Compare Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones vs Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones

Reviewers generally liked the sound, describing it as pleasing, energetic, balanced, or excellent, with the strongest praise for rock and instrument-driven listening.

Sound quality split reviewers: several praised rich, fun, balanced audio, while SoundGuys criticized the tuning and some reviewers noted rivals sound better.

LE Audio readiness was treated as a positive future-proofing feature by multiple reviewers.

LE Audio readiness was poor because the older Bluetooth stack does not bring LE Audio features.

Audio-video sync was a concern for gaming because one reviewer tied the lack of low-latency codecs to more noticeable latency.

Audio-video sync and latency were praised, with reviewers reporting no noteworthy video latency or minimal latency when wired.

The default frequency response was judged broadly listener-friendly, especially for casual listeners.

Frequency response accuracy was mixed to negative, with reviewers noting odd response behavior, lack of accuracy, or high-frequency falloff.

Microphone noise reduction was praised for handling simulated or real wind well, despite some vocal-clarity caveats elsewhere.

Microphone noise reduction was mixed: one reviewer found noise rejection an issue, while others praised background and wind handling.

Wear detection performance was a weakness in one longer test because the sensor randomly triggered.

Wear detection performance was poor because reviewers repeatedly said the headphones lack wear detection or do not pause when removed.

ANC was usually judged good, solid, or decent for daily use, but several reviewers said it still trails Bose, Sony, or the top tier.

Active noise cancellation was the clearest strength, with most reviewers calling it excellent, top-tier, brilliant, or world class despite a few caveats.

Wind handling was mixed: one reviewer found wind susceptibility in ANC/transparency, while another found moderate wind manageable.

Wind noise handling was praised repeatedly, especially Wind Block and call wind handling.

Sound leakage was viewed positively in one review because the plush ear cups helped minimize leak.

Sound leakage was excellent in TechRadar’s review, which found virtually no sound leaking out.

ANC background noise performance was decent: one review measured strong overall noise reduction, and another said white noise was not bad.

ANC background noise level was strong overall, with only minor hiss noted and another reviewer hearing virtually nothing with music.

Soundstage width drew mixed reactions, from solid or opened-up presentation to narrow, cluttered, or not true-spatial enough.

Soundstage was viewed positively where discussed, with reviewers noting enhanced or fairly large staging for Bluetooth ANC headphones.

ANC-off listening measured slightly better in one review, suggesting ANC can subtly affect the sound signature.

ANC’s effect on sound was mixed: one reviewer improved sound by lowering ANC, while another warned pad changes could hurt ANC performance.

ANC slightly affects audio performance, with one review noting higher sound-quality scores when ANC is disabled.

ANC sound impact on audio was mildly positive in one review, where reducing ANC strength cleared up the sound a bit.

Bass was usually described as punchy or well-balanced, though several reviewers said it could use more impact, cleaner control, or stronger low-end weight.

Bass was usually treated as a strength, often described as punchy or powerful, though some reviewers found it overemphasized or not ideal out of the box.

Passive isolation was praised for the soft cushions and seal, which helped block noise even before ANC was considered.

Passive isolation was strong thanks to fit and seal, which reviewers said helped noise isolation and ANC performance.

Bluetooth version support was tied to a stable, high-performance wireless connection in one review.

Bluetooth version was a limitation, with reviewers criticizing the older Bluetooth stack and underwhelming Bluetooth support.

Call microphone quality received strong praise from one reviewer, especially for windy phone calls.

Call microphone quality was generally serviceable to good, with reviewers saying voices were understandable or clear enough for calls.

Smart Pause performance was criticized for random triggering in one longer test.

Smart Pause performance was poor because multiple reviewers noted the headphones do not auto-pause when removed.

Advanced software features were considered solid and modern, but reviewers did not see them as uniquely class-leading.

Advanced features were a common weakness; reviewers repeatedly said the headphones lack bells, whistles, or flagship upgrades.

The app was viewed positively for customization, controls, battery options, and a generally intuitive experience.

The app was mixed: reviewers liked its clean, simple interface, but some criticized privacy friction or limited depth.

EQ customization was broadly useful and responsive, though one reviewer wanted more precision than the five-band setup provides.

EQ customization was useful but limited, with several reviewers liking basic tweaks and others wanting more granular controls.

Bluetooth performance was praised in one review as stable and high-performance.

Bluetooth reliability was only directly praised once, where the headphones were recommended as reliable Bluetooth headphones.

Smart listening features were mixed: adaptive volume, Spotify Tap, and battery preservation drew praise, while missing convenience features held the score down.

Smart listening features were positive overall, especially adjustable ANC, custom modes, Wind Block, and ANC level control.

Voice prompts and feedback added personality through Marshall-style guitar sounds during power and pairing.

Voice prompts were praised as handy and clear, especially for connection and battery feedback.

Setup simplicity received praise from one reviewer who called pairing/setup easy.

Software and setup simplicity were excellent in TechRadar’s review, which praised the easy setup and straightforward controls.

Button controls were a standout strength, with reviewers preferring the tactile joystick and physical buttons over touch controls.

