How Durable Are Marshall Headphones? (With Examples)

Marshall has long been famous for its guitar amplifiers, which have been highly sought after for decades.

With vintage ones going for thousands of dollars, as they perform well even after years of use, it’s no surprise why guitar players love Marshall amplification. But can the same be said in regards to Marshall headphones? Will they withstand the test of time, as their amps have?

How durable are Marshall Headphones?

Here’s What You Need to Know about the Durability of Marshall Headphones.

Overall, Marshall headphones are quite durable, provided they are taken care of. The Marshall brand is known for its long lifespan on their products and the headphones can also last 5-7 years, when used with a case and cleaned regularly.

Marshall Headphones

How Long Do Marshall Headphones Normally Last?

Marshall headphones can last you five years and still provide good sound quality.

While there are weak points, proper care will allow you to prolong its lifespan. The battery life of the Bluetooth units is quite impressive, and you can expect them to last for hours, even after a few years of use.

Do They Last as Long as Other Headphones?

Marshall headphones can last as long as the big-name brands such as Audio Technica and Sony.

They also can last longer than cheap headphones.

What Typically Breaks First on Marshall Headphones?

The most vulnerable part of Marshall headphones is the cables. We have a full article covering all problems with Marshall headphones.

While the cable looks durable, truth be told, they’re not as durable as you may think. The rubber insulation may tend to peel off, if not break internally.

Luckily, the cables of Marshall headphones are detachable, so you can replace them if they break, or if you just want to preserve them for resale later.

Another thing to note is that the faux leather on the ear pads and headband tends to flake off over time. They’re not as durable when compared to the material used on other headphones, such as Audio Technica.

It should be noted that headphone cables are the most breakable part of just about any headphone from any brand.

How Long is the Warranty on Marshall Headphones?

The warranty of Marshall headphones is good for 12 months from the date of purchase from the Marshall website or the official dealer.

What exactly does the warranty cover?

Marshall’s warranty covers all manufacturing defects that may occur, but it does not include any damage that happens from wear and tear or accidental damage. That’s why it is important to properly handle your headphones.

Improper handling or any form of neglect may nullify your warranty coverage.

Do Marshall Headphones Need Maintenance from the Owner?

Like other consumer electronics on the market, Marshall headphones need proper maintenance to last longer.

As Marshall headphones don’t have a warranty coverage as long as other brands, it becomes imperative to handle your headphones with care.

Proper maintenance goes a long way and there are plenty of benefits.

You get to maintain the sound quality of your headphones.
Your headphones last longer and save you from headaches of repairs or finding replacement parts.
And lastly, your headphones maintain a good resale value.
And while maintenance sometimes can only slow down deterioration, it still prevents major damages from happening prematurely.

How Do You Care for Your Headphones?

Now that the benefits for properly caring for headphones have been listed, let’s take a look at what you can do.

Regularly clean your Headphones

Your headphones need regular cleaning.

It accumulates dust, regardless of where you go, while the earpads and headbands tend to soak up sweat or oils from the body.

These can corrode metal parts, or wear out the faux leather on Marshall headphones.

To slow down any wearing that may happen with dirt, here’s what you can do:

Wipe your headphones after use with a soft cloth that’s dampened with alcohol or hand sanitizer.
For those using earbuds or in-ears, avoid letting others them, as both of you may transmit dirt to each other.
Brush off any dirt on the drivers
Clean the jack by spraying with compressed air, or use a thin paper clip with double-sided tape to collect any particles.

Protect the cables

Marshall provides you with an option to use a wired connection with their headphones, and they also have wired, in-ear headphones available.

Wired connections have a stronger signal than a Bluetooth connection.

If you’re using any of the options with wired connections, you need to take good care of the cable.

While it’s easy to replace cables, it can be an inconvenience. However, if the cables break on the wired, in-ear models, they become unusable and are irreparable.

Here’s what you can do to take care of the wires of your Marshall headphones:

Don’t store them in your pocket, especially if you wear tight clothing. The wires inside may break when pressure is applied.
Avoid dangling the wires, as these also put pressure on the internal wires, especially when bent at an angle.
Make sure your cables are not tangled, as untangling them may also exert pressure on the wires inside.
Pull out the plug, and not the cable.
Don’t leave your headphones plugged in, as they can damage the spring inside the jack.
In relation, coil your cables properly when storing them. You can check out the guide at the bottom of this article for a video about wrapping your cables.

Get storage for your headphones

For those who always take their headphones wherever they go, it’s important to have a dedicated case for your headphones.

While you might think it’s okay to put your headphone in your bag as it is, you may encounter problems here: it can get crushed, or there won’t be anything to absorb the shock in case things get a little rough (e.g. running to catch the bus or train).

That’s where a dedicated case comes in handy.

