Marshall Major IV vs Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The Verdict
Marshall Major IV and Soundcore Liberty 4 NC serve different needs at vastly different price points. Marshall's on-ear design delivers 80+ hours of battery life with Qi wireless charging, 40mm drivers tuned for signature Marshall sound, and a collapsible form factor ideal for travel. However, it lacks ANC and active noise isolation. Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are true wireless earbuds offering adaptive ANC with 98.5% noise reduction, LDAC hi-res audio codec support, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, and IPX4 water resistance for just $79. Battery life reaches 7 hours per charge (10 without ANC) plus 50 hours from the case. Sound quality differs significantly: Marshall excels at warm, bass-forward playback with excellent driver tuning, while Soundcore provides personalized audio via HearID profiling and superior codec flexibility. Marshall suits stationary listening and studio work, whereas Soundcore dominates active lifestyles with genuine portability, water resistance, and ANC. The $70 price gap heavily favors Soundcore for feature parity and everyday versatility, though Marshall offers superior sonic character for those prioritizing sound quality and extended listening sessions without charging.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Marshall Major IV if…
- →80+ hour battery life is essentially best-in-class for any headphone
- →Iconic Marshall rock-and-roll aesthetic and branding
- →Wireless Qi charging is convenient and rare at this price
Buy the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC if…
- →ANC, LDAC, multipoint, AND wireless charging for just $79 — insane value
- →50-hour total battery with case is class-leading
- →98.5% noise reduction is competitive with earbuds at three times the price
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Marshall Major IV
Pros
- 80+ hour battery life is essentially best-in-class for any headphone
- Iconic Marshall rock-and-roll aesthetic and branding
- Wireless Qi charging is convenient and rare at this price
- aptX codec support for high-quality Bluetooth audio
- Lightweight at 165 g for comfortable extended listening
Cons
- No active noise cancellation
- On-ear design can cause discomfort after extended wear
- Bass-heavy sound signature may not suit all listeners
- No multipoint Bluetooth connectivity
- Sound leaks due to on-ear, open-backed design
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Pros
- ANC, LDAC, multipoint, AND wireless charging for just $79 — insane value
- 50-hour total battery with case is class-leading
- 98.5% noise reduction is competitive with earbuds at three times the price
- HearID hearing profile customization improves audio quality
- Lightweight at 5 g per bud — barely noticeable in-ear
Cons
- Build quality and case feel budget compared to premium brands
- Call quality is acceptable but not exceptional
- Soundcore app is functional but cluttered with upsells
- Sound quality is good but lacks the refinement of Sony or Apple
Full Specifications
| Spec | Marshall Major IV | Soundcore Liberty 4 NC |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | ||
| Type | on-ear | in-ear |
| Weight | 165 g | 5 g (each) |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 80+ hrs wireless, 15 min = 15 hrs playback | 7 hrs (ANC on), 10 hrs (ANC off), 50 hrs with case |
| Charging | USB-C and Qi wireless | USB-C, wireless charging (Qi) |
| Drivers | 40mm custom-tuned dynamic drivers | 11 mm composite driver |
| Features | Wireless charging, Multi-directional control knob, Collapsible design, 3.5mm wired input, Marshall Bluetooth app with EQ | Adaptive ANC with 98.5% noise reduction, LDAC hi-res audio, Multipoint Bluetooth pairing, HearID personalized sound profile, Wireless charging case, 6 microphones per bud for clear calls |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wired option | ||
| Codecs | AAC, SBC, aptX | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | ||
| Water Resistance | None | IPX4 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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