Button usability was widely praised; reviewers repeatedly preferred the tactile physical controls over touch panels.

The lack of a built-in 3.5mm analog jack was a repeated drawback, even though USB-C-to-3.5mm wired listening is possible.

Analog listening was a useful strength, enabling passive or wired use, though one reviewer disliked the nonstandard 2.5mm headphone-side connector.

Streaming service integration was praised strongly for Spotify Tap, especially for starting playback without pulling out a phone.

Streaming integration was mixed: Spotify Tap was useful or fun for some, but one non-Spotify user found the shortcut limiting.

Connectivity options were mixed: wired and wireless playback were useful, but the lack of a built-in 3.5mm jack and coiled cable hurt convenience.

Connectivity options were criticized by SoundGuys’ short review because similarly priced or cheaper competitors do more.

Wear detection auto-pause was only moderately successful, working but reacting slowly.

Wear detection auto-pause was a repeated weakness because the headphones do not pause when removed.

The preset EQ experience was praised in one review, especially the bass boost setting for adding dynamic sound without excess bass.

Preset EQ quality was mixed: one reviewer criticized the bass boost preset, while another said the presets do what they claim.

Auto-play and wear detection worked but was slow to react in one test.

Auto-play and wear detection were weak because reviewers noted the headphones lack wear detection or automatic pause.

Cable quality received praise in one review for the black cable with brass tips and premium-feeling presentation.

Cable quality and usefulness were mixed: some liked the inline mic or versatility, while one reviewer disliked the 3.5mm-to-2.5mm choice.

USB-C was useful for charging and wired listening, but reviewers criticized the one-port limitation and need for power in wired use.

USB-C was a limitation in SoundGuys’ review because the port does not support USB-C audio.

Sensor performance was a concern because one reviewer reported random wear-sensor triggers.

Sensors were a weakness because reviewers repeatedly missed wear-detection/auto-pause behavior.

Features at launch were adequate but not standout, with one reviewer saying the standard feature set lacked a truly distinctive tool.

Features at launch were generally seen as modest or incremental rather than cutting edge.

Replaceable earpads were praised as easy to remove or replace and useful for longevity.

Replaceable earpads were a mixed ownership note: aftermarket pads were liked, but the reviewer warned they could slightly hurt ANC.

Premium feel was praised through richer materials, superior build impressions, and a luxurious presentation.

Premium feel was mixed, with some praise for the feel and others saying the experience was not as premium as the price suggests.

Instrument separation was a consistent strength when mentioned, with reviewers noting solid layering, instrument placement, and separation across bass, mids, and highs.

Instrument separation was acceptable but not exceptional: one reviewer praised separation, while another said separation and layering were not as strong.

Treble feedback was split between clear, impressive highs and complaints about sibilance, fatigue, or sharpness on some tracks.

Treble drew the most audio criticism, with some praise for detail but repeated concerns about peaks, harshness, or a lack of top-end sparkle.

Transparency mode was considered usable and sometimes natural, but reviewers also noted hiss, limited realism, or weaker performance than the best rivals.

Transparency/Aware mode was praised as accurate and, in one review, the best transparency mode the reviewer had tested.

Included accessories received praise for the attractive red-velvet case and included cables.

Included accessories were generally useful, especially the case and cable, though one review missed an airplane adapter.

Headband comfort was praised for reducing top-of-head pressure through light weight and support-strap design.

Headband padding was praised by TechRadar but criticized by RecordingNow as less plush than the Ultra.

Ear cup padding was widely praised as extremely soft, plush, pillow-like, and important to comfort and sealing.

Ear cup padding was consistently praised as soft, spacious, pillow-like, or generously padded.

LDAC was only discussed as an absent higher-quality codec, making it a codec-support weakness.

LDAC support was a drawback in PCMag’s comparison, which said Sony retained an advantage because of LDAC.

One reviewer found the headphones plenty loud, with comfortable listening volume well below maximum.

Volume output was strong in the one review that discussed it, with the headphones described as loud.

Water and sweat resistance was a weakness because reviewers noted the headphones are not waterproof and should avoid rain or gym use.

Water or sweat resistance was a weakness, with TechRadar warning they are not recommended for workouts or heavy gym use.

Overall recommendations were positive but caveated: reviewers liked the package, especially for travel and rock-focused listening, while noting ANC, codecs, and wired tradeoffs.

Overall recommendations were mixed: many reviewers recommended them strongly, while SoundGuys considered them poor value or not worth upgrading to.

Ear cup rotation and swivel helped portability, though one reviewer found the twisting mechanism odd on the head.

Ear cup rotation/folding was praised for helping the headphones store easily.

Midrange impressions were mixed: some praised vocals and instruments, while others heard under-emphasized mids, prominent high mids, or occasional clutter.

Midrange clarity was mixed: some reviewers heard clear vocals and recoverable mids with EQ, while others said mids could feel squashed or underpowered.

Maximum-volume clarity was strong in the reviews that addressed it, with no audible or max-volume distortion reported.

Maximum-volume clarity was positive in the one direct test, with no distortion heard at max volume.

