Marshall Major V vs M50xBT2: Style or Sound?

By Rit Saxena · January 28, 2026 · Product Reviews

Two pairs of headphones sit on my desk. Marshall Major V at $149 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 at $199. One looks like rock concert gear, the other like a sound engineer's tool. I spent three months switching between them daily, trying to figure out which ones are better.

The answer turned out less straightforward than I expected. These headphones aren't really competitors, even though they fall into the same price bracket on paper. They're built for different people with different priorities.

Here I break down sound, comfort, battery life, and features of both models. Plus the stuff you won't find in the spec sheets.

Sound Quality: Concert Stage vs Recording Studio

First thing you notice when putting on Marshall Major V after Audio-Technica is a completely different sound presentation. Marshall sounds like you're at a concert in the front row. Bass hits your chest, guitars cut through the air, vocals push forward. Works great with AC/DC and Metallica. Put on Thunderstruck and immediately understood what music these headphones were made for.

Audio-Technica M50xBT2 play differently. Sound is balanced, detailed, with clear instrument separation. You hear every hi-hat strike, every breath from the vocalist. For jazz, classical, and electronic music this is an advantage. When I played the Ahmad Jamal Trio, I understood why professionals choose this lineup. Every instrument sits in its own space, nothing bleeds together.

Sound Signature Details

The problem with Marshall is that out of the box they sound too bright in the highs. On some tracks this gets fatiguing after half an hour. The Marshall Bluetooth app lets you fix this through EQ, but the fact remains: without tweaking, the sound isn't ideal.

M50xBT2 don't need intervention. Audio-Technica's house tuning, refined on studio monitors, works for most genres. Though if you want more bass, you can enable the Bass Boost preset in the A-T Connect app. LDAC support adds another argument in favor of Audio-Technica. When connected to an Android phone that supports this codec, the difference is audible. More detail, wider soundstage. Marshall are limited to AAC and SBC, which is enough for most listeners, but audiophiles will notice the gap.

Comfort and Design: 186 Grams vs 308

Marshall Major V weigh almost half as much as Audio-Technica. You feel it immediately. Put on Marshall and forget about them. With Audio-Technica the weight is always present. Especially noticeable when nodding your head to the beat.

But there's a catch. Major V are on-ear, meaning the cushions rest on your ears, not around them. After an hour or so your ears start to fatigue. My cartilage started aching around the two hour mark. M50xBT2 fully enclose your ears, which is more comfortable for longer sessions despite the extra weight. The clamp is firm, some complain about pressure, but three months in I had no discomfort.

Portability and Looks

Out on the street Marshall are easier. Compact, foldable, easily fit in a jacket pocket. Audio-Technica need a case (included) and take up more space in a bag. Once I forgot the case at home and had to wear the M50xBT2 around my neck all day. No such problem with Marshall.

Marshall's design grabs attention. Vinyl finish, brass elements, logo styled after the legendary amps. These are headphones for people who care how they look. People turn their heads in the subway. Audio-Technica look like a professional tool: strict, functional, no frills. Nobody will notice, but pros recognize the M50 line at first glance.

Battery Life: Is 100 Hours Real?

The claimed 100+ hours on Marshall sounds like marketing exaggeration. But it's true. Over three months I charged them four times. With daily use of two to three hours, one charge lasts over a month.

Audio-Technica with their 50 hours are good too. Charging once every two to three weeks with the same usage pattern. For most people that's more than enough.

Fast charging works on both. 15 minutes in the outlet gives 3 hours of music on Marshall, 10 minutes gives the same on Audio-Technica. Marshall also support Qi wireless charging, convenient if you already have a charging pad for your phone.

Features and Apps: M-Button vs Multipoint

Marshall added a programmable M-button to the Major V. One press opens Spotify Tap, switches the equalizer, or calls up a voice assistant. Good idea, but questionable execution. The Marshall Bluetooth app works unstably, sometimes drops connection. A couple times I had to manually reconnect the headphones after changing settings.

But Marshall have one trick nobody mentions. You can share music with another person through an AUX cable. Plug their headphones into yours, and both listen to the same source. This feature has existed since the first Major, and it's great they kept it.

Apps and Settings

Audio-Technica A-T Connect works more reliably. Five-band equalizer (graphic or parametric), low latency mode for video, left/right channel balance adjustment. Plus multipoint: you can connect headphones to laptop and phone simultaneously, switching between them without reconnecting. For working from home this is invaluable. You're on a video call from your laptop, a message comes in on your phone, you answer, back to the call. No reconnection dance.

The lack of ANC on both models deserves separate mention. Neither Marshall nor Audio-Technica offer active noise cancellation. For on-ear Marshall this is expected: the form factor doesn't allow effective isolation from outside sounds. But for over-ear Audio-Technica this is a conscious choice by the manufacturer in favor of uncompromised sound. On the subway or plane you'll have to live with ambient noise.

Who Should Buy Which

Marshall Major V will suit you if you value style and portability. If you listen to rock, metal, indie. If you want to forget about charging for a month. If you're willing to spend time tweaking the equalizer. And if $89-149 is your budget. I'd recommend these specifically to students and travelers. Light, stylish, battery lasts a week-long trip.

Audio-Technica M50xBT2 go for if accurate, studio sound matters. If you work with audio professionally or semi-professionally. If you need multipoint for working from home. If you're willing to pay $155-200 for quality. LDAC support makes them attractive for Android phone owners with Hi-Res music.

There's a third option. If you need ANC, look at Sony WH-1000XM5 or Sennheiser Momentum 4. They cost more but offer features absent from both models in this comparison. For frequent flights and public transit commutes, noise cancellation might matter more than sound nuances.

Honest Verdict After Three Months

I kept the Audio-Technica M50xBT2. For my tasks, which are podcast work, listening to music across genres, and calls, their balanced sound and multipoint proved more important. But Marshall Major V didn't go to a random acquaintance. They went to my nephew who's learning guitar and listens to punk rock.

Marshall Major V I'd recommend to those who love Green Day and wear headphones everywhere. Month-long battery, stylish design, light weight. For that use case they're perfect. Plus right now you can find them for $89-100 on sale, making them one of the best deals in their class.

Both are worthy options. It's just about priorities. Style and battery life or sound and functionality. Your call.