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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired, analog monitor headphone built around isolation and a big dynamic driver, choose Sony Headphones MDR-ZX700; if you need wireless active noise cancelling with very long battery life and a foldable travel design, choose Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor III.
• Sony Headphones MDR-ZX700 biggest trade-off: Wired only, 260 g on the head, and no active noise cancelling — isolation comes from the pads, not electronics.
• Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor III biggest strength: Active noise cancelling with a transparency mode, up to 70 hours of wireless playtime with ANC on and 100 hours without, plus a foldable build and a protective carrying case.
• Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor III biggest trade-off: It's a Renewed unit, so it's a previously owned item that has been inspected and refreshed rather than a brand-new retail box, and it depends on charging and Bluetooth.
• Who the Sony is for: Anyone who wants a simple, cable-driven monitor headphone for studio-style listening, editing or quiet focused work at a desk.
• Who the Marshall is for: Anyone who wants one pair for commuting, flights and long days away from a charger, with ANC and a mic for calls.
The MDR-ZX700 is a classic wired over-ear monitor headphone from Sony's ZX series. The spec sheet tells a clear story: newly developed 50 mm dynamic driver units, tuned for a wide frequency response and what Sony describes as faithful studio-quality reproduction. That's a monitor-first philosophy — the goal is an even, uncolored presentation rather than a boosted bass curve. If you've ever mixed, edited audio, or just want to hear a recording the way it was assembled, that's the intent behind this design.
The other half of the story is passive isolation. The ear pads use urethane cushioning and are built for good attenuation of ambient noise, and the design also resists high power input up to 2,000 mW. In practice, that combination means two things. First, the pads physically block some surrounding sound without any electronics, which suits a desk, a home studio, or a quiet corner of a library. Second, the power handling gives you headroom — plug it into an interface, a mixer or a headphone amp and you're not as worried about pushing it too hard. The single-sided cord keeps the cable out of your way on one side, and the plug is gold-plated, which is the kind of detail buyers of wired gear tend to look for.
Who should buy it: someone who wants one dependable wired headphone and doesn't want to think about batteries, pairing or firmware. It's a natural fit for a desk setup, a home recording corner, or long listening sessions where you're stationary. The volume control on the cable adds a small practical convenience. Who should skip it: anyone who needs wireless freedom, active noise cancelling for a noisy commute, or a built-in microphone for calls. The MDR-ZX700 offers none of those — its noise control is sound isolation only, and the connection is wired. It's also a 260 g headphone, which is a real consideration if you're sensitive to weight over many hours. Note that the listing carries a 30-day warranty line in its feature bullets alongside a 90-day limited warranty in the description, so it's worth reading the warranty terms carefully before you buy.
This is the Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. in its Renewed form — a previously owned unit that has been inspected and refreshed, sold under the Amazon Renewed banner. The headline feature is battery life, and it's genuinely unusual: 70 hours of wireless playtime with active noise cancelling switched on, and 100 hours with ANC off. For most people that means charging it roughly once a week, or less, rather than every couple of days. If you've ever had a pair of wireless headphones die mid-flight, that number is the whole pitch.
The noise cancelling itself is described as significantly upgraded from the previous generation, and it continuously measures ambient noise to block out unwanted sound. There's also a transparency mode for when you want to hear what's going on around you without taking the headphones off. Marshall's signature sound tuning includes Dynamic Loudness, which adjusts treble, mids and bass as you change volume, and a Soundstage spatial audio feature that pushes the presentation outward for a wider, more immersive feel. Controls are handled on-board for media playback, and the headphones include a microphone, so calls are covered.
Physically, it's an over-ear design in black with a rugged, foldable build, soft ear cushions and a premium hard carrying case included. The box contents list a USB-C charging cable, a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cord — so you can go wired when you want — plus a user manual and legal/safety information. At 8.8 ounces it's lighter than the Sony on paper. Who should buy it: commuters, travelers and remote workers who want one headphone to do everything — ANC, calls, long battery, and a case that survives a backpack. Who should skip it: anyone who wants a brand-new sealed retail product and isn't comfortable with a Renewed item, and anyone who'd rather never charge a headphone at all. The Renewed listing carries a 90-day limited warranty, so factor that into your thinking.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for active noise cancelling → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor III. It has ANC with a transparency mode that continuously measures ambient noise; the Sony relies on passive pad isolation.
• Best for battery life → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor III. Up to 70 hours wireless with ANC on, 100 hours without.
• Best for studio-style monitoring → Sony Headphones MDR-ZX700. 50 mm dynamic drivers tuned for a wide frequency response and faithful reproduction, with high power input handling up to 2,000 mW.
• Best for travel and commuting → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor III. Foldable design, hard carrying case, lighter at 8.8 oz, and ANC for noisy environments.
• Best for calls → Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor III. It has a microphone and on-board media controls; the Sony has no mic.
• Best for long stationary sessions on a wired setup → Sony Headphones MDR-ZX700. Cable volume control and urethane-cushioned pads built for comfort, as long as 260 g doesn't bother you.
• Best for buying brand new → Sony Headphones MDR-ZX700. The Marshall is a Renewed item, which is a different kind of purchase by definition.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: do you want a cord or a battery? If your listening happens at a desk, in a studio corner or anywhere you're plugged into a source, I'd buy the Sony Headphones MDR-ZX700 — the 50 mm drivers, the passive isolation and the 2,000 mW power handling make it the more focused monitor tool of the two, and there's nothing to charge. But if you want one headphone for a commute, a flight and a workday, I'd choose the Amazon Renewed Marshall Monitor III. The ANC, the mic, the foldable case and that 70/100-hour battery figure cover far more of real life. Just go in knowing it's a Renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit, since that's the one thing a spec sheet can't tell you.
how to check headphones battery on iphone
On an iPhone you can usually see a connected Bluetooth headphone's battery level in the Control Center or in the Bluetooth settings list, and some apps from the manufacturer show it too. Not every pair reports battery over Bluetooth, so if nothing appears, the headphones may simply not expose that data. Note that this only applies to wireless models like the Marshall Monitor III — the Sony MDR-ZX700 is wired and has no battery to check.
how to check headphones battery
The general method is the same across phones: pair the headphones over Bluetooth, then look at the battery indicator in your device's Bluetooth menu or quick settings panel. Some headphones also announce battery level by voice or show it in their companion app. The Marshall Monitor III is rated for up to 70 hours of wireless playtime with ANC on and 100 hours without, so you won't need to check often.
how to check headphones
If you mean checking whether headphones are working, the quickest test is to connect them to a known-good source and play something at low volume. Wired models like the Sony MDR-ZX700 just need the gold-plated plug seated fully in the jack and the cable volume control turned up. For Bluetooth models like the Marshall Monitor III, confirm the headphones are charged and paired before troubleshooting anything else.
how to check headphones mic
To check a headphone microphone, make a test call or voice recording and listen back, or watch your device's input level meter while you speak. The Marshall Monitor III includes a microphone and on-board media controls, so it's the one of these two built for calls. The Sony MDR-ZX700 has no microphone, so it can't be used for voice input at all.
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