What you need to know about the Marshall Major V and Minor IV

28 May, 2024

In partnership with Aqipa Australia

There is no cooler name in rock’n’roll than Marshall. The king of amplification, the iconic Marshall stack is the go-to weapon of choice for practically every rock band ever, so it’s with sheer glee that music lovers get to enjoy that same sonic superiority at home, in the gym, or on the go, thanks to Marshall’s Major V headphones and Minor IV earbuds.

The Major V and Minor IV are the latest offerings in Marshall’s popular range, having undergone some improvements in style, comfort and performance. Both have been future-proofed thanks to Bluetooth’s LE Audio, and are made from a high percentage of recycled plastic.

Wireless and USB-C charging are available in both models, as is battery preservation – activated via the Marshall Bluetooth app. Additionally, the app offers features like personalised EQ, but isn’t essential for usage… the Major V and Minor IV work just fine without it. Read on for a quick rundown of both.

Minor IV Earbuds

The Minor IV delivers a mighty sound belying its compact build. Intended as an everyday earbud, the Minor IV is great for music and phone calls, and is packed with app-customisable features like touch controls for volume, track skip, and equalisation.

Its Ear Detect function works off a sensor located on each earbud which knows when it is placed inside your ear. Remove one, the music pauses. Put it back in, the music resumes. Remove both and idle mode activates to lower battery consumption.

The earbuds are built tough, with an IPX4 water resistance rating to weather a sweaty workout or a run in the rain. The case is even tougher, finished in the same leather-style plastic as Marshall amps and cabs.

And the case is a feature unto itself. Supporting wireless and USB-C charging, the case can recharge the earbuds (which tout a 7-hour playtime) – holding an additional four charges to give 30+ hours playtime.

Major V Headphones

Those of us who want a less casual listening experience can look to the Major V, whose custom-tuned dynamic drivers deliver the ultimate Marshall signature sound experience – but remains comfortable, compact and light.

With 100+ hours of wireless playtime, as well as a handy quick-charge feature, you’ll be able to enjoy the thunderous bass, smooth mids and crisp treble of the Major V without interruption.

The handy M-button touch controls are totally customisable via the app, and work with EQ, voice assist, Spotify Tap and more. Don’t like apps? You don’t have to use it. Don’t like wireless? Just plug in the provided 3.5mm cable and off you go!

Making improvements to the band and earcups, Marshall have made the Major V so easy to wear that you won’t suffer ear fatigue even after a day-long session. When it’s time to put them away, the set fold up and clip together for easy storage.

But the big question is how do the Major V and Minor IV sound? To answer that, we took three rock songs featuring iconic Marshall amps, and gave them a spin.

Jimi Hendrix – ‘Can You See Me’

Both sets perfectly translate the sound and spirit of Jimi Hendrix’s 1967 classic, capturing all the added bass and treble of the guitar legend’s modified Marshall Super 100. Glorious!

Guns N’ Roses – ‘Welcome To The Jungle’

Depending on who you believe, Slash either played a Super Lead or a Super Tremolo here. Whichever the case, every frequency bursts through the Major V and Minor IV exactly as they should: ferociously!