There are many different types of technology products on the market, but two of the most popular brands are Marshall headphones vs Beats. Both brands have a wide variety of headphones to choose from, so it can be difficult to decide which one to buy.
Here is a comparison of the two products: Beats Solo Pro vs Marshall Mid ANC, to help you make a decision.
Quick Look
| Beats Solo Pro | Marshall Mid ANC | |
| Type | Wireless on-ear | Wireless on-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back | Closed-back |
| ANC | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 4.0, 1/8 in (3.5 mm) analog |
| Battery | 22 hours | 20 hours |
| Weight | 9.4 oz | 7.3 oz |
| Price | Amazon | Amazon |
Design
Although the designs of both items are excellent, the Mid ANC outperforms the Solo Pro in three of the five categories in this area. With a looser clamp and a more portable design, they are more comfortable to use for extended listening sessions and are simpler to carry for regular use and travel. Although some people may find their older charging cable type inconvenient, their accessories are also excellent.
The Solo Pro headphones, which are on the other corner, are more aesthetically pleasing and better built. Additionally, they come in a wider range of colors, which is to be expected with Beats headphones. Furthermore, they are superior in the controls department, providing a wider range of features in addition to hands-free Siri compatibility on compatible iOS smartphones.
Fit
Both the Solo Pro and the Mid ANC are wireless on-ear headphones, despite the fact that the Solo Pro initially appears to be an over-ear model. Both headphones are more breathable than over-ear headphones because their earpads lay on your ears rather than around them, but they also feel tighter on the head. Both are likewise thickly cushioned, and their earpads’ thickness helps to soften their tightness for improved comfort.
The Marshall headphones wireless is the superior pair of headphones if you prefer earbuds that are comfier for extended wear. They nevertheless maintain a sturdy and secure fit while being lighter and having a looser headband clamp. You’ll find them more comfortable to use for long hours at the workplace and throughout lengthy flights, even if you have a large head.
The Solo Pro is more exhausting to use for prolonged listening, even if they are still reasonably comfortable for on-ear headphones. Despite their high breathability, they have a tighter clamp, which makes them more unpleasant for extended listening sessions.
Additionally, they are not the best option for larger heads because of the very limited flexibility of their headband. In addition to being heavier than the Marshall headphones, these models have exceptionally big ear cups for on-ear headphones.
Both headphones are remarkably stable. Under typical conditions, they stay firmly on your head and don’t fall off easily, allowing you to move around or stroll without worrying about your headphones sliding forward or backward. However, neither is suggested for jogging or participating in sports.
The Solo Pro is the superior option between the two if you really want wireless on-ear headphones that are good enough for jogging, but solely because of their tighter fit, which increases their stability.
Build
Both headphones are well-made and unquestionably appear to be expensive due to their attractive designs, but the Beats headphones are more solidly constructed overall. The Solo Pro is constructed more luxuriously and is stronger and more long-lasting.
They contain fewer plastic components when compared to earlier Solo models. Their circular ear cups are constructed of high-quality plastic, but their headband is clearly made of metal. Additionally, their earpads have durable synthetic leather coverings.
The Mid ANC’s marshall earbuds wireless construction quality is also remarkable and good. Similar to the Beats headphones, its large headband includes metal hinges and fabric-covered padding, and its earpads are covered in faux leather.
They are fairly durable and lightweight, and they can easily withstand a few small drops with little harm. But as with the Solo Pro, because of its foldable shape, there are additional elements that are susceptible to damage.
The two headphones have striking aesthetics, as previously remarked, but they have completely distinct designs. The famous Beats logo can be seen on the Solo Pro’s ear cups, giving them the same sleek appearance as other Beats headphones.
They are more noticeable than the Marshall headphones because they are rather hefty for a set of on-ear headphones—in fact, their huge ear cups initially give them the appearance of being over-ear headphones. Additionally, Beats offers them in a wider range of colors, including black, gray, ivory, red, dark blue, and light blue.
The Mid ANC, on the other hand, have the recognizable Marshall guitar amp look that guitarists would instantly recognize, complete with gold accents that complement their black color scheme. The outside of the headband and the backplates of the ear cups both have textured surfaces; the former also bear the recognizable Marshall logo.
The Mid ANC is less distinctive than the Solo Pro since they feature smaller, squircle-shaped ear cups and a more on-ear design, but they still stand out. They are only offered in black, unlike the Beats headphones, which come in many colors.
Controls
Both the Solo Pro and the Mid ANC offer effective and simple on-cup control systems, with the Solo Pro somewhat outperforming the Mid ANC in this regard due to having more features.
