The Marshall Motif II ANC noise-cancelling true wireless earphones ($199.99) are an incremental update to the original model. They offer a similar amp-inspired design and an articulate sound signature, but they last longer per charge and come with a water-resistant case. Their underwhelming active noise cancellation (ANC), however, hasn't seen any noticeable improvement. For the same price, Jabra’s Elite 8 Active earbuds offer better noise cancellation, a more durable build, and superior battery life, making them a better buy.
A Rockin' Look
Marshall goes above and beyond with the design of its earphones. Whereas most competing models look fairly similar, the stem-style Motif II ANC earbuds stand out because of their script M logo, matte black shells, crosshatched metallic stems, and gold end caps. In the package, you get three pairs of silicone eartips that help create a secure, comfortable fit.
(Credit: Tim Gideon)Internally, 6mm dynamic drivers deliver a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz with an impedance of 16 ohms. The earphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and support just the AAC and SBC codecs for now. Marshall plans to push out support for LC3 in the future but hasn't said when that might happen. You can connect the earbuds with up to two devices simultaneously.
The capacitive touch controls are relatively easy to operate. A single tap on the outer panel of either earpiece handles playback, two taps skips forward a track, and three taps takes you to the previous track. A long press on either side cycles through the ANC and Transparency modes. Tap twice to answer or end calls, and hold down to reject an incoming call. You can make basic changes to the control scheme in the app, but strangely, the long press gesture is the only one that can have distinct functions for each earpiece.
An IPX5 rating for the earbuds means they can withstand moderate water projections from any direction, so neither rain nor sweat should pose a problem. Just don't submerge them or rinse them off under a faucet. For comparison, the Jabra Elite 8 Active earphones have a fully dustproof and waterproof IP68 rating, making them a better option for workouts.
The charging case's IPX4 rating is far better than what we usually see, but Jabra wins out here again thanks to a more impressive IP54 rating. The Marshall case is quite stylish, with a script logo on the front and a soft silicone exterior that has a leather grain pattern. A pairing button and a status LED are also on the front, while a USB-C port for the included USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable is on the back. The crosshatch pattern on the sleeves of the charging cable gives it some extra flair, and I like that the case supports Qi wireless charging.
(Credit: Tim Gideon)Marshall estimates that the earphones can last roughly 6 hours with ANC enabled, or 9 hours with it off (up from 4.5 hours and 6 hours, respectively, for the original). The case holds between 30 and 43 hours of battery life depending on your use of noise cancellation (up from between 20 and 26 hours). Of course, your results will vary depending on your typical volume level. Charging either the case or earphones from empty to full takes 1.5 hours, but docking the earbuds for 15 minutes should get you about an hour of playback.
Marshall Motif II ANC App Experience
The main screen of the Marshall app (available for Android and iOS) shows an image of the earbuds and the case with battery readouts for each. The Noise Control section that follows lets you switch between the ANC, Transparency, and Off modes. Both the ANC and Transparency selections bring up a fader that lets you adjust their intensity. Further down, the EQ section offers several non-adjustable presets and a custom option with five bands that range from 160Hz to 6.25kHz. The custom EQ is the best thing about the app by far.
(Credit: Marshall)Otherwise, a Touch Controls section mostly just lets you customize the function of the long press gesture. For instance, you can set it to switch between the Noise Control modes (the default), change EQ presets, launch your voice assistant, or control the volume. You can also add an off option to the ANC cycle. The remaining settings are all pretty standard. You can toggle Auto-Play and audio prompts, download firmware updates, and open a link to the Marshall website.
Below-Average Noise Cancellation
The Motif II ANC earphones deliver a subpar noise cancellation experience, regardless of the level you set in the app. In testing, they only incrementally dialed back powerful, low-frequency rumble. Furthermore, they just somewhat cut back the lows and mids from a complex cafe recording, letting the higher midrange noise pass through untouched. They also added a noticeable hiss to the signal. Simply put, I expect much more from noise-cancelling models in this price range.
For comparison, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds, which cost half as much, are notably more effective against low-frequency rumble and midrange noise. Moreover, the aforementioned Jabra pair performs even better. You might be able to excuse this showing in light of the cool design, but if you care at all about noise cancellation, far superior options exist.
Marshall's Transparency mode works as you might expect. It lets you clearly hear your surroundings and emphasizes higher frequencies to improve clarity. The ability to adjust the levels via the fader in the app is helpful, too.
Crisp Sound and Clear Mics
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the earphones deliver a full-bodied low-frequency response. The bass sounds thick at moderate volumes but doesn't overpower the highs. At higher volumes, the lows are robust and free of distortion.
The earphones have no trouble reproducing the sub-bass beginning at the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” Just keep in mind that even though the drivers reach these low frequencies, they don't deliver serious subwoofer-like rumble. Meanwhile, the various vocals come across clearly. From this track, I note a naturally brighter tone compared with most other models I review.
(Credit: Tim Gideon)Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass, gives us a better sense of the sound signature. The drums here sound rich, without too much boosting. Callahan’s baritone vocals get a pleasant blend of low-mid richness and high-mid crispness, a combination that adds some treble edge and detail to the mix. For reference, the in-app EQ is less dynamic than most others I've tested, with the Bass Boost preset adding just a slight extra thump.
On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the earphones achieve an appropriate balance. They push the lower-register instrumentation slightly forward in the mix, but the spotlight mostly stays with the higher-register brass, strings, and vocals. When deep bass occasionally turns up, the drivers deliver it with a full-bodied richness that never sounds unnatural.
The mic array works reliably. I could understand every word in a test recording on my iPhone thanks to the clear, sufficiently loud signal.
Bold and Bright, But Light on the ANC
The Marshall Motif II ANC earphones benefit from a bold style in line with Marshall's famous amps. They also sound crisp and don't overdo it in terms of boosting bass. But they fall short in the noise cancellation department, underperforming models that cost half as much. In the $200 price bracket, we prefer Jabra's Elite 8 Active earphones for their superior ANC, slightly more pronounced bass, and stronger durability.
