Marshall Major V review

Design-wise, the Major V is everything a Marshall fan would expect, and just what a minimalist Scandinavian furniture designer might scowl at. The textured leatherette finish, gold multi-directional control knob, and foldable hinges ooze retro appeal. It’s the audio equivalent of a leather jacket — rugged, a little rebellious, and impervious to passing trends. Weighing just 186 grams, it’s light enough for day-long sessions without leaving your head in a vice grip. One might reasonably expect a carry case or pouch at ₹14,999, but no — Marshall assumes its listeners are too rock 'n' roll for such bourgeois fripperies.

Sonically, the Major V is a faithful disciple of Marshall’s house sound. That means mids are front and centre, bass is disciplined but present, and treble walks a fine line between shimmering detail and occasional sharpness. It’s not the kind of headphone that will flatten your skull with earth-shaking sub-bass — Sony’s WH-XB910N or JBL’s Live 660NC are better suited to that job. Instead, the Major V’s 40mm dynamic drivers deliver a more articulate low end, giving bass guitars and kick drums a clear, rounded presence without smothering the rest of the mix.

ALSO SEE: Marshall Emberton III review

Play something like Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain or Arctic Monkeys’ Do I Wanna Know?, and you’ll hear what the Major V is about — crisp, textured mids that wrap vocals and guitars in a warmth most modern wireless cans wouldn’t dare attempt. This isn’t just nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake; it’s a deliberately old-school tuning, crafted for those who still believe music is more than algorithmically generated bass drops and glossy chart-toppers.

 

 

 

 

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The treble, much like a charismatic frontman, occasionally gets a little carried away. At higher volumes, cymbals and hi-hats can take on a slightly brittle edge, a quirk some might find charmingly characterful, while others might wish for a touch more restraint. The soundstage is intimate, placing you firmly in a cozy studio booth rather than a cavernous stadium. Instrument separation is commendable, and the imaging gives enough spatial awareness to easily pick out that tambourine shake hiding in the corner of a mix.

Where Marshall pulls off a show-stopping encore is in its battery life. With a staggering 100+ hours of wireless playtime, the Major V outpaces every rival in its price bracket and then some. In real-world terms, you can listen to every Pink Floyd album back to back for four days straight — and still have enough juice left for a few hours of podcasts. A 15-minute quick charge nets 15 hours of playback, while full capacity is achieved in around three hours via USB-C. There’s also the bonus of wireless charging, though it can be a bit fiddly to align just right.

 

 

 

 

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Feature-wise, the Major V is admirably restrained. The Bluetooth 5.3 connection is rock solid, and there’s support for SBC, AAC, and the new LC3 codec, adding a degree of future-proofing. Marshall’s signature gold control knob handles playback and volume with satisfying tactility, while a customisable M-button can be set to trigger Spotify Tap, EQ presets, or your voice assistant of choice. There’s also a 3.5mm socket, a rare and welcome concession to wired traditionalists.

The Marshall Major V isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t want to be. It’s not the most versatile, nor the most technically impressive in its class, but it offers something far rarer — character. If you worship at the altar of classic rock, value midrange detail over brute force bass, and appreciate a headphone that can go longer between charges than most smartphones last on standby, the Major V will feel like coming home. For everyone else, Sony and JBL have your back. In the end, this is a headphone that’s as much about attitude as audio — and there’s something gloriously old-school about that.