Marshall Milton A.N.C. review: Compact, foldable, and packed with features usually reserved for over-ear headphones

With the Milton, Marshall delivers something rarely seen before: a modern premium on-ear headphone with ANC that remains lightweight, foldable, and significantly more compact than traditional over-ear models.

From a sound perspective, the Milton pushes the on-ear form factor close to its limits. Across our entire playlist, it reproduces a wide range of frequencies. The bass reaches surprisingly deep, while properly mastered tracks showcase crisp and detailed highs. The mids are slightly recessed, although they can easily be adjusted using the equalizer if desired.

Overall, the sound is powerful without sacrificing too much detail, making the listening experience especially enjoyable on the go. Combined with effective ANC, excellent battery life, premium build quality, and a replaceable battery that promises exceptional longevity, the Milton stands out as a remarkably complete package.

The Marshall Milton A.N.C. is priced at €199 on marshall.com.

Even in Berlin, they're easy to spot: people walking the streets or riding public transit wearing instantly recognizable Marshall headphones, most often from the Major series. Marshall has clearly carved out a successful niche, as on-ear headphones remain far less popular than today's dominant earbuds or the better-isolating over-ear models.

With the Milton, Marshall appears determined to strengthen that position. It is one of the very few on-ear headphones equipped with adaptive active noise cancellation, while also introducing several technical features rarely found in this category. The question is whether the concept works.

Marshall set out to create a hybrid of the Major V and the Monitor III. Visually, however, the Milton is about 80 percent Major. The earcups are no longer completely flat and now feature a slightly curved design, but the overall differences remain subtle. Anyone who appreciates the foldable on-ear concept and styling of the Major series will likely enjoy the Milton as well, although it occupies slightly more space when folded.

As expected from Marshall, every surface is covered in its signature textured PU leather. The headband feels exceptionally sturdy, tolerating heavy twisting without complaint before effortlessly returning to its original shape. Borrowing from the Monitor III, the ear cushions are now even softer and conform more naturally to the ears. This not only improves wearing comfort but also enhances ANC performance by minimizing gaps between the earcups and the ears.

Marshall's iconic script logo naturally remains, alongside the familiar Control Knob joystick and the customizable M button. By default, the M button switches between ANC and Transparency mode, while a double press launches Spotify.

Included in the box is a compact black carrying pouch featuring a stylish Marshall patch, with a drawstring closure that securely tightens the opening.

While the Milton closely resembles the Major series visually, its technology has far more in common with the Monitor III. Most notably, it is one of the very few on-ear headphones to incorporate active noise cancellation. Implementing ANC in this form factor is considerably more challenging due to the non-over-ear design.

To make this possible, Marshall redesigned not only the ear cushions but the entire driver assembly. Since ANC requires additional power, the battery had to be enlarged, while the measurement microphones and supporting electronics also demand more internal space.

As a result, Marshall reduced the driver size from the Major V's 40 mm to 32 mm while completely redesigning it. The new driver can respond more quickly to the digital ANC adjustments without compromising sound quality—in fact, as we'll see later, it actually improves it.

For a more in-depth look at the app, check out our review of the Marshall Monitor III. In short, it includes an equalizer with Marshall Signature Sound and two custom presets, Soundstage, Adaptive Loudness, ANC controls, Apple and Google Find support, battery settings, and firmware updates.

One aspect that proved frustrating during testing is that the app briefly lowers the music volume whenever settings such as EQ or Soundstage are changed. This makes direct A/B comparisons more difficult than if the changes were applied instantly.

One immediately noticeable characteristic is that the Milton doesn't simply emphasize bass in the upper bass and lower midrange where kick drums sit. Instead, its low-end tuning feels considerably more refined. Bass extends impressively deep with a rich, full-bodied presentation, allowing both kick drums and bass lines to stand out clearly.

As is typical of Marshall's Signature Sound, the midrange is somewhat recessed, occasionally more than certain tracks would benefit from. The highs remain clear without becoming as sharp or forward as those of the Monitor III.

Activating the Soundstage feature adds extra energy to some songs, making the highs more present while also bringing the mids further into focus.