Marshall Monitor III A.N.C.
Sony WH-1000XM6
What Buyers Say
Marshall Monitor III A.N.C.
The Marshall Monitor III headphones receive overwhelmingly positive feedback for their exceptional sound quality, comfort, and battery life. Users praise the crisp, detailed audio with a wide soundstage and effective noise cancellation, often comparing them favorably to more expensive brands. The lightweight design and plush ear cushions make them comfortable for extended wear, though some find them slightly large. A minor con is that the ear cushions can cause sweating in warm conditions, and the auto-pause feature has a slight delay.
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality
- Effective noise cancellation
- Long battery life (70 hours)
- Comfortable ear cushions
- Lightweight design
Cons
- Ear cushions cause sweating in warm weather
- Auto-pause feature has slight delay
- Slightly large for some head sizes
Sony WH-1000XM6
The Sony WH-1000XM6 earns praise for its exceptional noise cancellation, clear sound quality, and comfortable fit for many users, with several calling it the best headphones they've owned. However, a significant number of reviews highlight serious drawbacks: uncomfortable clamping force and shallow earcups causing pain, buggy multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, a fingerprint-prone finish, and disappointing customer service regarding warranty repairs and promised free gifts. While the ANC and audio are top-tier, comfort and reliability issues prevent it from being a universal recommendation.
Pros
- Exceptional noise cancellation
- Clear and detailed sound quality
- Comfortable for many users
- Long battery life
- Foldable design
Cons
- Uncomfortable clamping force
- Shallow earcups causing pain
- Buggy multipoint Bluetooth
- Fingerprint-prone finish
- Poor customer service
Scores
Specifications
| Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. | Sony WH-1000XM6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed | closed |
| Foldable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.25 kg★ | 0.25 kg |
| Ear Cushion | Polyurethane; Foam | synthetic leather |
| Headband | — | synthetic leather |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 32 mm★ | 30 mm |
| Drivers | — | 1★ |
| Freq Min | 20 Hz | 4 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | 20 kHz | 40 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 46 Ω | 48 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 91.69999694824219 dB | 103 dB★ |
| Hi-Res Audio | — | ✓★ |
| Codecs | Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Wireless Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones - Active Noise Cancelling with Microphone | 100+ Hr Playtime | Lightweight, Foldable Design for Travel - Cream | LDAC |
| Surround | Spatial Audio | Sony WH-1000XM6 The Best Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones, HD NC Processor QN3, 12 Microphones, Studio-Quality, New Sandstone Color | Sony WH-1000XM6 The Best Noise Cancelling Wireless | Sony | Sa |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | three levels of noise cancellation, low, mid and high | adaptive |
| Transparency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Profiles | — | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, TMAP, PBP |
| Multipoint | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| Detachable Cable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cable Length | — | 1.2000000476837158 m |
| Range | 10.100000381469727 m★ | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 100 hrs★ | 30 hrs |
| Charge Time | 2.5 hrs★ | 3 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 15 minutes gives 12 hours of playtime | 3 minutes for 3 hours playback |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | — | 6★ |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boom Mic | — | ✗ |
| Detachable Mic | — | ✗ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | Voice assistant | Siri, Google Assistant |
| Touch Controls | — | ✓★ |
| App | Marshall Bluetooth app | Sony | Sound Connect |
| Gaming Mode | — | ✓★ |
| Water Resistance | — | Waterproof |
Pros & Cons
Marshall Monitor III A.N.C.
- Strong battery (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong anc (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
Sony WH-1000XM6
- Strong connectivity (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong anc (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong sound (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong build (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average user sentiment (22nd percentile)
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 9 of 41 specs.