Design & Construction

The Marshall Mid ANC is Marshall's very first active noise-cancelling on-ear headphone and for a first attempt, I feel that they pulled it off well. The Mid ANC is constructed with premium materials just like all of Marshalls' products. Soft microfiber, brass-plated Marshall logo and black anodised metal detailing all around the headphones. The left earcup has the multi-function knob which play/pause with a single press, skip forward with a double press, skip backwards with a triple press and press and hold to bring up Google Assistant or Siri. It also increases volume with a back push and lowers the volume with a front push. While on the right earcup (From Back-Front): there is the ANC Switch button, 3.5mm input, Micro-USB port and Mic. To turn ANC on, slide down the rocker on the right earcup. The headphones have thick and soft earpads which however does not encase your ears. This means that they sit on your ears, which eventually causes wearing fatigue after several long hours for listening. The clamping force is just right and does not cause any noticeable discomfort to users. On the other hand, the firm clamping force makes it the ideal headphone to use while working out. The headband is made of cowhide leather and has a padded headrest to provide for a comfortable experience. The exterior of the earcups resists fingerprint smudges very well. The earcups pivot in all directions and fold upward for easy storage in the included hardshell carrying case.

 

Sound Quality

The Marshall Mid ANC focused on an upbeat yet enjoyable sound setting that is good for genres like EDM, R&B, Rap & Pop. The headphone drivers provide a very immersive experience with an emphasis of bass and treble details. The mid-range is balanced and highs are warm in my opinion. Based on user experience, the noise isolation is top-notch, I could not hear much of my surroundings when there was no music on and with Active Noise Cancelling turned off. Turning on ANC significantly improve the isolation and I could only hear minimal muffled noise. Users may also feel a slight air-cabin pressure feeling but it isn't something to write home about if you are going to use the ANC with music on. Call quality was decent with the caller manage to hear me on the other end.

 

Connectivity & Portability

The headphone operates both passively and wirelessly. The volume was similar in both wireless and wired mode. However, listening via the Micro-USB cable is not available. The good news is that you can share music with your other half via the 3.5mm port which daisy-chains out audio when used wirelessly. The battery life peaks at an average of 20 hours with Bluetooth and ANC on. Recharging the Mid ANC from a dead battery requires 3 hours. The Bluetooth range was similar to other headphones in the price point and there wasn't any drop-outs from my usage so far. The high-quality streaming codec, AptX, is also supportedThe package comes with a 1.2 m 3.5 mm audio cable, USB-A to Micro-USB cable. I'm very impressed at the guitar strap inspired hardshell carrying case. It looks fantastic and with go well with those classic rock-and-roll styles. It even has loopholes at the back of the case so ladies can strap on their favourite handbag strap to use it on-the-go.

 

PROS

• Durable Construction

• Enjoyable Sound Signature

• Controls For Music Playback & Calls

• AptX Support

• Strong Active Noise Cancellation

• Folds Flat Into A Smaller Profile

• Premium Hardshell Carrying Case

 

CONS​​

• Lack Of App Support

• Lack Of Ambient Sound Hear-through

• Single Colour Available

 

The Bottom Line

The Marshall Mid ANC is a superior on-ear ANC headphone housing comfortable ear cushions, fantastic noise-cancelling, great sound and premium build. It is highly recommended for daily commutes.