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House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT Review | 93 Data compared

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  • 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 it ranks among headphones and if it is worth buying.

3.8

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.

Score components:

80.0%

3.1

Technical Score

20.0%

6.8

User score

Poor
3.1

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

2.8

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

4.9

Design

8.0%

2.5

Connectivity

6.0%

2.8

Battery

4.0%

5.9

Calls & Controls

Poor
6.8

User score

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.

Score components:

70.0%

7.8

User reviews

30.0%

4.6

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
(110)
amazon
3.1
(2)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
(110)
Amazon_logo.png
3.1
(2)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Good
  • 5.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    35.0%

    1.0

    Audio latency

    25.0%

    10

    Low-latency game mode

    20.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

    12.0%

    1.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    8.0%

    2.4

    Battery life

  • 1.2
    Travel

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Active noise cancellation (ANC)

    24.0%

    2.4

    Battery life

    18.0%

    1.2

    Weight

    16.0%

    1.0

    Multipoint support

    14.0%

    0.0

    Ambient sound mode

  • 3.4
    Calls

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    24.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

    18.0%

    1.0

    Multipoint support

    16.0%

    2.4

    Battery life

    14.0%

    1.0

    Companion app

  • 3.0
    Workout

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.2

    Weight

    24.0%

    1.0

    Water resistance

    20.0%

    4.0

    IP rating

    16.0%

    2.4

    Battery life

    12.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

  • house-of-marley-buffalo-soldier-bt
  • house-of-marley-buffalo-soldier-bt
  • house-of-marley-buffalo-soldier-bt
house-of-marley-buffalo-soldier-bt
house-of-marley-buffalo-soldier-bt
house-of-marley-buffalo-soldier-bt

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

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 House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

2.8

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

4.9

Design

8.0%

2.5

Connectivity

6.0%

2.8

Battery

4.0%

5.9

Calls & Controls

3.1
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a technical score of 3.08 points, which is lower than that of 98.8% of products in this category.
User score

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.

Score components:

70.0%

7.8

User reviews

30.0%

4.6

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
(110)
amazon
3.1
(2)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
(110)
Amazon_logo.png
3.1
(2)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

6.8
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a user score of 6.82 points, which is lower than that of 81.8% of products in this category.
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.
4.6
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a popularity of 4.6 points, which is higher than 49.5% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

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.

Score components:

60.0%

3.8

Overall score

40.0%

9.8

Price

5.6
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.6 points, which is lower than 90.7% of products in this category.
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

no
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not support active noise cancellation. 27.4% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
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: MEDIUM

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: MEDIUM

40 mm
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT uses a driver size of 40 mm, larger driver size than 28.2% of headphones and equal to 53.6% of headphones.
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

1
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT uses 1 drivers, equal to 96% of headphones.
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

19 Hz
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT reaches a lowest frequency of 19 Hz, higher lowest frequency than 50.2% of headphones and equal to 0.3% of headphones.
Show more
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: MEDIUM

no
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 45.6% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
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: MEDIUM

yes
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT is headset-ready, 84.7% is not. 15.3% of headphones can be used as headsets.
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

1
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has 1 microphones, more microphones than 25.9% of headphones and equal to 52.2% of headphones.
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

?
Show more
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: HIGH

wireless
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT supports wireless connectivity, more flexible connectivity than 52.6% of headphones and equal to 47.4% of headphones.
supports both wireless and wired connectivity.
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: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5.0

4.0
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT uses Bluetooth version 4.0, newer Bluetooth version than 57.4% of headphones and equal to 4.8% of headphones.
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

10 m
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT offers a Bluetooth range of 10 m, higher Bluetooth range than 2.6% of headphones and equal to 79.9% of headphones.
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: HIGH

Good value: <60 ms

250 ms
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has audio latency of 250 ms, higher audio latency than 92.2% of headphones and equal to 3.8% of headphones.
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: MEDIUM

no
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not support multipoint. 65.1% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
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

