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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want wireless active noise cancelling over-ear headphones with a control knob and a travel-ready fold-up design, choose Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II; if you need wired in-ear monitors with a 16-driver balanced armature setup and deep passive isolation, choose Linsoul KZ AS16.
• Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II — biggest strength: active noise cancellation plus up to 30 hours of wireless playtime with ANC on (45 hours with it off), in a collapsible over-ear design.
• Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II — biggest trade-off: it is a renewed unit carrying a 90-day limited warranty, and the control method is remote-based rather than on-cup touch, so the interface is a single multi-directional knob.
• Linsoul KZ AS16 — biggest strength: eight balanced armature drivers per side across a three-way crossover, with a stated frequency response up to 40 kHz and over 26 dB of passive noise cancellation.
• Linsoul KZ AS16 — biggest trade-off: it is fully wired with a 3.5 mm jack and no mic on this version, so there is no Bluetooth and no hands-free calling.
• Who each pick is for: the Marshall suits commuters, travelers and anyone who wants wireless ANC and long battery life; the KZ AS16 suits listeners who want a wired, detail-focused IEM for critical listening at a desk or on a quiet walk.
The Marshall Monitor II A.N.C. is built around convenience and noise control. Its headline feature is active noise cancelling that continuously measures ambient sound and works to block it out, which is exactly what you want on a plane, a train or a noisy open-plan office. Marshall pairs that with a promised 30 hours of wireless playtime with ANC engaged and 45 hours with it switched off — a range that comfortably covers a week of commuting between charges. A full charge is listed at about 2 hours.
Who should buy it: frequent travelers, commuters and remote workers who value wireless freedom, active noise cancelling and long battery life in one package, and who are comfortable buying a renewed unit backed by a 90-day limited warranty. Who should skip it: anyone who specifically wants wired IEMs, a replaceable-cable in-ear fit, or a brand-new product rather than a renewed one. If you fall into the first group, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since renewed pricing moves around.
Linsoul KZ AS16: Who It's For
The Linsoul KZ AS16 Pro is a very different animal. This is a wired in-ear monitor with eight balanced armature drivers per side — sixteen in total — split across a three-way electronic crossover. The driver mix is deliberate: a pair of low-frequency units for bass energy, mid-frequency units for vocals and instruments, and high-frequency units for resolution and extension. The stated frequency response reaches from 20 Hz all the way to 40 kHz, and sensitivity is listed at 111 dB with an impedance of 23.5 ohms, which means it should be easy to drive from a phone or a small dongle DAC.
Isolation is passive rather than active, but it is substantial: the design is quoted at more than 26 dB of passive noise cancellation, achieved through the in-ear seal. That makes it a genuinely useful choice in noisy places even without electronics doing the work. The shell uses a metal-inlay resin construction with a transparent look and a cyan finish, and the cable is detachable with a 0.75 mm 2-pin connector — a real plus, because you can swap or replace the cable down the line. Note that this specific version is listed without a mic, so it is a listening-first product, not a headset.
Who should buy it: listeners who want a wired, detail-oriented IEM for music, mixing reference or critical listening, and who value a replaceable cable and strong passive isolation. Who should skip it: anyone who needs wireless convenience, active noise cancelling, or a built-in microphone for calls. The one-year warranty is a point in its favor versus the renewed Marshall's 90 days.
• Best for wireless freedom → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II. Bluetooth 5, up to 10 m range, no cable required.
• Best for battery life → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II. Up to 30 hours with ANC on and 45 hours with it off.
• Best for active noise cancelling → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II. It actively measures and counteracts ambient noise; the KZ only isolates passively.
• Best for isolation without electronics → Linsoul KZ AS16. More than 26 dB of passive cancellation from the in-ear seal.
• Best for driver count and detail → Linsoul KZ AS16. Eight balanced armature drivers per side, three-way crossover, response to 40 kHz.
• Best for calls and hands-free use → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II. The KZ AS16 version here has no mic.
• Best for a replaceable cable → Linsoul KZ AS16. Detachable 0.75 mm 2-pin connector.
• Best for travel convenience → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II. Collapsible frame, canvas bag, USB-C charging and an included 3.5 mm cord.
• Best warranty coverage → Linsoul KZ AS16. One year versus the renewed Marshall's 90-day limited warranty.
In my opinion, the right pick depends entirely on how you listen. If your day involves planes, trains, shared offices or long walks with a phone in your pocket, I would buy the Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor II — the combination of active noise cancelling, up to 45 hours without ANC, a fold-up frame and a full travel kit is hard to argue with for on-the-go use. If instead you listen critically at a desk, want strong passive isolation and care about driver configuration, I would buy the Linsoul KZ AS16: sixteen balanced armatures, a three-way crossover and a swappable cable make it the more specialized listening tool. For most casual buyers, the Marshall is the easier daily driver.
On the Marshall Monitor II, battery status is best tracked through the headphones' own controls and the paired device's Bluetooth settings; many phones show connected-audio battery level in the Bluetooth menu. Note the KZ AS16 is wired and has no battery at all, so there is nothing to check.
With an iPhone, open Settings, go to Bluetooth, and tap the info icon next to the connected device — compatible headphones report their battery level there. The Marshall Monitor II is Bluetooth 5, so it can report status this way; the KZ AS16, being wired, never appears in that list.
The simplest check is to confirm the headphones pair, play audio and respond to controls. On the Marshall, test the multi-directional knob for play, pause, volume and track changes; on the KZ AS16, confirm the 0.75 mm 2-pin cable is seated and that audio plays through both earpieces.
Play a voice memo or make a call and confirm the other party hears you. The Marshall Monitor II supports phone functionality through its controls; this version of the KZ AS16 is sold without a mic, so it has no microphone to test.
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