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 to each other 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 is cool and status. Materials, quality, again, all sorts of celebrities flaunt them. And next to it 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 alternate wearing these headphones, comparing sensations and other factors in everyday use. Read, make your choice and enjoy.
1. Portability
We buy headphones to enjoy music in the bustle of the city, on the street. In any weather and time of day. For this purpose headphones must be comfortable for carrying.
In terms of carrying, the Marshall Major 2 is more convenient - they fold, unlike the Bits. It’s a pity that the “Marshals” don’t come with any kind of case – they wouldn’t be worth the price.
But Beats EP, although they do not fold, do fit into a special bag with a tightening neck, which is included in the kit.
On the one hand, folding ear cups are more convenient, but on the other hand, the monolithic 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 don’t carry stones in your backpack or bag, in terms of portability, 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 “Bits”, they fit comfortably on your neck, thanks to the shape of the headband.
2. Materials
Different brands - different combinations of metal, leather and other components. Both “Beats” and “Marshals” use plastic to a minimum: the headband in both models is steel, only the Marshall Major 2 is covered in leather.
The Beats EPs look less rich and more modern. Polished metal, smooth shapes - it is clear that the manufacturer is relying on the young and progressive.
Marshall tries to please people of different ages by combining vinyl in the design of the ear cups, with gold-tone brass inserts, steel mounts and a vintage spirit.
The main finishing elements are the same - both models use high-quality leather for the earcups, soft and without foreign odors.
Opinion: The Beats EP feels like a product of the 21st century, while The Marshals feels more like a fantasy from the past with a modern twist thanks to the materials used. If you're a progressive person who doesn't like allusions to the past, you'll definitely like the Beats EP.
3. Convenience
This is one of the most important selection criteria, because what’s the point of great sound if the headphones pinch, fall off, or sit uncomfortably 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 discovered an interesting pattern. Winter is the time for hats and headphones have to be worn over the headdress. So: Marshall Major 2 more comfortable to wear over a hat than "Beats".
Perhaps it’s the size of my head or some other peculiarities of my skull, but after 1.5 hours the Beats EP starts to give me a headache in the place where the headband is. Moreover, this only happens if you are wearing a hat. If you wear “Beats” without a winter hat, everything is fine, complete comfort and pleasure.
There is no such problem with the Marshall Major 2. I think that the reason for this is the short power reserve of the Beats cups; if someone has a large head, then in addition with the Beats EP cap they will be simply small and will sit flush on the head, putting too much pressure on the crown of the head and causing discomfort after a short time .
Opinion: If you love hats and wear hats, try on Beats EP before purchasing to see how comfortable you are in them. If you live in warm countries or despise hats, you’re in luck, because the Beats, in fact, sit more comfortably on your head and look less massive from the outside than the Marshall Major 2.
4. Features
Marshall Major 2 is the undisputed leader in this regard, thanks to the ability to connect to a sound source via Bluetooth. They have a removable wire - unplug it, connect it to your smartphone via bluetooth, and off you go.
Are your headphones drained? Plug in the wire and continue listening to music. Everything is simple and convenient. There is no difference in sound, there are no wires either - nothing rubs under the jacket, does not pull or interfere with taking out a smartphone and waving it in different directions.
The Beats EP has a non-removable wire and no wireless connection. But there is another plus: a full-fledged control panel on the headphone cable. Three keys with which you can control your iOS gadget. It's convenient and makes everyday scenarios of using iPhone with headphones a lot easier.
But the Marshall Major 2 has a short remote control in this regard: it only has one button. With it you can accept a call, end a call and stop or start playing a track. No rewinding, volume control and other cute actions that we are so accustomed to with our native Apple headset.
Opinion: Hate wires? Take the Marshall Major 2 and take out your smartphone every time you need to turn up or down the volume on the player. Are you 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 and others technical specifications. But who reads them? When was the last time you compared numbers and technical characteristics of headphones? That's it. It’s better that I write about my feelings, and then you can listen to both models yourself in the nearest store and compare your feelings with mine :)
So, the Beats EP is a great listen. Perhaps I will upset some spiteful critics, but the fact remains that the days are gone when people bought Beats because of the brand, turning a blind eye to the rather mediocre sound.
For several years now beats headphones They sound just great, delivering tight bass and detailed mids. The highs are not very loud, but this does not cause any inconvenience when listening to dance genres, all kinds of lounge, techno, rap, disco and even classics.
