Marshall Motif II vs Marshall Mode II – Which Earbuds Are Better?

Marshall, a renowned British heritage brand, has recently launched its new ANC earbuds called Marshall Motif II. The brand has very limited options in the earbuds segment. In this detailed comparison, we will compare Marshall Motif II with Marshall Mode II. Both of these earbuds promise impressive sound quality, sleek design, and a host of features. While we compare these earbuds, we will look deep into important aspects like design, performance, ANC, battery life, and unique features of the Marshall Motif II and Marshall Mode II. This comparison will help you to understand which earbuds are better and why they are better.

Marshall Motif II	Marshall Mode II
PROS	PROS
Advanced features like Bluetooth LE. Longer battery life. Balanced sound. Stylish design. Active noise cancellation.	Iconic Marshall design. aptX support for Android. Unique sound signature. Compact and comfortable. Touch controls.
CONS	CONS
May be relatively expensive. Not as bass-heavy as some prefer.	Slight audio delay on Android devices. Phone call quality in noisy environments.
CHECK ON AMAZON	CHECK ON AMAZON

Marshall Motif II

Marshall Motif II is a pair of active noise-canceling earbuds with a stylish design and several improvements to enhance the listening experience. With Bluetooth LE, it’s future-proofed. The earbuds come with various ear tip sizes (small, medium, and large) for a customized fit. The charging case is made from 70% post-consumer recycled plastic. It offers 6 hours of playback with ANC, which extends to 30 hours with the charging case. Without ANC, you can get up to 9 hours or 43 hours with the case. The earbuds feature 6mm dynamic drivers, offering a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, providing a concert-quality sound. They also have touch controls for media playback and phone calls. The Marshall app lets you fine-tune the equalizer to your liking. The earbuds support touch controls, including customization, and offer Bluetooth LE for improved audio quality. They are stylish, comfortable, and come with advanced features.

Marshall Mode II

The Marshall Mode II wireless earbuds are a late entry into the true wireless earbud market. They inherit the iconic Marshall design with a vinyl-textured case and brass accents. The earbuds themselves are compact and comfortable. They have Bluetooth 5.1, IPX5 water resistance for the earbuds, and IPX4 for the case. The battery life offers up to 5 hours on the earbuds, with an extra 20 hours in the case. The Mode II supports wireless charging and includes touch controls. You can use the Marshall Bluetooth app for EQ customization and firmware updates. These earbuds provide a distinctive Marshall sound characterized by a unique reverb in the mid-range and controlled high frequencies. Sound staging is detailed and well-suited for rock and electronic music. They can be enhanced with the app’s EQ settings. Phone call quality in noisy environments is not as strong as some competitors. When it comes to gaming or watching videos, there is a slight audio delay on Android devices, but it’s minimal on Apple devices.

Marshall Motif II vs Marshall Mode II Specs

Features	Marshall Motif II	Marshall Mode II
Driver Sensitivity	108 dB	100.5 dB SPL (179 mV)
Battery Play Time (with A.N.C.)	6 hours	5 hours
Total Play Time (with A.N.C.)	30 hours in case	20 hours in case
Wireless Charging	Yes	Yes
Quick Charging	15 minutes = 1 hour	No
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes	No
Bluetooth Version	5.3 LE	5.1
Water Resistance	IPX5 in earbuds, IPX4 in case	IPX5 in earbuds, IPX4 in case
Weight	4.31 g (0.15 oz)	4.75 g (0.17 oz)
Compatible App	Marshall Bluetooth App (iOS & Android)	Marshall Bluetooth App (iOS & Android)

Design and Build Quality

The Marshall Motif II earbuds come in a case made from 70% post-consumer recycled plastic, highlighting Marshall’s commitment to sustainability. The case features a tactile, ribbed finish, and it supports wireless charging. The earbuds themselves bear the iconic Marshall logo and a unique brass pin detail, which adds a premium touch to their design. They are labeled for left and right ear placement for easy identification. With a minimalist and elegant design, the Motif II earbuds offer a snug fit.

The Marshall Mode II earbuds also feature a compact and minimalist design with the Marshall logo on each earpiece. The earbuds are well-crafted, comfortable to wear, and stylish. They come in a smaller case compared to the Motif II, which is also wireless charging-capable. The Mode II earbuds are easy to use, thanks to touch controls.

Both earbuds carry the classic Marshall aesthetic with subtle differences. The choice here might come down to personal preferences, but both models offer excellent build quality and aesthetics.

Sound Quality

The Motif II earbuds are known for their signature Marshall sound, which includes a slight emphasis on bass and an engaging midrange. They offer a balanced sound with a warm and rich quality, making them suitable for various music genres. The audio quality is comparable to a live music experience, making them ideal for rock, pop, and electronic music enthusiasts. The Marshall app allows for sound customization, enabling you to fine-tune the audio to your liking.

The Mode II earbuds also carry the Marshall sound signature, featuring a balanced but slightly V-shaped sound profile with a bit of reverb in the midrange. While the bass isn’t extremely deep or heavy out of the box, you can adjust it through the app’s equalizer settings. This flexibility allows you to adapt the sound to your preferred genre, making the Mode II versatile for different types of music.

Both earbuds provide a distinctive sound character, and the choice between them may depend on your music preferences. The Mode II offers sound customization through the app, while the Motif II presents a warmer and more engaging sound out of the box.

Features and Functionality

Marshall Motif II

• Battery Life: The Motif II earbuds provide up to 6 hours of playback time with active noise cancellation and 9 hours without it. With the charging case, you can get up to 30 hours with ANC and 43 hours without.
• Noise Cancellation: These earbuds feature active noise cancellation with four microphones for effective noise reduction.
• App Support: The Marshall app allows you to customize your sound profile, control touch settings, and receive software updates.
• Bluetooth LE: The Motif II supports Bluetooth LE for improved power efficiency and audio quality.

Marshall Mode II

• Battery Life: The Mode II earbuds offer similar battery life, with 5 hours of playback time with ANC and 7 hours without it. The charging case provides additional hours, but the exact numbers may differ from the Motif II.
• Noise Cancellation: Like the Motif II, the Mode II also features active noise cancellation with four microphones.
• App Support: The Marshall app offers sound customization, touch control settings, and software updates for Mode II as well.
• AptX Support: These earbuds support aptX audio streaming for improved sound quality on Android devices.

Both earbuds share several features, such as active noise cancellation, app support, and touch controls. The Motif II boasts a longer battery life with the case, while the Mode II supports aptX audio streaming for Android users.

Connectivity and Compatibility

Both the Marshall Motif II and Mode II offer seamless connectivity and compatibility with various devices. They are designed to work well with both iOS and Android smartphones. The quick pairing process ensures that you can connect them to your device effortlessly. Additionally, they support wireless charging, providing a convenient way to recharge the case.

Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode

Both earbuds come equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC) technology to reduce ambient noise and improve your listening experience. The ANC feature is enhanced with multiple microphones in each earbud, ensuring effective noise reduction. Additionally, they offer a transparency mode, allowing you to hear your surroundings without removing the earbuds. You can adjust the level of transparency to suit your preferences.

Phone Call Quality

Phone call quality is an essential aspect of wireless earbuds, especially in noisy environments. During testing, the Marshall Motif II and Mode II earbuds demonstrated their capabilities in handling phone calls.

Marshall Motif II

• Phone calls made with the Motif II earbuds were clear and audible.
• The earbuds offered good voice isolation, making it easy for the caller to hear your voice.
• The transparency mode further enhances call quality by allowing ambient sounds to come through.

Marshall Mode II

• The Mode II earbuds provide clear call quality, ensuring that your voice is transmitted effectively.
• Their transparency mode also improves call quality by allowing you to be aware of your surroundings.
• Both earbuds are suitable for phone calls in various environments, and the call quality is a crucial factor to consider when choosing between them.

Bluetooth Audio Lag

Bluetooth audio lag can be a concern, especially for gaming and video content. It’s important to have minimal audio lag to ensure a seamless experience. Here’s how the Marshall Motif II and Mode II compare in terms of Bluetooth audio lag:

Marshall Motif II

The Motif II earbuds have minimal audio lag when used for gaming and video content on both iOS and Android devices. Marshall’s use of Bluetooth LE ensures a smooth and low-latency connection for better audio-video sync.

Marshall Mode II

The Mode II earbuds may have slightly more audio lag compared to the Motif II on Android devices.
For iOS devices, they perform well in terms of audio-video synchronization.

Both earbuds deliver satisfactory performance when it comes to Bluetooth audio lag, with the Motif II having a slight edge in this aspect. However, the difference may not be very noticeable during regular use.

Battery Life

Marshall Motif II

• The Marshall Motif II earbuds provide up to 6 hours of playback time with active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled.
• Without ANC, the Motif II earbuds can last up to 9 hours on a single charge.
• When you use the charging case, you can extend the total battery life to up to 30 hours with ANC or up to 43 hours without ANC.
• The charging case can be wirelessly charged for added convenience.

Marshall Mode II

• The Marshall Mode II earbuds offer slightly different battery life figures.
• With ANC turned on, the Mode II earbuds provide up to 5 hours of playback time.
• If you disable ANC, you can get up to 7 hours of battery life on a single charge.
• When you use the charging case, it can provide additional battery life, but specific figures may differ from those of the Motif II.
• Like the Motif II, the Mode II’s charging case supports wireless charging.

In terms of battery life, the Marshall Motif II generally offers longer playback time both with and without ANC compared to the Marshall Mode II. The charging case also provides additional hours. However, please note that actual battery life may vary depending on factors like volume levels, usage patterns, and whether ANC is enabled. When choosing between these earbuds, consider your typical usage scenarios and how often you’ll be near a charger to determine which model best suits your needs.

Conclusion

Both the Marshall Motif II and Mode II wireless earbuds offer impressive sound quality, stylish design, and a range of features. If you prioritize a warmer and more engaging sound with a longer battery life, the Marshall Motif II may be the better choice for you. It excels in delivering a live music experience with its sound signature. If you prefer a balanced sound profile that can be customized through the app and you want aptX support for Android devices, the Marshall Mode II is an excellent option. It also offers a slightly more compact case.

Both earbuds feature effective active noise cancellation, transparency mode, good call quality, and minimal Bluetooth audio lag, making them versatile for various use cases. Consider your music preferences, design choices, and the specific features that matter most to you when making your decision.