N/A
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

no
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not support EQ customization. 23.3% of headphones support EQ.
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

no
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not work with a companion app. 44.4% of headphones support companion apps.
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: LOW

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

yes
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT supports voice assistants. 39.2% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
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: HIGH

Good value: >45 hours

16 hours
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT offers battery life of 16 hours, lower battery life than 77.3% of headphones and equal to 2.4% of headphones.
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: HIGH

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: MEDIUM

Good value: <=2 hours

4.5 hours
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT needs 4.5 hours to charge, higher charging time than 95.2% of headphones and equal to 0.6% of headphones.
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: MEDIUM

no
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not support quick charging. 69.1% of headphones support quick charge.
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: MEDIUM

Good value: >=720 mAh

?
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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: MEDIUM

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: HIGH

on-ear
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the headphones
When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <150 g

380 g
House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT weighs 380 g, heavier than 93.7% of headphones and equal to 0.4% of headphones.
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: HIGH

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: MEDIUM

?
Show more

House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT vs the average headphone

  • More flexible connectivity
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT offers more flexible connectivity than the average headphone (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.
    supports both wireless and 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: HIGH

    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT offers more flexible connectivity than the average headphone (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 headphone 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: MEDIUM

    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT includes on-device controls, the average headphone does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.
  • Rechargeable battery
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a rechargeable battery, the average headphone 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: MEDIUM

    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a rechargeable battery, the average headphone 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 headphone cannot. 55.9% 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 headphone cannot. 55.9% of headphones support play while charging.
  • Rechargeable battery
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a rechargeable battery, the average headphone 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 headphone cannot. 55.9% of headphones support play while charging.
  • More flexible connectivity
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT offers more flexible connectivity than the average headphone (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.
  • On-device controls
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT includes on-device controls, the average headphone does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.

Total
Battery
Connectivity
Calls & Controls
  • 74.3% higher weight
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT is heavier than the average headphone (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 headphone does. 82.7% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • No neodymium magnet
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not use neodymium magnets, the average headphone does. 77.4% 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 headphone (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 headphone (16 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life of 30 hours.
  • 122.5 ms higher audio latency
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher audio latency than the average headphone (250 ms vs 127.5 ms). The average headphones have audio latency of 127.5 ms.
  • No passive noise reduction
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average headphone does. 82.7% 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: MEDIUM

    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average headphone does. 82.7% 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 headphone (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: MEDIUM

    Good value: <=2 hours

    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher charging time than the average headphone (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 headphone (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: MEDIUM

    Good value: <150 g

    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT is heavier than the average headphone (380 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.380 g vs 218 g
  • 122.5 ms higher audio latency
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher audio latency than the average headphone (250 ms vs 127.5 ms). The average headphones have audio latency of 127.5 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: HIGH

    Good value: <60 ms

    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a higher audio latency than the average headphone (250 ms vs 127.5 ms). The average headphones have audio latency of 127.5 ms.250 ms vs 127.5 ms
  • 14 hours shorter battery life
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a lower battery life than the average headphone (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: HIGH

    Good value: >45 hours

    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a lower battery life than the average headphone (16 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life of 30 hours.16 hours vs 30 hours
  • 19.6% worse value for money
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has worse value for money than the average headphone (5.63 vs 6.736).
    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 headphone (5.63 vs 6.736).5.63 vs 6.74
  • No neodymium magnet
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT does not use neodymium magnets, the average headphone does. 77.4% 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 headphone does. 77.4% of headphones use neodymium magnets.
  • 17.3% lower user score
    House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT has a lower user score than the average headphone (6.82 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 headphone (6.82 vs 8.000).6.82 vs 8
Total
Overall
Design
Sound
Battery
Connectivity

Graphic comparison of House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT and

Attribute category
Attribute
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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
110 Reviews
amazon
3.1
2 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
110 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
3.1
2 Reviews

(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

G
gadgetguy.com.au
27/01/2017
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...Read more

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