your feelings with mine :)
So, Beats EPs are just great. Perhaps I will upset some spiteful critics, but the fact remains that the days when people bought Beats because of the brand, turning a blind eye to a rather mediocre sound, are gone.
For several years now Headphones Beats They sound great, delivering punchy bass and detailed mids. The tops are not very sonorous, but this does not cause inconvenience when listening to dance genres, all sorts of lounges, techno, rap, disco and even classics.
Marshall Major 2 has an EQ set to "rock" by default. This is the only way I can explain the fact that absolutely all rock genres are listened to in these headphones just fine.
Although the bottoms are not as pronounced as in the Beats, the mids and highs are just crystal clear and reveal compositions with guitars and live performances.
Every rustle of the cymbal, every note is heard perfectly and this Marshall Major 2 undoubtedly bribes. It is worth listening to any ZZ Top composition through them and agree with me.
Opinion: If you listen to rock in any form (including Sting, yeah), then you need Marshall Major 2. You won't be disappointed, that's for sure. For everything else, there's the Beats EP, which gives you the feeling of being in a club with tight sound and deep bass.
6. Conclusion
The first generation of Marshall Major headphones has gained considerable popularity among music lovers. The latter was facilitated by good sound, excellent appearance and good ergonomics. And so the manufacturer introduced the second generation of Majors, in which they promised pumped sound, appearance, reliability and updated speakers that are capable of delivering a deeper and richer sound.
Contents of delivery
The packaging is designed in the typical style of the company. It looks nice and gives off a warm tube sound :). In a cardboard form, there are folded headphones and a detachable cable inside, documentation under the cardboard. The adapter from the 3.5 mm jack to 6.3 mm was removed from the kit.
Design, quality of materials
Part by part appearance Major II is not far gone from the first generation, we have before us almost a copy of his older brother. The latches of the bowls have changed a little, the cable has become removable and with an L-shaped plug. Otherwise, we have the same headphones that can be safely recommended to people who want a stylish accessory.
Leatherette prevails among the materials different types and plastic, but in the fastenings of the bowls there was a place for metal.
The detachable cable looks impressive and has a section that looks like a telephone cord - for those cases when you need more than 1.2 m.
The plug for connecting to audio devices is L-shaped and gold-plated, and from the side for connecting to headphones is straight.
There are no complaints regarding the assembly, but the design is very frail, and the height adjustment of the bowls may begin to slip over time. Also in our copy, when you click on the right bowl, a characteristic sound came out, as if air was escaping from the ear cushion.
Ergonomics
Marshall Major II, due to its minimal size, is well suited for both outdoor and indoor listening to music. At first, the bowls put a little pressure on the ears, but after a couple of days the discomfort disappears. The ear pads and headband are soft and comfortable.
The design is foldable, which will come in handy more than once during transportation, it is a pity that there is no cover in the kit. Cable optimal size, both for the street and for indoors, and the latter can always be changed to any other.
There is an additional mini Jack 3.5 mm connector in the right bowl for connecting additional headphones, which makes it possible to listen to two pairs of headphones from one device.
A remote control with a microphone is provided, with which you can control calls and playback.
sound
The headphone frequency response is shown on the back of the package, and this is one of those cases where the manufacturer only slightly embellishes, but everything else is correct.
At high frequencies, “not a fountain” - bells, drum cymbals and violin are clearly not for the second Majors - but with low and medium things are better. The overall taste of the sound is slightly washed out and will appeal to fans of classic rock. Detailing is at a good level, the scene is a C grade. Soundproofing is suitable for not particularly noisy places, metro or public transport make the headphones play only part of all the instruments.
Please note that 64 ohm impedance does not provide the greatest volume margin when used with smartphones. If you put everything together, then for its $ 100 this is a good option, but there are headphones that play better.
Basic testing is done using digital-to-analogue converter ASUS EONE MKII MUSES, PC is used as the main audio source. To evaluate the sound, a set of special test tracks is played, which can reveal the potential of acoustics or headphones. The latter are Prime Test CD #1 and such individual compositions as Given Up ‒ Linkin Park, Oh Pretty Woman ‒ John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Funky Monks ‒ Red Hot Chili Peppers, Scream Aim Fire ‒ Bullet For My Valentine on Audio CD. The following sound indicators are evaluated: stage width (how much the sound panorama is recreated), high frequencies(violin, drum cymbals), low frequencies (bass), mid frequencies (vocals), sound detail (how well the details of the composition are heard). The author's opinion is subjective, the rating is based on the price of the headphones.
Eventually
The second generation of Marshall Major did not bring anything fundamentally new, and the sound could be better for the money, but what the hell are they stylish!
Liked:
Appearance;
The quality of materials;
Removable cable;
Ability to connect additional headphones;
Development of low and medium frequencies;
Remote control.
Did not like:
For $100 you expect better sound.
Headphones for review provided by the store "Portativ"
 | Marshall Major II Black (4090985) 1 971 - 2 908 UAH Compare prices |
| Type | Headphones / Headset for phone |
| Connection method | wired |
| Construction type | invoices |
| Type of acoustic design | closed |
| Mount type | headband |
| Materials (headband/cups/ear pads) | metal+leather/plastic/leather |
| Folding design | + |
| swivel bowls | + |
| Waterproof case | — |
| Emitter design | dynamic |
| The number of emitters in one earphone | 1 |
| Frequency range, Hz | 10-20000 |
| Resistance, Ohm | 64 |
| Sensitivity, dB | 99 |
| Maximum input power, mW | 100 |
| Speaker diameter, mm | 40 |
| Magnet type | neodymium |
| THD (nonlinear distortion factor), % | there is no data |
| Active noise cancellation | — |
| Type of microphone according to the principle of operation | dynamic |
| Microphone design | built into the cable |
| Orientation | broadly directed |
| Frequency range, Hz | there is no data |
| Sensitivity, dB | there is no data |
| Output plug (for computer headsets) | — |
| Remote control | 1 button |
| Volume control | — |
| Cord length, m | there is no data |
| cable type | twisted |
| Cable connection | unilateral |
| unbalanced cable | — |
| Detachable cable | + |
| connector type | mini Jack 3.5mm |
| Plug shape | straight |
| Weight, g | there is no data |
| Colour | black |
| Nutrition | — |
| Gaming headset | — |
| Headphones for monitoring | — |
| Surround sound support | — |
| Apple compatibility | + |
| Android Compatibility | + |
| Equipment | headphones, 6.3 mm adapter |
| Additionally | — |