The main controls of the Beats headphones are hidden under the right ear cup’s backplate and consist of a multi-function button nicknamed the “b” button and volume buttons. The backplate’s top and bottom sides can be pressed to change the volume. However, the left and right sides cannot be pressed to change songs.
The multi-function button, which recognizes single and multiple pushes as well as press-and-hold inputs, is designated to control call and music management. Additionally, you may use it to turn on your smartphone’s speech assistant. You have the ability to call Siri up hands-free if connected to an iOS device that is compatible, which is really useful.
Additionally, the Solo Pro has a dedicated button on the left ear cup that can be used to toggle between the ambient sound mode and the active noise canceling mode. The headphones don’t have a power button; to turn them on or off, you just need to unfold or fold them.
The multi-directional golden knob on the left ear cup of the Mid ANC provides access to the device’s primary functionalities. On compatible Apple devices, you may use the knob to control your calls and music, change the volume, and activate Siri.
The knob can be used to start the Bluetooth pairing as well as act as a power button. The Mid ANC has a specific ANC switch on the opposite ear cup, but it can only be used to engage or disable the ANC; there is no way to switch to ambient sound mode.
While the Solo Pro’s on-cup controls have more features, the Mid ANC offers a different control layout that some individuals may prefer in particular circumstances. They have an audio wire with one-button control, unlike the Beats headphones. The remote can be used to control your calls and music but not to change the volume.
Portability
The Solo Pro is less portable than the Mid ANC. Whether they are folded or not, they are more compact and leave a smaller footprint. This enables them to fit in your bag more compactly.
Additionally, because of their smaller ear cups, they are easier to wear around your neck when not in use. Last but not least, they include a soft case that collapses for easier storage in your backpack while the headphones are being used.
The Solo Pro are some of the least portable on-ear headphones available, despite their foldable shape being a bonus. Even when folded, they have a larger footprint than typical on-ear headphones.
Furthermore, they are more uncomfortable to carry around your neck while not in use due to their larger ear cups that do not rotate into a flat position. In conclusion, they exhibit the same portability problems that over-ear headphones, the least portable kind of headphones, do.
Accessories
More accessories are included in the Mid ANC than in the Solo Pro. In addition to their foldable soft case, they also come with a micro USB charging cable with a USB-A connector on the other end, an audio cable with an in-line remote and microphone, and an audio cable.
The Solo Pro, meanwhile, simply comes with a soft case and a Lightning charging cord. It’s disappointing that the audio cable needed to switch to a wired connection is not included for such a pricey item, which usually costs approximately $300. If you have other Apple devices, the Lightning charging cable is useful.
Performance
The Solo Pro outperforms the Mid ANC in terms of overall performance, outlasting it in terms of sound isolation and battery life and providing more connecting options for iOS devices. Their sound leakage is reduced, and they perform better in terms of noise isolation, thanks to their more effective ANC.
Their charging time is substantially shorter, and they have a greater battery life between charges. Additionally, they provide more advantages when linked to iOS devices, including reduced latency and hands-free Siri functionality.
The Mid ANC outperforms the Beats headphones in two crucial areas: mic quality and wired connectivity but has a lower overall performance. For phone calls and video conferences, their built-in microphone performs better and produces better recordings.
They differ from the Solo Pro in that they come with an audio cable for switching to wired mode when the battery runs out, which makes up for their slightly poorer battery life and longer charging times. An in-line remote with a microphone is also included in the audio cord, offering you additional call options.
Sound
Both the Solo Pro and the Mid ANC offer good sound quality and are appropriate for listening to a variety of musical genres, although they have various sound profiles. In contrast to the earlier Solo3’s very bass-heavy sound, the Beats headphones have a softer and more neutral bass.
Their treble is more detailed than the Marshall headphones’, and their midrange is clear, neutral, and detailed, but their soundstage is average. Some people believe they are the best-sounding Beats wireless headphones to date since they are a reliable all-arounder.
The Mid ANC is the better choice if you prefer more bass. They are suited for electronic dance music and hip hop because of their bassier sound profile. Their bass is powerful, deep, and not obtrusive.
Their exaggerated treble can be searing in some tunes, but their midrange is also excellent, with outstanding detail and clarity despite being a little recessed. Additionally, compared to the Solo Pro, the Mid ANC has a larger, more wide soundstage.
Both headphones are excellent for music listening and other media consumption, but they are not appropriate for usage in the workplace. Both headphones lack a companion app with sound modification capabilities. Therefore their sound profiles cannot be changed without the aid of third-party programs. Actually, neither has complete software for any kind of customization.
