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House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price in UK: ~£130
Avg. price in US: ~$150
Form factor: on-ear
Connectivity: wireless
Battery life: 16 hours
Active noise cancellation (ANC): no

House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT review. Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

5.3

Good

4.8

Poor

7.2

Very good

8.4
Gaming
Score components:
35.0%
?
Audio latency
25.0%
10
Low-latency game mode
20.0%
10
Can be used as a headset
12.0%
4.0
Noise-canceling microphone
8.0%
?
Battery life
5.7
Travel
Score components:
28.0%
4.0
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
24.0%
?
Battery life
18.0%
?
Weight
16.0%
4.0
Multipoint support
14.0%
4.0
Ambient sound mode
6.1
Calls
Score components:
28.0%
4.0
Noise-canceling microphone
24.0%
10
Can be used as a headset
18.0%
4.0
Multipoint support
16.0%
?
Battery life
14.0%
4.0
Companion app
7.3
Workout
Score components:
28.0%
?
Weight
24.0%
4.0
Water resistance
20.0%
?
IP rating
16.0%
?
Battery life
12.0%
10
Can be used as a headset

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

#794 in Best Wireless Headphones
#1332 in Best Headphones with Mic

Verdict

The House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT is a sustainably designed on-ear headphone featuring 40mm dynamic drivers that deliver a warm, bass-forward sound signature across a frequency response of 19Hz to 20kHz. Key characteristics include an eco-friendly build using FSC-certified wood and stainless steel, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity with A2DP support, and integrated on-ear controls for volume and playback. Its main pros are a respectable 16-hour battery life, comfortable plush leather ear cushions, and the flexibility of a detachable 3.5mm braided cable for wired use. However, notable cons include a lack of active noise cancellation, a relatively long 4.5-hour charge time via micro-USB, and a non-foldable design that may be less convenient for travel compared to more modern alternatives.

Technical Specifications of pair of headphones House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT

Overall score

5.3

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Popularity

What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.

Sound

5.0

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Active noise cancellation (ANC)

What it is: Reduces background noise using active technology

When it matters: When blocking office, travel, or aircraft noise is a priority.

Importance: HIGH

Driver type

What it is: Type of speaker driver technology used

When it matters: When the underlying sound character and driver technology matter to you.

Importance: HIGH

dynamic

Driver size

What it is: Diameter of the speaker driver unit

When it matters: When you want extra hardware context behind how the headphones may handle bass weight, scale, or overall presentation.

Importance: HIGH

Number of drivers

What it is: Total number of speaker drivers per earcup

When it matters: When multi-driver designs are part of your buying criteria.

Importance: LOW

Lowest frequency

What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce

When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=10 Hz

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Calls & Controls

7.0

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Noise-canceling microphone

What it is: Built-in microphone reduces background noise during calls

When it matters: When you take calls in busy spaces and want your voice to stay clearer.

Importance: LOW

Can be used as a headset

What it is: Shows whether the headphones can handle voice chat and calls in addition to normal audio playback.

When it matters: When one pair needs to cover music, calls, meetings, and gaming chat.

Importance: LOW

Number of microphones

What it is: Total number of built-in microphones

When it matters: When call pickup quality and beamforming support matter to you.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2

Boom microphone

What it is: Includes detachable boom microphone for voice clarity

When it matters: When you need stronger voice clarity for gaming, streaming, or work calls.

Importance: LOW

?

Microphone SNR

What it is: Signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone

When it matters: When call clarity matters and you want your voice picked up more cleanly instead of buried in background hiss.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >80 dB

?

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Connectivity

4.4

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Connectivity

What it is: Available connection methods (wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.)

When it matters: When the headphones need to match how you listen across wired and wireless devices.

Importance: LOW

Bluetooth version

What it is: Version of Bluetooth technology supported

When it matters: When wireless stability, efficiency, and feature support matter more than treating Bluetooth as a box-check spec.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5.0

Maximum Bluetooth range

What it is: Maximum wireless operating distance from source device

When it matters: When you move around rooms and want fewer dropouts from your source device.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=10 m

Audio latency

What it is: Delay between audio and video in wireless mode

When it matters: When you watch video or play games and need sound to stay in sync.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <60 ms

Multipoint support

What it is: Supports simultaneous connections to multiple devices

When it matters: When you switch often between a phone and a laptop during the day.

Importance: LOW

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Features

4.4

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Ambient sound mode

What it is: Allows external sounds to pass through for awareness

When it matters: When you need to stay aware of traffic, voices, or announcements.

Importance: MEDIUM

EQ support

What it is: Allows customization of sound profile via equalizer

When it matters: When the stock tuning is not enough and you want to shape bass, mids, or treble to match your taste.

