The Main IV are an satisfying pair of on-ears, providing some stable enhancements over the earlier mannequin. The battery life is large, the sound high quality is participating, and construct high quality ought to assist them survive loads of scrapes. It’s onerous to not heat to the Main IV’s character.
Professionals
- Good, participating sound
- Rugged construct high quality
- Lengthy battery life
- Snug to put on
Cons
- Not the widest soundstage
- Design permits exterior sound to leak in
Key Options
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Wi-fi charging Helps wi-fi charging with a appropriate pad
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Battery life Lengthy-lasting battery lifetime of round 80+ hours
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Sound sharingThe 3.5mm cable can be utilized to connect with one other set of headphones to share music
Introduction
One other month and we see one other Marshall product. Between 2020 and 2021, Marshall has launched a spate of latest merchandise that embody an ANC headphone, sensible speaker, transportable speaker, true wi-fi and now a brand new set of on-ears within the Main IV.
The Main IV on-ear headphones are an replace on the Main III, sticking with the identical aesthetic however delivering an enormous increase within the battery division by a large 50 hours.
So the Main IVs boast the model’s iconic look, larger battery life and are available in on the identical worth because the earlier mannequin. Are we hooked on that Marshall feeling?
Availability
- UKRRP: £129
- USARRP: $149
- EuropeRRP: €149
- CanadaRRP: CA$219
- AustraliaRRP: AU$249
Design
- Good to make use of
- Snug to put on
- Nostril isolation isn’t nearly as good as different headphone sorts
The look of the Main IV differs little from the Main III in a wider sense – however that hasn’t stopped Marshall from claiming a number of tweaks.
The realm the place it’s most evident is with the ear-cups. Marshall says it’s used softer padding that moulds itself to the ear for elevated consolation. With out the earlier mannequin at hand, I can’t converse as to whether that’s a merited change – however, nonetheless, the Main IV headphones are very snug to put on.
This isn’t all the time the case with on-ears, which might heat up the ears or pinch, however I’ve suffered none of these points with the Main IV. At 165g they’re gentle, and regardless of using onerous plastic, they don’t really feel low-cost or disposable. Though they’re solely out there in black, you may doubtless count on Marshall to launch a number of totally different colourways sooner or later.
The headscarf produces sufficient strain for the Main IV headphones to remain glued to the top. As soon as match has been discovered, the Main IV’s pure noise isolation is first rate sufficient to at the least masks the footsteps of somebody behind you whereas preserving the wearer conscious of what’s round corresponding to visitors. In environments the place there’s plenty of noise, there’s a battle to listen to audio.
They give the impression of being much less blingy and the faux-leather look is much less evident than the earlier mannequin. The comfortable headband is each sturdy and springy, with some flexibility to suit larger formed heads too.
Since Marshall doesn’t provide a tough case or pouch bag with the Main IV (simply 3.5mm and USB-C charging cables), you can chuck these headphones right into a bag with the remainder of your stuff.
The one different design component of notice is the gold multi-directional management dial, which continues to be an intuitive method of working Marshall’s headphones. Utilizing it grants management over playback, observe skipping, quantity and energy on/off. You too can reject, reply and finish calls with the dial.
Options
- Tremendous-long battery life
- Wi-fi and fast-charging help
- 3.5mm cable can be utilized to share music with one other headphone
On-ears don’t have a tendency to supply as many options as their over-ear cousins, however that doesn’t imply what options are current on the Main IV aren’t worthy of curiosity.
For one, the Main IV supply tremendous stamina. Thirty hours is often the benchmark, however the Main IV transcend with a quoted 80+ hour determine, so there’s little purpose to handle battery life with this set of headphones.
If, someway, you end up wanting battery, then the Main IV help fast-charging (quarter-hour for a mammoth 15 hours), whereas there’s wi-fi charging help, too – a characteristic I haven’t usually seen in headphones that aren’t true wi-fi. A charging pad isn’t equipped with the Main IV, so there’s only a USB-C charging cable for charging functions.
There are not any built-in smarts however a double-tap on the management dial is supposed to convey up the digital assistant in your cellular gadget (Alexa, Google, Siri and so on). It will possibly, nonetheless, begin or pause playback as a substitute. What’s wanted is a barely slower double-tap moderately than a fast one to (kind of) mitigate the difficulty.
One different characteristic is utilizing the three.5mm cable to plug into one other set of headphones and share your music. The cable is lengthy sufficient for it to not flip right into a ‘Girl and the Tramp’ state of affairs, however I can think about it being awkward until you’re each sitting down. It does work, nonetheless; though it appears to work greatest with Marshall headphones (I used it with the Monitor II A.N.C). Sign noise appears prevalent should you attempt with one other model.
Wi-fi connectivity is pretty updated with Bluetooth 5.0, and over testing the connection has been reliably stable. The one subject was strolling via Waterloo practice station, the place the sign didn’t drop fully, however there was a way of music phasing out and in because the connection tried to stabilise itself.
Sound
- Fulfilling bass efficiency
- Properly-balanced, energetic presentation
- Barely slender soundstage
The place audio is anxious, the Main IV choose up the place the Main III left off. It’s a efficiency that may be affected by the match of the ear pads. If the match is free or they don’t cowl the ears correctly, the Main IV’s crisp tone can usher in harshness and potential sibilance.
The Main IV ship few surprises should you’ve ever listened to a pair of Marshall headphones earlier than. Outputting via their 40mm dynamic drivers, the mid-range is pretty crisp in tone, excessive notes are effectively outlined and sharp, whereas bass is surprisingly large for an on-ear pair.
In truth, bass on the Main IV is extra pronounced than on the Standing BT One, a pair of on-ears I loved from a number of years again. If bass is a requirement, the Main IV produce a efficiency that’s simple on the ears, easy in its definition, in addition to being large and punchy.
And bass doesn’t spoil or compete with the mid-range for consideration, both. There may be – for lack of a greater phrase – a solidity to the sound that make the BT One sound comparatively thinner.
A play of Patrice Rushen’s Overlook Me Not, the bouncy beat is extra vibrantly conveyed and fascinating with the Marshalls – there’s a way of enjoyable right here that may’t be heard as a lot on the Standing.
Regardless of that, the width of the soundstage isn’t fairly as expansive because the BT One, and though the Main IV’s efficiency doesn’t come throughout as congested, the consequence is a bit more readability and subtlety within the favour of the BT One, in addition to extra room to breathe.
That stated, there isn’t an enormous quantity of distinction when it comes to the mid-range efficiency when enjoying Tom Morello’s cowl of Voodoo Little one. The Marshall exhibit sense of dynamism, so the observe has that move of quiet to loud – and vice versa – that engages, whereas the crisp tone offers the guitar riffs sharpness and power. The readability of the Main IV really works effectively throughout a bunch of musical genres, though that slender soundstage makes orchestral soundtracks really feel much less expansive.
Though the Main IV sound pretty effectively balanced, the Marshalls don’t concern themselves with outright constancy. It’s the rationale I favor the BT One’s extra measured efficiency, though give the Marshalls greater high quality tracks and among the points I’ve famous fall away. However, the Main IV are a enjoyable pair of on-ears with a character that you would be able to’t assist however like.