We see iconic brands everywhere and they instantly bring to mind both the quality and attitude of a product. Everywhere you look there’s Apple, Nike, Canon, Microsoft staring you in the face. However, go to a rock concert and there’s usually only one brand on stage and that’s Marshall, the iconic script that appears on almost every amplifier and speaker stack behind the world’s best rock musicians.
If you have a good brand it’s natural to want to leverage its recognition and that’s exactly what’s been done via this pair of wireless earphones. The same company that makes Marshall amplifiers does not manufacture these earbuds. However, they are produced under license and share the brand’s heritage and essence, both in terms of sound quality and the attitude they convey.
The Minor II wireless earphones are a second take on the original Marshall Minor in-ear model, launched way back in 2011. This time they’ve had a makeover and a major upgrade with Bluetooth 5.0 compatibility, the latest iteration of the Bluetooth wireless standard, and design that incorporates a new multi-directional control knob that enables access to all the functions these earphones have to offer. A microphone has also been included so that the Minor II can be used to take and make phone calls when used with a smartphone. At 230g they feel pretty weighty and substantial.
Like the earbuds bundled with all iPhones, the Minor II simply sit in the ear rather than needing to be pushed right into the ear canal. It’s a good balance between the total isolation of an ear tip design while still allowing enough external noise to enter the ear to warn of things like train announcements or an oncoming car. The fit can be adjusted for different-sized ear bowls by a clever little loop of the cable that joins each earpiece. Just increase the size of the loop for larger ears by pulling it out some more, or simply pull it in for smaller ears. The little loop of cable keeps the earbud securely in the ear for when exercising or on the move.
Inside each Minor II earpiece is a large dynamic driver measuring 14.2mm across, which means the bass is fairly full on and the overall sound is chunky. The Minor II produce a large and meaty sound that partners perfectly with most rock music. As you’d expect with something bearing the Marshall logo, the volume can go pretty high compared to some other earbuds.
It takes around three hours to fully charge the battery of the Minor II earbuds so that they can deliver a full 12 hours of playing time, but if you’re in a hurry a quick 20-minute charge will give up to two hours of playing time. That’s good to know if you've ever forgotten to charge up your wireless headphones before heading to the gym.
The power for the Minor II is stored in an in-line battery compartment just below the right-hand earbud. The plastic enclosure carries the Marshall logo as well as a brass button decorated with concentric grip rings. The little button works like a joystick and, depending which way you use it and how many times it is depressed, it provides access to all the functions on offer such as increasing volume, skipping tracks, answering calls and even accessing a phone’s voice assistant. It’s a very nifty piece of design and works extremely well once all the functions have been practiced and committed to memory.
As far as Bluetooth codecs are concerned, the Minor II offers the basic SBC as well as the higher quality apt-X codec supported by Android devices. Unfortunately, the Minor II doesn’t support the AAC codec used on Apple’s iOS devices so that may be an issue for some iPhone or iPad users. I think these earbuds sound just fine when used with an iPhone and most people probably aren't looking for absolute audiophile purity when listening to music on the bus or while working out at the gym. The main thing is the Minor II pump out some great sounds at a decent volume with lashings of bass and plenty of treble.
Each of the Minor II earpieces has a magnet built in so that the two earpieces can be quickly stuck together back-to-back in order to pause the music. The music can also be paused by a quick press of that clever brass joystick. Once the earpieces are stuck together, the Minor II go into an energy-saving, deep-sleep mode, and after six hours they switch off altogether to save battery power.
Verdict: The manufacturers of the Marshall Minor II wireless earbuds have done a great job in tuning the custom drivers to provide a sound that rock fans will absolutely flip over. There’s plenty of bass, a solid mid-range and lots of lovely treble that reproduce crashing cymbals beautifully. If Deep Purple, Motörhead and Led Zeppelin feature heavily on your playlists, these earbuds are perfect for you. The clever multi-directional control is well thought out and the extended playing time of 12 hours between charges is perfect for a long-haul flight or a week of workouts and commutes. If you love rock music, you’ll love the Marshall Minor II earbuds.
Prices: $129 / £119.99 / €129
More info: marshallheadphones.com
Specifications
- Drivers: 14.2mm
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Sensitivity: 117dB SPL (179mV @ 1kHz)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm apt-X and SBC
- Dimensions: W95.1 x H188 x D52.5 mm
- Weight: 230g
- Colors: Black / White / Brown
