Wireless headphones are convenient, almost essential nowadays since most smartphones no longer come with a headphone jack. If you want to sit back, relax, and privately listen to tunes from a speaker or other audio device, you don’t want to be tethered to a cord. I have reviewed dozens of wireless headphones over the years (read: decades!) and the latest to come across my desk are the Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. wireless headphones.
What To Know About The Marshall Monitor IIIs
The Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. wireless headphones boast spatial audio technology to provide an immersive listening experience. They include, of course, active noise cancelling (ANC) so you can block out distracting ambient noise, from the hum of an airplane engine to the hustle and bustle of a busy city street with people milling about.
An adaptive loudness feature adjusts sound based on your environment. There’s a customizable M button for navigating EQ settings, Spotify, and voice assistants; while the microphones have been designed to reduce wind noise. Auracast, meanwhile, makes audio sharing simple.
Get up to 70 hours of listening with ANC on and up to 100 hours without. It comes with a hard case that has red velvet inside to resemble a guitar case.
The Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. headphones are available in Canada exclusively from Erikson Consumer for $500.
Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Wireless Headphones Review: Design and Usability

I was instantly impressed after taking these out of the box. The case is shaped like an oversized earcup, which might catch you off guard. How is that possible? That’s because the ultra-portable ‘phones pack up neatly in the dome case. It’s wider than any other headphones case you might have seen, but also takes up about half the space. But keep in mind that it might not fit in thinner bags or briefcases because of the wide design.
On the top, inner side of the case is a spot to hold the included USB-C charging cable and the USB-C-to-3.5mm cable, an appreciated inclusion that makes it possible to connect to seatback entertainment systems when traveling by plane. This slot is secured by a magnet, a nice touch to ensure the cables don’t fall out when you’re frantically trying to de-board a plane and make your connecting flight. I received these ‘phones just in time for a 14-hour flight to Japan, so the review timing couldn’t have been better.

Unfold them from the case and you’ll notice the lovely textured earcups combined with the cushion-y earpads and headband: I suspected these would be ultra-comfortable for the flight, and I was right. Pairing was a cinch with the Marshall app, which I already had loaded on my phone from previous generation model reviews. I did, however, need to run a firmware update first, which took about 10 minutes.

Once set up, you can get familiar with the buttons and operation. On the outside of the left earcup is a strategically placed, barely noticeable ANC button. Press this to adjust noise cancellation, swapping from full noise control to transparency mode. Use the app to adjust the level of transparency.

On the opposite spot on the right earcup is the M-control button for navigating EQ settings, Spotify Tap, and triggering the connected device’s voice assistant. Both buttons are designed to easily tap with your thumb behind your ear.

The power and pairing button is a classy, raised gold button on the right earcup, a signature in this line. While it might appear to stick out like a sore thumb, the finish and styling matches the Marshall logo that’s prominently displayed on both earcups, which makes it work.
Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Wireless Headphones Review: Audio

Now, it was time to listen. When you switch from ANC to transparency mode, there’s a distinct tone that confirms the button press, an appreciated feature even though you’d audibly hear the difference anyway. I first tried it at home with the TV going in the background, comparing the noise cancellation in this setting to the Sonos Ace headphones. The result? The Sonos Ace does a better job with transparency mode, letting in more audio than you’ll get with the Marshall Monitor IIIs. But for some, you may prefer to have less sound leak in, depending on your setting. You can, as noted, adjust the level of transparency.
When listening to tunes from Apple Music, I noticed detailed, pronounced sound. In tunes like the ‘90s techno song “Sandstorm” by Darude, which just happened to come on in my playlist, every note was clear and defined. Next in the random playlist that popped up was an instrumental tune called “Beau Mot Plage” by Isolée. While I wasn’t familiar with the song, I kept it playing because of how well it sounded with a lovely range of vocals and instruments. Everything from the flute to the bass rang through beautifully. I felt fully immersed in the music.

I then switched to some of my regular review tracks, including Radiohead’s “Creep” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” along with something softer in the 4 Non Blondes tune “What’s Going On” and “The Sound of Silence” by Disturbed. When compared to the Sonos Ace, which cost about the same, the audio with the Marshall Monitor IIIs was clearer, more precise and detailed without the sound being muffled. There was a slight echo with vocals in tunes like “What’s Going On,” but it added depth to the song versus hollowness. There are more distinct vocals with the Sonos Ace but the sound is more balanced with a warm, comforting sound that gives equal credence to both the backing instruments and vocals with the Marshall Monitor IIIs.
A feature in the app called Soundstage allows you to adjust Room Size and Amount by percentage to create a virtual room sound. It’s like Marshall’s interpretation of spatial audio. The difference is night and day when turning it on. There’s no dynamic head tracking, however, which would have been icing on that cake.
I love that in the EQ, there’s an option called adaptive loudness that automatically adjusts the tonal balance based on the volume and your surroundings. This is great for those who wear their headphones in a variety of scenarios, from a quiet home office to a bustling coffee shop, for example.

What about while traveling? On my very long flight, I listened to downloaded TV shows and music wirelessly from my iPhone and via cable to the in-flight system. I can’t say these are as good as my benchmark Bose pair, given that company is known for its noise cancelling prowess. But they’re pretty darned effective.
While I did not find battery life to be as long as rated, with the fully charged ‘phones needing to be recharged sooner than I hoped, they still lasted my entire flight and then some with ANC on.
Should You Buy The Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Wireless Headphones?

The wireless headphones space is a crowded one. It’s tough to make a decision when there are so many great headphones available at all price points. I wouldn’t call these the best-sounding headphones I have tried in this price range. But they’re a solid pair with specific advantages. Soundstage is a wonderful feature you’ll probably use a lot. I love how easy they are to operate with the raised buttons so you don’t have to slide your finger around to find them while you’re wearing the ‘phones. They are incredibly comfortable to wear for long periods of time and they offer fantastic battery life.
There’s also a certain “cool factor” to these headphones, which is something worth considering. (That is, after all, why Beats headphones perform so well). With Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong working with the brand for its latest promotional campaign, along with the guitar-inspired case and Marshall’s overall reputation as a rockin’ brand with an appreciation for loud music, there’s a sense of prestige in sporting these ‘phones on your ears.

Indeed, beyond the case, the headphones themselves look incredibly cool, oozing style and “rock on” vibes. Designed for being able to produce the lowest lows and highest highs, there’s a certain type of customer with specific music interest who will make use of these capabilities and get the most out of these headphones. The balanced sound ensures equal attention paid to both vocals and instruments, however, which is something any fan of any music genre can appreciate.
If you’re a fan of the Marshall brand, what will stand out for you is the style, easy operation, comfortability, and audio quality of these headphones. You’ll love the Marshall Monitor III ANCs and wear them with pride.
Get the Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. headphones in Canada exclusively through Erikson Consumer for $500.