Importance: MEDIUM

Companion app

What it is: Dedicated mobile app for customization and updates

When it matters: When software customization, updates, and extra controls matter.

Importance: MEDIUM

Adjustable ANC levels

What it is: Allows adjustment of noise cancellation intensity levels

When it matters: When you move between quiet rooms, offices, streets, and public transport and do not want one ANC setting for every situation.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

N/A

Voice assistant support

What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant

When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

Importance: LOW

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Battery

3.4

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Battery life

What it is: Playback time on a single charge

When it matters: When you commute, travel, or work long shifts and do not want charging breaks to interrupt listening.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >45 hours

Battery life with ANC

What it is: Playback time with active noise cancellation enabled

When it matters: When you plan to keep noise cancellation on for most of the day.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >40 hours

N/A

Charging time

What it is: Time required for a full battery charge

When it matters: When you often need the headphones ready again after short breaks.

Importance: LOW

Good value: <=2 hours

Quick charge

What it is: Provides quick playback time with short charging period

When it matters: When a short top-up needs to deliver useful playback before you leave.

Importance: LOW

Battery capacity

What it is: Total energy storage of the internal battery

When it matters: When you are estimating how much battery headroom the design may have before relying only on the official runtime claim.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=720 mAh

?

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Design

5.1

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Brand name

What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.

When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: LOW

House of Marley

Form factor

What it is: Overall design type of the headphones (over-ear, on-ear, in-ear, etc.)

When it matters: When comfort, portability, and isolation depend on the overall headphone style.

Importance: LOW

on-ear

Weight

What it is: Total weight of the headphones

When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <150 g

Acoustic design

What it is: Type of acoustic design (open-back, closed-back, semi-open)

When it matters: When you need the right balance of isolation, leakage, and soundstage.

Importance: LOW

closed-back

Clamp force

What it is: Amount of clamping pressure applied to the head

When it matters: When comfort and fit security matter during long sessions.

Importance: LOW

?

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House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT vs the average pair of headphones

Why is House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT better than the average pair of headphones?

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More flexible connectivity
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT offers more flexible connectivity than the average pair of headphones (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.
What it is: Available connection methods (wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.)
When it matters: When the headphones need to match how you listen across wired and wireless devices.
Importance: LOW
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT offers more flexible connectivity than the average pair of headphones (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.wireless vs wired
On-device controls
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT includes on-device controls, the average pair of headphones does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.
What it is: Physical controls available directly on headphones
When it matters: When you need playback, volume, or call controls to be easy to reach without pulling out your phone.
Importance: LOW
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT includes on-device controls, the average pair of headphones does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.
Low-latency game mode
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT includes a low-latency game mode, the average pair of headphones does not. 21.2% of headphones support low-latency game mode.
What it is: Mode optimized for reduced latency during gaming
When it matters: When wireless gaming or video watching needs faster audio response.
Importance: LOW
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT includes a low-latency game mode, the average pair of headphones does not. 21.2% of headphones support low-latency game mode.
Play while charging
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT can play while charging, the average pair of headphones cannot. 29.1% of headphones support play while charging.
What it is: Can be used while charging
When it matters: When you need to keep listening during long work or gaming sessions.
Importance: LOW
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT can play while charging, the average pair of headphones cannot. 29.1% of headphones support play while charging.
Rechargeable battery
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a rechargeable battery, the average pair of headphones does not. 47.9% of headphones have a rechargeable battery.
What it is: Shows whether the headphones rely on an internal rechargeable battery instead of replaceable disposable cells.
When it matters: When you expect regular wireless use and want charging convenience instead of buying and replacing disposable batteries.
Importance: LOW
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a rechargeable battery, the average pair of headphones does not. 47.9% of headphones have a rechargeable battery.
Play while charging
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT can play while charging, the average pair of headphones cannot. 29.1% of headphones support play while charging.
Rechargeable battery
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a rechargeable battery, the average pair of headphones does not. 47.9% of headphones have a rechargeable battery.
More flexible connectivity
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT offers more flexible connectivity than the average pair of headphones (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.
Low-latency game mode
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT includes a low-latency game mode, the average pair of headphones does not. 21.2% of headphones support low-latency game mode.
On-device controls
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT includes on-device controls, the average pair of headphones does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.

Calls & Controls

Why is House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT worse than the average pair of headphones?

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74.3% higher weight
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT is heavier than the average pair of headphones (380 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
No passive noise reduction
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average pair of headphones does. 82.6% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
No neodymium magnet
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not use neodymium magnets, the average pair of headphones does. 81.9% of headphones use neodymium magnets.
2.5 hours longer charging time
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher charging time than the average pair of headphones (4.5 hours vs 2 hours). The average headphones need 2 hours to charge.
14 hours shorter battery life
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a lower battery life than the average pair of headphones (16 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life of 30 hours.
100 ms higher audio latency
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher audio latency than the average pair of headphones (250 ms vs 150 ms). The average headphones have audio latency of 150 ms.
No passive noise reduction
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average pair of headphones does. 82.6% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
What it is: Shows whether the headphones reduce outside noise through physical sealing, fit, and materials rather than active electronics.
When it matters: When you want better isolation from fit and seal alone, even with ANC turned off or not available.
Importance: HIGH
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average pair of headphones does. 82.6% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
2.5 hours longer charging time
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher charging time than the average pair of headphones (4.5 hours vs 2 hours). The average headphones need 2 hours to charge.
What it is: Time required for a full battery charge
When it matters: When you often need the headphones ready again after short breaks.
Importance: LOW
Good value: <=2 hours
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher charging time than the average pair of headphones (4.5 hours vs 2 hours). The average headphones need 2 hours to charge.4.5 hours vs 2 hours
74.3% higher weight
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT is heavier than the average pair of headphones (380 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
What it is: Total weight of the headphones
When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.
Importance: HIGH
Good value: <150 g
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT is heavier than the average pair of headphones (380 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.380 g vs 218 g
100 ms higher audio latency
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher audio latency than the average pair of headphones (250 ms vs 150 ms). The average headphones have audio latency of 150 ms.
What it is: Delay between audio and video in wireless mode
When it matters: When you watch video or play games and need sound to stay in sync.
Importance: MEDIUM
Good value: <60 ms
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher audio latency than the average pair of headphones (250 ms vs 150 ms). The average headphones have audio latency of 150 ms.250 ms vs 150 ms
14 hours shorter battery life
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a lower battery life than the average pair of headphones (16 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life of 30 hours.
What it is: Playback time on a single charge
When it matters: When you commute, travel, or work long shifts and do not want charging breaks to interrupt listening.
Importance: LOW
Good value: >45 hours
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a lower battery life than the average pair of headphones (16 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life of 30 hours.16 hours vs 30 hours
9.5% worse value for money
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (6.65 vs 7.279).
What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (6.65 vs 7.279).6.65 vs 7.28
11.2% lower user score
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a lower user score than the average pair of headphones (7.19 vs 8.000).
What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a lower user score than the average pair of headphones (7.19 vs 8.000).7.19 vs 8
No neodymium magnet
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not use neodymium magnets, the average pair of headphones does. 81.9% of headphones use neodymium magnets.
What it is: Uses neodymium magnets for stronger, clearer sound
When it matters: When driver construction details are part of how you compare sound hardware.
Importance: LOW
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not use neodymium magnets, the average pair of headphones does. 81.9% of headphones use neodymium magnets.

Graphic comparison of House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT and other products in the Headphones category

Attribute category

Attribute

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom

United States

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT?

Sustainable design using FSC-certified wood and recyclable materials
Stylish and unique aesthetic with multiple wood finishes available
Rich and deep bass response suitable for genres like reggae
Dual connectivity with both wireless Bluetooth and a detachable 3.5mm wired option
Durable metal construction in the headband and ear cup joints
Integrated on-ear controls for volume and playback management
Includes a high-quality signature canvas carry pouch

What customers dislike about House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT?

Battery life is relatively short at approximately 10–16 hours compared to modern rivals
Lack of active noise cancellation (ANC) and poor passive isolation
Long 4.5-hour charging time using outdated Micro-USB
Control buttons can be unintuitive; power button requires a 5-second hold to toggle
Heavier than many competitors at 380g
Sound signature can be perceived as muddy or lacking high-end detail
Instructions are described by users as overly simplistic and difficult to understand

Expert reviews

gadgetguy.com.au

27/01/2017

Summary of the review

Review: House of Marley Buffalo Soldier Bluetooth headphones

The GadgetGuy review rates the House of Marley Buffalo Soldier Bluetooth headphones as an attractive, highly comfortable, and enjoyable option for the price of $200. Visually, the headphones stand out due to their eco-friendly design, featuring Forest Stewardship Council certified timber backplates and old-fashioned, fiber-wrapped cords. Internally, they pack 40mm drivers, offer up to 16 hours of wireless playback, and feature a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for wired listening. The reviewer notes that the acoustic presentation delivers a beautifully balanced, naturalistic, and mellow sound profile that does justice to bass-heavy music—such as Bob Marley or Beyoncé—without making the low-end feel muddy or overblown. However, the review highlights several usability flaws and wireless performance limitations. A major drawback is the low maximum volume output over Bluetooth, requiring both the source device and headphones to be cranked to maximum just to get an adequately loud level. Additionally, the wireless audio quality is held back because the headphones only support the basic SBC codec rather than higher-end AAC or aptX profiles. The physical user experience is further bogged down by "horrible" visual instructions...

Video reviews

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