You don’t even need to get a hard case, such as a Pelican case. And there are plenty of shell cases that were designed for the Marshall headphones.

When choosing a case, make sure they provide the right fit. Ideally, it shouldn’t be too loose and all the more it shouldn’t be tight.

Replace headphone pads when worn out

The earpads of your Marshall headphones are quite comfortable, but they will also flake off over time.

Unfortunately, the faux leather used by Marshall isn’t the best, and if you are prone to sweating, the ear pads will flake more.
Once your headphones start flaking, it’s time to replace them. The material under the faux leather isn’t exactly the most comfortable thing to have on your skin.
There are plenty of sellers that offer pad replacements for Marshall headphones.

Avoid moisture and humid environments

Moisture can damage your headphones by corroding their metal components, and sweat can damage the ear pads over time.

There will be times when the environment you’ll be in would be more humid, which means the presence of more moisture in the air. Because of this, you should consider adding silica gel desiccant inside your headphone’s case.
Always wipe away any moisture on the headphones.
Another option would be to switch to headphones designed for sports, as these were designed to better absorb moisture.
Unfortunately, Marshall does not have headphones designed for sports.

Set the Volume and EQ levels properly

The speakers of your headphones vibrate as it produces sound, and they vibrate more when the volume is louder, which makes damage more possible. The sound can distort and destroy your headphone speakers when the volume is too loud.

And of course, there’s that possibility of hearing damage. It’s important to know when to adjust the volume of your device, concerning your use of headphones.

Here are some points to consider:

Mute the volume when plugging and unplugging your headphones to avoid any popping sound that can damage your headphone speakers.
Don’t use the bass boost a lot, as heavy bass frequencies can damage your headphones, especially those not designed to accentuate the bass frequencies.

Know when to charge your headphones

If you often use your Marshall headphones on Bluetooth mode, it would be good to have a charging schedule.

Ideally, you shouldn’t wait for them to drain completely.
Don’t leave them charging inside your car while parked under direct sunlight.
Try charging them at the same time with your phone so they’re both ready to use at the same time.

What Are the Best Marshall Headphones?

Marshall Major III

The Marshall Major III is one of the more comfortable Bluetooth headphones available right now.

They’re lighter than other on-ear headphones and the ear pads are softer for prolonged use. The faux leather gives it that premium look, thanks to its texture.
The build is quite durable.
These headphones have a good level of flexibility in adapting to the shape of your head. Aside from the soft ear cups and lightweight, this flexibility makes the Major III very comfortable.
The cable on the Major III features only one button for call and playback features. Unlike other headphone cables on the market, the Major III doesn’t have track navigation or volume control.
On the headphones themselves, you will find one button on the left for power, and also functions as a play/pause button and answer/end calls.
The button also works as a knob that you can toggle sideways to switch tracks, and up and down to adjust the volume. You can also double-click on this knob to activate Siri.
The performance of these headphones is quite exceptional. Audio quality is clear and crisp, and the battery can last up to 30 hours of use.

For its disadvantages:

The Major III lacks NFC single-touch pairing
It lacks active noise cancellation, and;
The audio for the Bluetooth microphone is mediocre.

Marshall MID ANC

For those who want active noise cancellation, the Marshall MID ANC is a perfect choice.

With its noise cancellation, you can easily take the MID ANC for your daily commute.
The sound quality leans towards the warmer side with a deep bass response.
The centerpiece of these headphones is the noise-canceling feature. With the slider switch on the earcup, you can turn on its active circuitry when you need, or turn it off when you want to save on power.
The headphones are also easy to use and have a control knob.
Battery life is also good at 20 hours with noise canceling on, and 30 hours without the noise-canceling feature on.
The build of these headphones is quite durable. There are metal hinges that allow you to collapse the headphones when not in use.
These headphones have a premium feel with their faux leather cups and suede headband.

Of course, there are some disadvantages to the MID ANC:

The ANC turns on even without using Bluetooth, which can drain your battery even when the headphones are off, and;
The ear cups don’t fold flatly.

Marshall Monitor II ANC

If over-ear headphones are your thing, then the Marshall Monitor might be the one for you.

These headphones are ideal for those who take their cans wherever they go. The ear cups collapse into a compact form for easy storage.
The compact assembly is complemented by the premium build. The Monitor II ANC uses textured faux leather for the metal ear cups and PU leather for the headband to reinforce the headphones.
Overall, the build gives the Monitor II ANC this prestigious classic look.
The headphones come with a coiled cable with a built-in line control that you can use to control your track. While there’s a built-in microphone, unfortunately, there’s no volume control. But, if you’re using Bluetooth, then that won’t be a problem.
Noise cancellation is also remarkable on this one, which also adds to it being a good commuting headphone.

And for the disadvantages: