Home
News
You are here

Marshall's first true wireless buds, Mode II, promise 'phenomenal sound' for a hefty price

Published: Mar 05, 2021, 5:51 AM

3comments

Marshall introduces the Mode II earbuds for a hefty price

Marshall, the makers of all things guitar and sound amplifying, introduced its first true wireless in-ear Bluetooth earbuds. The Marshall Mode II are priced at $179 and offer up to 5 hours of play time on a single charge.

At $179, the new Marshall earbuds are relatively cheap compared to Apple's AirPods Pro going for $249, and Samsung's Galaxy Buds Pro priced at $199, but the Marshall Mode II lack active noise cancellation, unlike the other two. The new earbuds are also behind in terms of battery life compared to rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ which cost $149. But with that said, Marshall gives you a different, rock-inspired design from a brand name known for its professional audio devices.

Marshall Mode II Design and audio quality

The earbuds have pocketable design and, according to Marshall, deliver a thunderous and rich audio experience with growling bass, natural-sounding mid tones and crisp treble.

The Marshall Mode II have a retro look, with gold accents and a charging case made of black rubber. Yet they don't skip on modern conveniences like and IPX4 certification, meaning they're sweat resistant.

Marshall Mode II case

Marshall Mode II specs, features, and battery life

5 hours battery life on a single charge
4 charges in the case, up to 25 hours of playback
2 hours case charging
Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity
Transparency mode

The case can fully charge the earbuds up to four times for a total playback time of up to 25 hours. It takes 2 hours for it to charge the earbuds from 0 to 100%. The case also features LED lights that show you what its battery level is.

The Marshall Mode II features Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity and touch navigation. This means that you can control music and phone calls by tapping one of the earbuds with your finger. Receiving and ending phone calls is done with a touch to either one of the earbuds.

Touching the left earbud controls the EQ settings, the native voice assistant, and the Transparency mode. Transparency mode allows you to hear the sound from your surrounding. This mode is especially effective when you're on the move in the crowded city. Touching the right earbud controls your music playback.

The Marshall Mode II earbuds have two microphones, 10-meter Bluetooth range, and a single dynamic audio drive. Each of the earbuds weighs 4.75 grams or 0.17 ounces, while the charging case is 35 grams or 1.23 ounces. The earbuds’ frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz with a driver sensitivity of 100.5 dB. The driver impedance is 16 Ω.

Marshall Mode II price and release date

Price: $179
Launch: March 18

The Marshall Mode II earbuds are now available to preorder on the Marshall Headphones site and ship on March 18. In the box, the earbuds include multiple ear tips in different sizes and a USB-C charging cable.

View Full Bio

Iskren, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been passionate about technology since his childhood, sparked by his early experiences with phones like the Ericsson T28 and Sony Ericsson P910i. After earning a bachelor's degree in Media and Journalism, he turned his fascination with smartphones into a career, with a particular interest in Apple and Motorola. Outside of his tech pursuits, Iskren enjoys watching TV series, movies, driving, and has a deep passion for cars and Formula 1. He looks forward to the future of mobile tech, particularly the potential of rollable smartphones.