Isolation
Even though both headphones have ANC, the Solo Pro performs noticeably better than the Mid ANC at isolating background noise. They do a fair job of minimizing low-frequency disturbances while being excellent at canceling out background noise and high-frequency noise. As a result, they are better suited for use when traveling, commuting, and working.
They also have less sound leakage, which in some circumstances is advantageous because it lets you listen to media loudly without bothering those around you. The Solo Pro has an ambient sound setting in addition to enhanced noise isolation and less sound leakage.
When in ambient sound mode, the headphones use their built-in microphones to block out background noise so you can monitor your surroundings without taking them off. Using the mode button on the left ear cup, you can quickly change between ambient sound and ANC settings.
For ANC headphones, the Mid ANC’s sound isolation performance is pretty underwhelming. They do a passable job of minimizing background noise and high-frequency disturbances, which is adequate for use in homes and offices.
However, they do a poor job of isolating low-frequency disturbances, which makes them less useful for commuting and traveling. If you want more effective noise isolation in noisy environments when using the Marshall headphones, you will need to turn up the media level more than usual.
The headphones do a fantastic job of keeping sound from escaping, which is a plus. They still have more sound leakage than Beats headphones, but it still lets you play loud music for improved noise isolation without bothering those around you.
The Mid ANC lacks an ambient sound setting, unlike the Solo Pro, which can be annoying but is usually not a deal-breaker for most people. If you wish to quickly check your surroundings, you can just take them out of your ears.
Mic
The integrated mic on the Mid ANC is superior to the Solo Pro. They are the clear winner in this category because they also offer an audio cable with an in-line mic as an alternative.
They have an inbuilt microphone with effective noise suppression and better recording quality. They work best for phone calls and video conferences in a calm setting, although they are better suited for non-business calls in somewhat noisy settings.
The Solo Pro’s embedded microphone provides a respectable amount of noise suppression, but its overall mic performance is subpar. Although their recording quality is inferior to that of the Marshall headphones, most listeners won’t be able to tell the difference.
They are not advised for online multiplayer gaming when voice chat with your colleagues is required, and, like the Mid ANC, they work best for phone calls in quiet settings.
Battery
In terms of battery performance, the Solo Pro outperforms the Mid ANC. When the ambient sound mode and ANC are both disabled, they may operate for an amazing 40 hours on a single battery.
Additionally, they charge more quickly, taking about two hours to fully recharge a completely depleted battery. They enjoy three hours of playback after just 10 minutes of charging because of their quick-charge technology, which is a feature shared by all Beats wireless headphones.
Since the Solo Pro does not come with an audio wire, which is absurd for such a pricey item, the quick-charge feature is very helpful. This implies that when the battery is low, you cannot temporarily switch to a standard cable connection.
However, if the headphones lose power at an inconvenient time, you can quickly recharge them for a few hours of listening. You must purchase the required cable if you want to be able to convert to wired mode.
The Mid ANC is far from average in the battery category with its 20-hour battery life. If they start out with a full charge, they will easily make it through regular work shifts and lengthy flights on only one charge.
Whether one or both of their two active features are turned off, their battery life also increases. Marshall claims that when Bluetooth or Active Noise Cancellation is turned off, their battery life can last more than 30 hours.
The Mid ANC requires more time to fully recharge from a dead battery than the Beats headphones, taking about three hours. On the plus side, they include an audio cord so you may briefly convert to wired mode if you need to save energy or if the battery dies in the middle of your flight, commute, or work shift.
Connectivity
In this regard, the two headphones differ from one another. The Solo Pro has a better wireless range and is outfitted with the more recent Bluetooth 5.0. They use the Apple H1 processor, which enables enhanced connectivity with iOS devices, including simple pairing, reduced latency, and hands-free Siri support, just like other recent Apple and Beats headphones.
Additionally, they have individual volume controls for each unit and wireless audio sharing with compatible Apple and Beats headphones. The Solo Pro offers a more alluring collection of connectivity possibilities if you own an iOS device. Disappointingly, especially given their price, they don’t come with an audio cable for switching to a wired connection. If you want to use the headphones in wired mode, you will need to purchase a separate Lightning audio cable.
The Mid ANC, on the other hand, supports both wired and wireless operations. They come with an audio wire that has a mic and control built in. The audio cable terminates in a standard 1/8 in (3.5 mm) analog connection, making it simple to use with the majority of gadgets, including smartphones and tablets.
