When you name a product after one of the most evocative chords in music, like the Marshall Minor IV, you set a high bar. With a legacy of delivering powerful audio experiences, expectations for Marshall’s latest true wireless earbuds are sky-high. So, do the Minor IVs hit all the right notes, or do they leave audiophiles wanting more?

First Impressions: Aesthetic Masterpiece

From the moment you unbox the Marshall Minor IV earbuds, their distinctive design captivates. The case, adorned with a grain texture reminiscent of Marshall’s iconic Tolex vinyl-covered guitar amps, offers excellent grip and visual appeal. The prominently embossed Marshall logo in white silicone rubber not only enhances the look but also adds anti-slip properties. The earbuds themselves feature a lightly textured plastic build, highlighted by knurled metal stalks that subtly diverge from their predecessors’ perpendicular design, offering what Marshall describes as a “truer fit.”

Comfort and Control: Designed for Everyday Ease

Marshall’s Minor IV earbuds have made significant strides in comfort and control, addressing some of the common issues that can affect prolonged earbud use. With thoughtful design improvements, these earbuds offer a more comfortable fit and intuitive controls, making them an excellent choice for both casual listeners and dedicated audiophiles.

Enhanced Comfort: A Perfect Fit for Prolonged Use

One of the standout features of the Minor IVs is their improved ergonomic design, which ensures a more secure and comfortable fit. Marshall has taken user feedback into account, creating earbuds that sit comfortably in the ear without causing discomfort over extended periods of use. The slightly angled stem design of the Minor IVs helps them fit more naturally in the ear canal, reducing the need for constant readjustment.

Moreover, the open design of these earbuds is a significant advantage. Unlike closed-design earbuds, which can create a sense of pressure and discomfort during prolonged use, the open design of the Minor IVs allows air to circulate freely. This prevents the build-up of pressure within the ear, making the Minor IVs comfortable for extended listening sessions. Whether you’re on a long flight, an extended commute, or simply enjoying a marathon music session at home, the Minor IVs are designed to keep you comfortable.

Responsive Touch Controls: Intuitive and Convenient

The Minor IVs are equipped with touch-sensitive controls that are both responsive and easy to use. The touch-sensitive area on each earbud is precisely defined, making it straightforward to control playback, adjust volume, and manage calls with simple taps and swipes. This intuitive control scheme means you can easily navigate your music and take calls without needing to reach for your device, enhancing the overall user experience.

Additionally, the touch controls are designed to be reliable and accurate, minimizing the chances of accidental commands. This is particularly useful when you’re on the move, as you can confidently adjust your settings without worrying about unintended actions. The touch-sensitive area also allows for customization via the Marshall Bluetooth app, so you can tailor the controls to your preferences and ensure that the earbuds respond exactly as you want them to.

Knurled Stems: A Blend of Aesthetics and Functionality

Marshall has always been known for its distinctive design, and the Minor IVs are no exception. The knurled stems of these earbuds are not only a nod to Marshall’s iconic aesthetic but also serve a functional purpose. The textured surface of the stems provides a better grip, making it easier to insert and remove the earbuds, as well as adjust them for a perfect fit.

This practical design element ensures that you can handle the earbuds with ease, even when your hands are wet or sweaty. The knurled stems also add a touch of sophistication to the overall look of the Minor IVs, ensuring that they are as stylish as they are functional.

Sound Quality: Marshall Signature Excellence

Marshall has long been synonymous with exceptional sound quality, and the Minor IV earbuds uphold this tradition with aplomb. At the heart of their auditory prowess lies the Marshall ‘signature sound’ profile, a finely-tuned balance of detailed highs and rich bass that defines the listening experience. This sound profile is designed to deliver a dynamic and immersive audio experience, capturing the nuances of every track with precision.

Detailed Highs and Rich Bass

The detailed highs of the Minor IVs ensure that every note is crisp and clear. Whether you’re listening to the delicate strumming of an acoustic guitar, the soaring vocals of a lead singer, or the intricate layers of an electronic track, the earbuds capture and reproduce high-frequency sounds with remarkable clarity. This attention to detail allows listeners to hear every subtlety in their music, bringing each track to life in a way that feels fresh and engaging.

Complementing these highs is the rich, deep bass that Marshall is renowned for. The Minor IVs deliver powerful bass that is both punchy and controlled, providing a solid foundation that drives the music forward. The bass is never overwhelming, striking the perfect balance to ensure that it supports the overall sound without drowning out other frequencies. This balanced approach means that genres ranging from rock and hip-hop to classical and jazz all benefit from a well-rounded, full-bodied sound.

Customization: Tailor Your Audio Experience

While the default ‘signature sound’ profile of the Minor IVs is impressive on its own, Marshall understands that audio preferences can be highly personal. To cater to diverse tastes, the Minor IVs come equipped with four additional sound presets. Each preset is designed to emphasize different aspects of the audio spectrum, allowing listeners to choose a profile that best suits their preferences or the specific genre of music they are listening to.

For those who desire even more control over their listening experience, the Minor IVs offer a custom user profile. Accessible through the Marshall Bluetooth app, this feature allows users to fine-tune the audio settings across five frequency sliders. Whether you want to boost the mids for clearer vocals, enhance the treble for brighter highs, or deepen the bass for a more immersive experience, the custom profile provides the flexibility to create a sound that is uniquely yours.

Enhanced Listening Experience

This level of customization ensures that the Minor IVs can adapt to a wide range of musical styles and listener preferences. By allowing users to tailor the audio output to their liking, Marshall has created earbuds that offer not just high-quality sound, but also a personalized listening experience. The ability to switch between different presets or create a custom sound profile adds an extra layer of versatility, making the Minor IVs suitable for any listening environment, from casual background music to critical listening sessions.

In summary, with a balanced and detailed ‘signature sound’ profile, additional presets, and a customizable user profile, these earbuds offer an unparalleled listening experience that can be tailored to meet the unique preferences of each user.

Battery life: Great!

Marshall takes battery life seriously with the Minor IVs, surpassing the impressive claims made on paper. During testing,these earbuds exceeded expectations, delivering over 30 hours of total playtime, with the buds lasting a solid 7 hours on a single charge. Impressively, both the buds and the case recharge faster than advertised, ensuring minimal downtime between listening sessions. 

This exceptional battery life, coupled with both wired and wireless charging options, makes the Minor IVs the perfect companion for extended journeys or all-day audio immersion.

Verdict: A Sonic Triumph

The Marshall Minor IV earbuds excel in aesthetics, sound quality, and user-friendly features, making them a standout choice in the true wireless earbuds market. Their distinctive design, impressive battery life, and customizable sound profile offer a premium audio experience that lives up to the Marshall legacy. For those seeking stylish, high-quality earbuds, the Minor IVs are a perfect choice.