Review: Marshall Major V

As the latest iteration of its wireless headphones series, Marshall's Major V maintains the same simple yet effective formula set out by the Major IV and III.

While typically known for their reliability, clear sound and nostalgic design, the big selling point for the new Majors is that they are kitted out with an eye-watering 100+ hours of wireless playtime.

While this is a massive figure, It should be noted that from opening our test sample a few weeks ago until now we have charged them once. With the possibility to charge via an in-built USB-C port and on wireless pads, the longevity of the Major Vs does seem to hold up — though the jury is out if that will be approaching "100+ hours" when considering volume. Marshall's website confirms that around 15 minutes of charge would give 15 hours of playtime.

So let's get onto the design; little has changed from other Majors; while the Major IV and III were available in brown leather, it seems like the Major Vs only come in black — fantastic if you are going for that vintage studio setting look.

Complete with the signature Marshall square cups, reminiscent of the manufacturer's iconic speaker design, the Major Vs feel noticeably hardy — even with the flexibility required to make them foldable.

The foldability is another selling point of not only the Major Vs but the entire Major wireless series; there's no carry case, no disassembly, there's not even an awkward clasp at the side for your hair or the skin on the side of your face to get caught in. No, the Major Vs simply curl up into an object that is around the size of a coaster, thanks to a metal hinge that holds the cups separate from the headband — also allowing for adjustment to get the right fit.

The leather exterior is a great touch to the range, setting them apart from other chrome-esque designs on the market and giving them a warm feel — the cushioned on-ear cups only add to that fuzzy feeling of nostalgia in the pit of your stomach, so squishy that we can't help but be taken back to trying out our dad's Hi-FI in the '90s.

There's very little by way of set-up required on the Major Vs; straight out the box and you're good to go; the Bluetooth connectivity is controlled by a small dial below one of the cups that looks like a knob from an old-school recording studio set up. This dial also controls incoming calls (if connected to your phone), playback and volume — all by nudging in the desired direction. The mechanism to reconnect and disconnect from Bluetooth devices is simple, hold it in and recieve a signature guitar strum (these are Marshall headphones of course) that signifies that they are ready; there's no disconnected voice here declaring "ready to pair."

Other functions are controlled via a discreet "M" button on the other ear cup, which you can customise via the Marshall app — allowing you to adjust things like Spotify Tap, voice assistant (such as Siri) and even the EQ settings, which appear as a series of sliders on the app screen.

The Major Vs are not sound cancelling, a feat which we're sure would be difficult to accomplish considering their retro design — though what they lack in making you feel like you're in a fishbowl on public transport, they make up for clarity with their custom 40mm dynamic driver; the sound is balanced enough that Dolby Atmos audio still has its kick, but you can hear someone shouting your name in the next seat.

At US$170 (£129.99) they are at the pricy end of casual listening, and don't have enough bells and whistles to be considered for a professional user — but if you want a reliable, hardy pair of Bluetooth headphones that you don't have to charge much, and just feel nice, the Marshall Major Vs are a great option.

Marshall's Major V are on sale now, buy them here.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter