Short answer: the Marshall Major V, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #378 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.8/5, at $129.99. The Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X ranks #406, rated 2.6/5, at $118.90, $11.09 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 481 over-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the HIFIMAN HE400se instead, ranked #23 at $109.
What the Marshall Major V does well: A claimed 100 hours of battery is among the longest of any wireless headphone, and LC3 support is ready for newer Bluetooth LE Audio devices. The catch: In hobbyist measurements sub-bass sits about 11.6 dB below target and is 10.8 dB down at 30 Hz, so bass lines lack weight and rumble.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X: The open-back design gives a spacious, airy presentation, and the 48 ohm impedance with 100 dB sensitivity works directly from a phone or laptop. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 9 dB below target and a 16 dB dip near 7.2 kHz removes cymbal and sibilance detail, so the sound is dark and veiled.
Buy the Marshall Major V. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $11.09 saving on the Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
A claimed 100 hours of battery is among the longest of any wireless headphone, and LC3 support is ready for newer Bluetooth LE Audio devices.
Amazon $129.99 eBay
The open-back design gives a spacious, airy presentation, and the 48 ohm impedance with 100 dB sensitivity works directly from a phone or laptop.
Amazon $118.90 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Major V | Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $118.90 |
| Ranked | #378 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #406 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 55 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.78 dB standard deviation | 3.75 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.73 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.10 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 50 Hz (-10.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 56 Hz (-10.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL (100mV @ 1kHz) | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (186 g) | 0.5 lbs (235 g) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | No | - |
| Battery Life | 100 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | None | - |
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