Marshall Major 2 has a built-in equalizer set to “rock” by default. This is the only way I can explain the fact that these headphones listen to absolutely all rock genres just perfectly.
Although the lows are not as pronounced as in “Beats”, the mids and highs are simply crystal clear and reveal compositions with guitars and live performances.
Every rustle of the cymbal, every note is heard perfectly and this is what Marshall Major 2 undoubtedly captivates. It’s worth listening to any ZZ Top composition through them and agreeing with me.
Opinion: If you listen to rock in any form (including Sting, yeah), then you need the Marshall Major 2. You won't be disappointed, that's for sure. For everything else, there's the Beats EP, which delivers that club-ready feel with thick sound and deep bass.
6. Conclusion
Description
MARSHALL MAJOR II is new model closed portable headphones from a famous amplifier manufacturer. The company used the name of its line in the name of the model. guitar amplifiers"Major", which were produced from 1967 to 74.
The model is intended primarily for those who listen to music from portable devices. It can be used as regular headphones, or as a headset. The headphones are equipped with a microphone that allows you to take a call or make a voice recording.
The MARSHALL MAJOR II connection is wired, one-way, but the cable of this model has interesting features. Firstly, the cable is partially straight, and in the middle there is a twisted section, which prevents the cable from tangling, and also allows, if necessary, to increase its length by stretching the rings. Secondly, the cable is completely detachable and can be connected either from the left or right side. There is a remote control on the straight part of the cable, closer to the headphones. remote control, with which you can control playback, answer calls or end a call.
The sound of the headphones is perfectly balanced, thick and rich, with a pleasant velvety tint for which Marshall is famous. And here is the main difference between Major II and its predecessor model. The specially designed new drivers deliver deeper, tighter bass, with more emphasis and clarity in the highs and crisp mids. At the same time, the headphones convey sound very naturally and reliably.
The MARSHALL MAJOR II features a retro design that closely resembles the look of the headphones during the Major amplifier era and is distinctly reminiscent of Marshall amplifiers. The shape of the ear cups is square, but with slightly more rounded corners compared to the previous Major model. On the outside of the ear pads there is a recognizable vinyl logo, familiar to everyone who has ever seen Marshall amplifiers. The walls of the ear pads have an abrasion-resistant vinyl coating and a relief structure similar to the texture of the leather covering of the headband. Jim Marshall's autograph is stamped on the inside of the headband.
The highest quality and reliable materials were used in the design, especially for parts of the headphones that are constantly exposed to mechanical stress. The golden plug of the wire is equipped with a spring shock absorber, which is quite unusual for headphones. The plug is four-pin, and for devices that do not support this standard, a convenient L-shaped adapter is provided.
The headphones are very light, and also perfectly adapt to the shape of the head and do not cause fatigue not only when listening to music for a long time, but also when worn around the neck when they are not in use. However, they conveniently fold into a compact design that is easy to store and carry. The cups fold inside the headband, with the metal parts of the frame protruding slightly outward and used to wrap the wire around them, which allows the headband to be further compressed. The wire is especially resistant to bending, so such storage will not harm it at all. Thus, when folded, the headphones take up very little space.
The first generation of Marshall Major headphones gained considerable popularity among music lovers. The latter was facilitated by good sound, excellent appearance and successful ergonomics. And now the manufacturer presented the second generation of “Majors”, which promised improved sound, appearance, reliability and updated speakers that are capable of producing a deeper and richer sound.
Scope 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 inside there are folded headphones and a detachable cable, under the cardboard there is documentation. The adapter from 3.5 mm jack to 6.3 mm was removed from the kit.
Design, quality of materials
Partially appearance Major II is not far removed from the first generation; we have before us practically a copy of its older brother. The cup latches have changed slightly, the cable has become removable and has an L-shaped plug. Otherwise, we have the same headphones that we can safely recommend to people who want a stylish accessory.
Leatherette predominates among materials different types and plastic, but there was a place for metal in the fastenings of the bowls.
The detachable cable looks impressive and has a section that is designed in the form of a telephone cord - for those cases when you need a longer length than 1.2 m.
The plug for connecting to audio devices is L-shaped and gold-plated, and on the headphone connection side it is straight.
There are no complaints about the assembly, but the design is quite flimsy, and the height adjustment of the bowls may begin to slip over time. Also, in our sample, when you pressed the right cup, a characteristic sound came out, as if air was coming out of the ear pad.
