Marshall released the Major 50 FX headphones in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Marshall, a name that has long been associated with designing and manufacturing quality music amplifiers, reached its 50th year in the business this year. And to celebrate the feat, the British company came up with yet another pair of new headphones called the Major 50 FX.

Despite Marshall’s history and prestige, it had not been into the production of headphones until the Marshall Major and the Marshall Minor headphones came out on the market some years ago. Through a partnership with earphone manufacturer Zounds, which is the same company behind the successful Urbanears brand, Marshall finally made its foray into the audio accessories race. Their audio accessory line was well received, which revealed that they’re not just good in the amping business, but also in bringing solid sound closer to the ears.

Design

The technology behind the Marshall Major 50 FX follows that of its predecessor, the Marshall Major headphones. But this new pair of cans notably receives a slight upgrade in terms of trimmings, accents, frills, and audio quality. The outer ear caps and the Marshall logo in each cap are lined with gold, perhaps as a tribute to Marshall’s golden anniversary. The inner hinges, the 3.5mm stereo plug, and the mic button are also adorned with gold.

The vinyl headband, meanwhile, still sports the vintage feel Marshall equipment have always been known for. It is constructed from the same vinyl used in the company’s award-winning amplifiers. And as a nod to Marshall’s glory, the inside part of the headband is inscribed with the place where it all began, London, England, 1962.

Upgrades

Additionally, the 50 FX includes an inline microphone-slash-remote. Although a similar mechanism was featured on all standard Major models, this one brings a wanted update, especially for owners of Apple devices: it now has a volume controller, so that adjust basic functions, such as volume, while making RingCentral VoIP calls. Do note, however, that if you’re not using an Apple product, the volume function won’t work. Other than that, the mic and remote functions are still poised to work seamlessly when you attach it to any capable mobile phone.

The Marshall Major 50 FX also comes with a roadworthy canvas carrying bag, a freebie not included in previous versions. This is perfect for audiophiles who are always on the go – for transport, storage, and additional braggadocio (it proudly bears the Marshall logo).

Function

If you need amped up sound with unbeatable comfort, the Marshall Major 50 FX is a worthy choice. It brings the sound stage directly to your ears, while at the same time paying homage to the brand’s legacy of bringing punchy lows, clear mid-tones, and higher-than-human highs to the human ears. Its 40mm moving coil dynamic drivers are capable of delivering the typical 20-20,000 Hz frequency response to get that rich, crunchy sound across different ranges.

At the price of $170, some may argue that it is a bit overpriced, but then again, 50 years of sound doesn’t come cheap, so this is not bad at all for premium looking earphones marked with the circuitry of a classic. It’s a two-for-one deal, if you may call it such.

Marshall’s anniversary theme this year, “50 years of loud,” certainly goes well with the Marshall Major 50 FX. Individualists and connoisseurs familiar with the brand will surely feel special once they get hold of this. Even for those who don’t know Jim Marshall or Pete Townshend, this visually appealing baby quickly stands out from the rest of the other cans on display in markets today.

These cans are not just your run-off-the-mill headphones fretted with frills. The Marshal Major 50 FX is inside-out handsome, and worthy of the Marshall branding.

==== About the Author ====
Leiden Johnson is a photographer by trade but loves all that geeky, tech stuff and the outdoors. If she’s not working or going out, you can see her in front of her computer either writing about anything or playing MMORPGs, which helps her to be more creative in her photoshoots.