Marshall Milton ANC on-ear headphones aim to lure away Bose and Sony fans

At a glance:

• Marshall has launched the Milton ANC on-ear headphones at $229, adding active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 6.0 with LE Audio, and six microphones — a big step up from the Major V.
• The Milton ANC keeps the foldable design of the Major V but adds larger memory-foam ear cushions, a new 32mm driver system, and up to 80 hours of battery life with ANC off.
• Available now from marshall.com and select retailers starting May 27, with support for Apple Find My and Google Find Hub via LE Audio.

What's new in the Milton ANC

Marshall has introduced the Milton ANC, a new pair of on-ear headphones priced at $229, positioning them as a serious challenger to established players like Bose and Sony in the premium on-ear segment. The Milton ANC is the latest in Marshall's speaker brand's push into personal audio, and it arrives with a feature set that addresses the key weaknesses of on-ear designs — namely, noise bleed and shorter battery life compared to over-ear alternatives. The headphones sport square-shaped TPU molded ear caps, a textured leather surface, a brass metal logo, and powder-coated metal arms, giving them a premium aesthetic that should feel familiar to fans of Marshall's larger cans. The foldable design from the current-generation Major V is retained, which is welcome for portability, though the Milton ANC tips the scales at 200g versus 186g for the Major V. The slightly increased weight is offset by the ability to collapse the earcups for travel.

Sound and driver upgrades

Under the hood, Marshall says it has introduced an "entirely new driver system tuned to improve bass and treble extension." The Milton ANC uses 32mm drivers, which is smaller than the 40mm drivers found in the Major V — a spec that might seem like a step back on paper but is paired with updated tuning and a wider codec portfolio. Supported codecs include SBC, AAC, LC3, and LDAC, ensuring broad compatibility with both Apple and Android devices. Additional audio features include Adaptive Loudness, which "subtly adjusts audio playback tonality to the listening volume and environment," and Soundstage spatial audio, powered by Marshall's in-house spatialization algorithm that adds depth and width to stereo tracks. The brand claims these features make any stereo content feel more immersive without requiring a specific app or format.

Active noise cancellation and microphone array

The headline addition is active noise cancellation (ANC), which the Major V lacked entirely. Marshall equipped the Milton ANC with six microphones — up from one on the Major V — to power next-generation ANC that analyzes the environment and adjusts noise cancellation in real time. The same microphone array feeds into Transparency mode and call quality improvements. The larger memory-foam ear cushions are designed to improve passive noise isolation, which matters for on-ear headphones that don't fully enclose the ear. With ANC enabled, Marshall rates battery life at up to 50 hours; with ANC off, the figure jumps to 80 hours — competitive numbers for a pair of on-ear cans. The battery is also replaceable, addressing longevity concerns for users who keep headphones for years.

Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio, and Find My support

The Milton ANC ships with Bluetooth 6.0 and LE Audio support, which opens the door to native integration with Apple Find My and Google Find Hub services. That means the headphones will appear in the built-in location-tracking apps on both iPhone and Android devices, a convenience feature that competing on-ear models have not widely offered. Bluetooth 6.0 also brings lower latency and more efficient connections compared to the previous generation, which should benefit both music playback and calls. The LE Audio codec adds another layer of audio quality, particularly when paired with compatible source devices.

Design, comfort, and availability

The design language stays close to Marshall's established aesthetic — square ear caps, textured leather, and brass accents — but the larger ear cushions and softer memory foam are intended to improve comfort during longer listening sessions. On-ear headphones are often criticized for pressure points and fatigue over time, so the cushion upgrade is a meaningful quality-of-life change. Marshall says the Milton ANC is now available to purchase from marshall.com. Select retailers will begin carrying the headphones on May 27. At $229, the Milton ANC sits in a competitive tier where Bose and Sony have multiple options, but the combination of ANC, Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio, and the extended battery life could make it an attractive alternative for users who prefer the on-ear form factor.

What to watch next

Early reviews and real-world testing will be key to validating Marshall's claims around ANC performance and sound tuning. On-ear headphones with ANC have historically lagged behind over-ear models in noise cancellation effectiveness due to the physics of partial ear coverage, so whether the six-microphone array and real-time adjustment can close that gap will determine the Milton ANC's competitiveness. The replaceable battery and extended runtime are also points worth tracking over months of use.

Tags

Marshall Milton ANC, on-ear headphones, active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio, Marshall Major V