Because it’s all about the bass

In the ever-crowded true wireless market, it is becoming increasingly challenging to stand out. But the Marshall Motif ANC II do that with aplomb. Succeeding the original Motif ANCs, these new buds pack a different look and sound quality. But do they live up to the Marshall legacy? We used these earbuds for a while and here’s what we think:

Marshall Motif ANC II review: Design

Almost every Marshall audio product stands out because of their design and iconic look. The Motif ANC II earbuds carry that torch effortlessly. The charging case is black but has a textured faux-leather. The Marshall logo in white stands out as do the overall design of the earbuds. The earbuds look premium and a real far cry from the cheap plastic that has crowded the market.

Opening the case reveals the earbuds ,which feature a long stem emblazoned with the Marshall logo and gold accents. The earbuds do look stylish and are bound to catch the attention of any one who takes a look at them.

The earbuds are slightly big but fit surprisingly snug. For extended listening sessions also, you don’t feel any fatigue. The earbuds have IPX4 rating whereas the charging case has an IPX5 rating which means they can handle sweat and light rain without issue.

There are touch controls on the earbuds, which handle playback, volume, ANC, and voice assistant activation. It takes time to get used to the controls but once you are set, they work like a charm.

Marshall Motif ANC II review: Audio quality

Marshall is a name that always makes people sit up and take note. So how do these new Marshall earbuds sound? In a word: punchy. The Motif ANC II deliver a sound profile that leans heavily towards the bass end of the spectrum. This is great for genres like rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, where a strong low-end presence is key. The Marshall Motif II ANC earbuds pack 6mm dynamic drivers with 08db driver sensitivity

We cranked up AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and it was music to the ears. The pounding drums and Angus Young’s searing guitar riffs come through with enough power and sufficient clarity.  Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” has become quite a go to song for bass as the booming sub-bass and driving baseline really stands out. The experience of Eilish’s popular song is quite immersive on the Marshall Motif ANC II.

The bass quality shines while listening to Hans Zimmer’s “Time” as many other earbuds struggle to handle the composition but the Motif ANC II do a really commendable job.

Having said that, in some genres — where a more balanced soundstage is needed — there were times when the Motif ANC II didn’t t really hit all the right notes. The emphasis on bass can sometimes overshadow the mids and highs, leaving violins or acoustic guitar work sounding a bit muted.

For instance, on Bob Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man” the guitar chords sounded a bit underwhelming. It wasn’t bad by any standards but there was some crispiness that was missing. The Marshall companion app comes in handy here as it has a customisable EQ, which allows you to play around with to find the right sound profile.

When it comes to Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), the earbuds to a commendable job in blocking out unwanted ambient noise. The ANC performance is good and does a fine job in reducing low-frequency noise like a hum on an aircraft or a slightly noisy office setting.

The transparency mode does a great job of allowing you to hear the surrounding noise without the need of removing the earbuds.

Marshall claims that the Motif ANC II can last 6 hours of playback per charge with ANC enabled. There’s additional four charges from the case making it a total of 30 hours. The claim is quite accurate but if you turn off the ANC, you can get a few more hours. The battery life isn’t bad but you will find a lot of other earbuds in this price range that offer a lot more hours.

Marshall Motif ANC II review: Verdict

The Marshall Motif ANC IIs are a stylish and well-made pair of true wireless earbuds. For those who love powerful, bass-heavy sound, these are really good earbuds. The ANC performance will satisfy most users and the battery life is also sufficient, if not the best.

For Rs 19,990, the Marshal Motif ANC II are firmly in the premium category of true wireless earbuds. The problem for these earbuds is that they face stiff competition from the likes of Sony, Apple and a few others. And then there are the mid-range earbuds that offer more or less same features at a lesser price point. The overall proposition is good but just falls short of being great. And at this price point, most buyers want all things great.