The Marshall Milton A.N.C. on-ear headphones are a solid offering that come in at a decent price. If you don’t like in-ears and find over-ears too big and bulky, especially for travel, these hit the right sweet spot. I don’t usually go for walks with anything but in-ears or on-ear buds because I find them too big. But I felt comfortable walking with these: they didn’t feel like massive headphones adding weight to my travels. Another advantage is that they fold up nice and small and won’t take up as much room in your bag as over-ears. As someone who crams my backpack to the brim for flights, it’s nice not to have to bring a massive hard case. The ANC works impressively well, the fit comfortable for long periods, and the sound fantastic, whether you’re listening wired or wirelessly, and to music, podcasts, or movies and TV shows. While it’s missing some key features I love in competing models, like audible status updates and a usable USB-C-to-USB-C cable, these aren’t huge issues. I love the physical buttons, the easy-to-use app, and the ability to adjust ANC based on your setting. Personally, I often go all or nothing with ANC, wanting complete silence. But it’s nice to have the option to tone it down when walking on a quiet trail so I’m not hit with any surprises, like a family of bicycles behind me ringing their bells or a pack of growling dogs coming my way (hey, you never know). They’re the perfect option for frequent travelers, commuters, and at-home listeners. You can both use them at home and take them anywhere without either lugging around a huge case or plugging your ears with buds. They’re the perfect in-between that checks almost every box. The Marshall Milton A.N.C. on-ear headphones, which will be available in Canada through Erikson Consumer, sell in Canada for $330. Would they be more attractive in the $250 range? Of course. But they’re still worth the price for the performance, effective ANC, and compact design.
