STACK #201 Jul 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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Marshall Major IV Unlike many brands that apply the company badge and rely on it to sell product, Marshall’s forays outside of its traditional amplifier bent have consistently delivered quality results. Leaning into a 55-year music heritage, these headphones boast custom-tuned drivers to bring the best out of your rock faves, and they don’t disappoint. The rugged Marshall aesthetics have been a mainstay in the industry, and these are thoughtfully incorporated into the design of the Major IVs; improved ergonomics provide comfort for longer. The usual USB-C charger comes inclusive, but this set can also get juiced wirelessly (charging pad not included). Another nice feature is the ability to share your music with a friend via the Major IV’s 3.5 mm socket. This is a distinguished looking set that performs as well as you’d hope. WHAT WE LOVE: Fast charging plus 80 hours of Bluetooth playtime means you’ll be rocking out non-stop for days on end. AT A GLANCE: Colour: Black Type: Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 Style : On-Ear Battery life: 80 hours plus Wired option: Yes Charging: USB-C HEADPHONES

Sennheiser PXC550-II The PXC550-IIs are not only gorgeous-looking, they’re also ergonomic, and you're going to want them to be comfy because they're designed with travelling in mind. Exceptional battery life means they can be glued to your melon for 30+ hours, and if you do happen to take them off, your music will pause until you put them back on again. The entire outer pad of the right earcup is an intuitive touchpad to adjust volume, activate transparent noise, or accept calls – and speaking of calls, the triple mic array makes for crisp-as-an-autumn- morning quality. With the ability to set different sound modes (including full noise-cancellation of course), Sennheiser are delivering total confidence for on-the-move users. WHAT WE LOVE: These noisemakers exceed expectations in the most important two tiers in the Hierarchy of Headphone Needs pyramid: super-comfortable earcups and impressively long battery life. AT A GLANCE: Colour: Black Type: Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 Style: Over-Ear – ideal travelling headphones Noise-Cancelling: ANC Battery life: 30 hours Wired option: Yes Charging: Micro USB

JBL Club 950NC The 'Club' in JBL Club 950 does not refer to your ho-hum chess, glee or golf varieties – it concerns the vibrant night kind, where cutting-edge sound systems rule. And that's precisely the vibe JBL are delivering here, in both comfortable and durable wireless over-ear fashion: expect clear, powerful, hi-res sound that makes you feel as if you're right in front of the DJ booth. Bass is deep but also accurate to the track – though you can also turn it turbo with the Bass Boost function. Noise-cancelling-wise, get that proper transcendental dancefloor experience by blocking out the world entirely, or switch to Ambient Aware mode and let a little of the outside in. WHAT WE LOVE: Easy Bass Boost function and incredibly crisp, powerful sound mean these babies are your leading silent disco option. AT A GLANCE: Colour: Black Type: Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 Style: Over-Ear Noise Cancelling: ANC Battery life: 55 hours plus (22 with ANC on) Wired option: Yes Charging: USB-C

54 JULY 2021

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