Ergonomics
Marshall Major II, due to its minimal size, is well suited for listening to music both outdoors and indoors. At first, the cups 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 comes in handy more than once during transportation; it’s a pity that the kit does not include a cover. The cable is the optimal size for both outdoors and indoors, and the latter can always be changed to any other.
There is an additional mini Jack 3.5 mm connector in the right earcup for connecting additional headphones, which makes it possible to listen to two pairs of headphones from one device.
There is a remote control with a microphone that can be used to control calls and playback.
Sound
The frequency response of the headphones is shown on the back of the package, and this is one of those cases when the manufacturer only slightly embellishes, but otherwise everything is correct.
In terms of high frequencies, “not a fountain” - bells, drum cymbals and violin are clearly not for second Majors - but with low and medium frequencies 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. Sound insulation is suitable for not particularly noisy places; the metro or public transport forces the headphones to play only a part of all instruments.
Please note that 64 ohms does not provide the greatest volume headroom when used with smartphones. If you put everything together, then for your $100 this is a good option, but there are headphones that play better.
Basic testing is carried out using an ASUS EONE MKII MUSES digital-to-analog converter, using a PC as the main sound source. To evaluate the sound, a set of special test tracks are played that can reveal the potential of acoustics or headphones. The latter includes 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 in Audio CD format. The following sound indicators are assessed: stage width (how volumetric 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 can be heard). The author's opinion is subjective, the rating is given taking into account the price of the headphones.
In the end
The second generation of Marshall Major did not bring anything fundamentally new, and the sound for the money could have been better, but what the hell are they stylish!
Liked:
Appearance;
Quality of materials;
Detachable cable;
Possibility of connecting additional headphones;
Development of low and mid frequencies;
Remote control.
Didn't like:
— For $100 you expect better sound.
Headphones for review provided by the Portativ store
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Marshall Major II Black (4090985) 1,950 - 2,000 UAH Compare prices |
| Type | Headphones/phone headset |
| Connection method | wired |
| Construction type | invoices |
| Type of acoustic design | closed |
| Mounting type | headband |
| Materials (headband/cups/ear pads) | metal+leather/plastic/leather |
| Foldable design | + |
| Swivel bowls | + |
| Waterproof housing | — |
| Emitter design | dynamic |
| 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), % | no data |
| Active Noise Cancellation | — |
| Microphone type based on operating principle | dynamic |
| Microphone design | built into cable |
| Focus | broad-spectrum |
| Frequency range, Hz | no data |
| Sensitivity, dB | no data |
| Output plug (for computer headsets) | — |
| Remote control | 1 button |
| Volume control | — |
| Cord length, m | no data |
| Cable type | twisted |
| Connecting the cable | one-sided |
| Unbalanced cable | — |
| Detachable cable | + |
| Connector type | mini Jack 3.5 mm |
| Plug shape | direct |
| Weight, g | no data |
| Color | black |
| Nutrition | — |
| Gaming headset | — |
| Headphones for monitoring | — |
| Surround support | — |
| Apple compatibility | + |
| Android compatibility | + |
| Equipment | headphones, 6.3 mm adapter |
| Additionally | — |
Major II Bluetooth combine freedom and comfort that provide wireless headphones, with over 50 years of Marshall experience building high-end audio equipment. Easily connect to your playback device using the latest Bluetooth aptX protocol and listen to music for a long time (more than 30 hours) without recharging. With this version of Bluetooth, you can not only listen to your favorite songs in CD quality, but also watch movies without audio/video synchronization problems.
Using the button on the earcup, you can control playback, pause, shuffle, and change the volume level. Call management functionality has also been implemented - you can receive them, hang up and end the conversation with a few simple taps. It is possible to talk on the phone both with wired and wireless connection- there is a microphone built into the headphone cup.
Frequency response of Marshall Major II Bluetooth
Peculiarities:
- On-ear headphones with support wireless transmission audio signal by Bluetooth standard aptX.
- Continuous work in wireless mode for more than 30 hours.
- Detachable 3.5mm reversible cable for alternative wired connection.
- Ability to share music via 3.5mm jack wirelessly.
- Deep bass, clear highs, low distortion.
- 3.5mm jack on each earcup for connecting speakers or other headphones.
- Foldable design.
- Microphone and remote control on cable.
- Playback and call control button on the earcup.