The analog connector can also be utilized to share audio with others. To do this, simply connect the second set of wired headphones straight to it while the Mid ANC is in wireless mode.
The Beats headphones are superior to the Mid ANC in terms of wireless connectivity. They have Bluetooth 4.0, which is an outdated technology, and when coupled with iOS smartphones, they have substantially higher latency and a shorter but still respectable wireless range.
But when linked to specific devices, they featured the Qualcomm aptX codec for greater audio quality and decreased latency, which is a huge bonus for some individuals.
NFC connectivity and multi-device pairing are not supported by either set of headphones. For many individuals, the lack of NFC won’t be a problem.
But the absence of multi-device pairing is unfortunate for people who wish to conveniently connect their wireless headphones to two devices at once. Both the Solo Pro and the Mid ANC lack a fully developed companion app for personalization, in contrast to several wireless headphones, including those that retail for less money.
Wrap up
Beats Solo Pro
Some of the best wireless on-ear headphones available right now are the Solo Pro. They are excellently constructed headphones that outperform the Mid ANC. With much superior noise isolation, reduced sound leakage, longer battery life between charges, quicker charging times, improved wireless range, and better compatibility with iOS devices, their overall performance is better.
Additionally, they have a more neutral sound profile with less bass. The Solo Pro is a fantastic pair of wireless headphones ideal for all-around use, even though some of its shortcomings may be deal-breakers for some individuals. They are a far better choice than the Marshall headphones if you own an iOS device.
Pros
- Higher-end construction quality
- Battery life of 22 hours
- Comfortable quick-charge capability
- Quite effective in isolating noise
- Support for hands-free Siri on iOS
- Fantastic wireless range
Cons
- Audio cable not present
- poor microphone performance
- A painfully tight clasp
Marshall Mid ANC
With their small on-ear size and portability for travel, the Mid ANC are a wonderful pair of wireless headphones for casual everyday use. Although they don’t perform as well as the Solo Pro overall, they have a nicer design.
They have a better on-ear fit, a more transportable design, and better extras, such as a better travel case. Although their sound quality is excellent and their mic performance is outstanding, some listeners may find their bassier sound unpleasant.
Choose the Mid ANC if ease of use, portability, and the possibility to switch to a conventional wired connection are crucial considerations for you.
Pros
- More relaxed fit
- Design that is portable and small
- Battery life of 20 hours
- Effective controls on the cup
- Excellent wireless range
- Codec support for aptX
Cons
- The ANC’s performance was underwhelming.
- Lengthy charging time
- Treble can be overly sharp.
FAQs
Are Marshall or Beats headphones superior?
The ANC feature of the Beats is considerably superior, blocking out more noise, and they have longer battery life on a single charge. The Marshall, on the other hand, fits better and can be used wired even when the battery is dead.
Are Marshall headphones suitable for music listening?
An excellent approach to listening to your favorite music is with the Marshall headphones. They come with volume control buttons so you can change the sound as needed and an in-line microphone so you can take calls while listening.
How do Beats headphones compare to others?
The sound of most modern Beats headphones is more balanced, in contrast to older models’ tendency to be bass-heavy and devoid of clarity. But they continue to offer the punchy and rumbly bass that fans have come to love. Elegant and robust designs. Comparing Beats to other headphone brands, they frequently stand out when it comes to design.
Are Marshall earbuds water-resistant?
There will be some audible leakage from the fit, depending on how loud you listen to your music. A: They are most definitely NOT waterproof.
What alternatives are there?
The Audiophiliac selects 10 headphones that are superior to Beats (pictures)
- 1 of 10 AKG. AKG K812 Over-the-Ear Headphones.
- 2 of 10 Beyerdynamic. Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE In-Ear Headphones.
- 3 of 10 Sarah Tew/CNET. Hifiman RE 400 In-Ear Headphones.
- 4 of 10 Audio-Technica.
- 5 of 10 Grado.
- 6 of 10 Beyerdynamic.
- 7 of 10 Shure.
- 8 of 10 KingSound.
How am I supposed to power up the Marshall Mid ANC?
Connect the provided USB cable to the Micro USB port on the headphones to start charging them. Connect the cable’s other end to a USB power supply. When charging, the Red LED indicator remains lit. The LED indication changes to white when the battery is fully charged.
Conclusion
After an in-depth analysis of the two brands, it is clear that Marshall headphones are the better choice. They offer superior sound quality, comfort, and style – all at a fraction of the price of Beats headphones. If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, Marshall headphones are the way to go.