Multi-platform compatibility was positive where tested on both iOS and Android.

Multi-platform compatibility was positive, especially for laptop-phone use and remote work scenarios.

Integrated microphone feedback was mixed, with clear/crisp quiet-room results but criticism of vocal clarity or noisy-environment performance.

Integrated microphone performance was serviceable to good, with reviewers noting usable built-in or voice mic behavior for calls.

Headband adjustability earned a small positive note for visible adjustment numbering.

Headband adjustability was praised in the travel roundup as widely adjustable for different wearers.

Portability and foldability were major strengths thanks to the compact folding design and small travel footprint.

Portability and foldability were major strengths, with reviewers praising the compact folding design and travel-friendly storage.

The carry case was usually praised as sturdy, compact, premium, or travel-friendly, though a few reviewers found it bulky or unnecessary.

The carry case was consistently praised as compact, protective, manageable, sturdy, or well thought out.

Travel friendliness was a major strength due to battery life, compact folding, wired flexibility, and protective case design.

Travel friendliness was a major strength due to comfort, ANC, folding design, compact case, and frequent-flyer focus.

Aesthetics were distinctive and often praised, but some reviewers noted the retro Marshall look will not suit everyone.

Aesthetics and discreetness were positive overall, with reviewers liking the color options, unobtrusive look, and flattering on-head profile.

Hi-res playback support was a weakness because reviewers repeatedly noted no hi-res Bluetooth audio support.

Built-in DAC and hi-res playback were weak because one reviewer said these are not high-res headphones and advised looking elsewhere for that.

Battery life had the strongest agreement: reviewers repeatedly described it as class-leading, incredible, extraordinary, or far ahead of competitors.

Battery life was adequate but not leading, generally described as serviceable, average, or enough for commutes rather than class-best.

Charging was praised for fast top-ups, with reviewers citing up to 12 hours of playback from a short charge.

Charging was praised in the one direct usability comment, where the quick-charge result was called super helpful.

Durability over time was viewed positively because reviewers described more durable, repairable construction and long-term toughness.

Durability over time was mixed: one review advised careful handling, while another praised the solid and durable feel.

Build quality was generally strong and rugged, with praise for durability and materials, offset by one report of creaking.

Build quality was mostly positive but not universally premium, ranging from excellent and durable to merely good or somewhat plasticky.

Hinge durability was praised for being able to twist without showing signs of breaking.

Hinge durability was praised in one review that noted metal use and excellent build quality.

Design and aesthetics were mostly praised for the distinctive Marshall look, premium detailing, and rugged styling, though taste varied.

Design aesthetics were praised as understated, minimalist, and attractive, with one reviewer loving the overall look.

Clamping comfort was rated very highly, with reviewers reporting little to virtually zero pressure.

Clamping force was praised for being secure without uncomfortable pressure, though one reviewer felt more clamp than on the Ultra.

Weight comfort was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling the headphones light for the class and easy to wear.

Weight comfort was consistently strong, with reviewers emphasizing the lightweight feel and easy long-session wear.

Comfort was one of the strongest consensus wins, with reviewers repeatedly praising all-day wear, soft fit, and low fatigue.

Long-use comfort was one of the strongest consensus points, with many reviewers saying the headphones were comfortable for hours or all-day listening.

Codec support was a clear weakness because reviewers noted no hi-res, lossless, or low-latency codec support.

Codec support was a repeated limitation, with reviewers calling it solid enough at best but underwhelming versus newer competitors.

Value was generally fair to good, especially on sale, but reviewers noted strong cheaper or better-performing rivals.

Value was highly mixed, with sale prices making them attractive to some reviewers while others preferred cheaper or more feature-rich alternatives.

Multipoint reliability was strong where tested, with seamless switching or extremely reliable two-device use.

Multipoint connectivity earned strong praise for seamless or automatic switching between phone and computer use.

Android compatibility was positive in one review that found the headphones sounded good on Android.

aptX support was criticized as absent, especially for Android or lossless-codec users.

Award recognition was limited because PCMag said the headphones fell just short of its Editors’ Choice award.

Detachable cable convenience was useful for passive listening, but one reviewer disliked the nonstandard 2.5mm headphone-side connector.

Ecosystem integration was praised by TechRadar for Bose SimpleSync with compatible Bose speakers and soundbars.

Replaceable pads and headband parts were a repairability plus where described.

Connection stability was praised as stable and high-performance in one review.

Sustainability and repairability were praised for replaceable parts and repair-minded design, with a caveat that batteries are not user-replaceable.

Auracast support was treated as a positive future-facing feature, especially for Android and LE Audio readiness.

Earpad/body-borne noise was a notable negative for one reviewer, who heard footsteps and heartbeat-like sounds.

Immersive audio quality was mixed, with some reviewers enjoying the added atmosphere and others finding the effect limited or not truly immersive.

Spatial audio was divisive: some liked the extra space, but others found it unnatural, underwhelming, or below true Atmos-style experiences.

Sustainability materials received a modest positive note for recycled plastic use.

Voice assistant integration was only mildly supported, with one reviewer noting the button can activate the assistant.