Marshall Milton A.N.C. review: adaptive noise cancellation under $230
Marshall has launched the Milton A.N.C., its first on-ear headphones with adaptive active noise cancellation, priced at $229.99 in the US and £179.99 in the UK. That puts them squarely between the budget Major V ($129.99) and the pricier over-ear Monitor III — and well below the $300-plus floor that Sony and Bose typically charge for ANC. The Milton A.N.C. went on sale directly via Marshall.com on May 19, with wider retail availability from May 27.
The design
The Milton A.N.C. looks unmistakably Marshall: square ear cups in TPU with the brand's Tolex-style texture, a brass logo, and a powder-coated metal headband. The frame folds flat and weighs just 202g, making it light enough for a daily commute. The ear pads are noticeably larger than those on the Major V and use softer memory foam — a deliberate move to improve passive isolation in the on-ear format, where a good seal is harder to achieve than with over-ear cups.
Sustainability is a genuine part of the spec sheet here, not just a footnote. The headphones contain 41% recycled material by weight — post-consumer recycled plastics, aluminium, and rare-earth elements — and the battery is user-replaceable. That repairability aligns with EU right-to-repair regulations and is a rare feature at this price point. Early hands-on coverage from T3 review singles out comfort and battery life as standouts.
The Milton A.N.C. features enlarged memory foam ear pads and Marshall's signature Tolex-style texture on the ear cups.
The specs
Battery life is the headline number: up to 80 hours with ANC off, and 50-plus hours with it on. A five-minute charge gives 90 minutes of playback. Connectivity runs over Bluetooth 6.0 with LE-Audio support, plus LDAC and LC3 codecs alongside the standard SBC and AAC — the headphones carry Hi-Res Audio certification covering 20 Hz to 40 kHz. Six microphones handle the hybrid ANC and a transparency mode that amplifies ambient sound when you need to hear the world around you.
On the software side, a programmable M-Button on the left cup can toggle EQ presets, launch Spotify, or cycle through ANC modes. Marshall's Soundstage spatial audio algorithm widens the stereo image, and Adaptive Loudness adjusts frequency response automatically at lower volumes. The gold joystick handles standard playback controls. Per TechRadar review, the ANC performance is a meaningful step up from what you'd normally expect in the on-ear category.
The programmable M-Button and gold joystick sit on the left ear cup, keeping controls within easy reach.
The competition
At $229.99, the Milton A.N.C. competes with the Anker Soundcore Space 2 and the entry-level Sony WH-CH730N — both of which are over-ear designs. There are very few on-ear headphones with genuine ANC at this price, which is part of what makes the Milton A.N.C. notable. The JBL Live 670NC is the closest comparable, but the Marshall's battery life and replaceable battery give it a practical edge for frequent travellers.
Available now on Marshall official in classic black; wider retail rollout begins May 27.
