Master & Dynamic MW75 Review: Premium Sound, Premium Price

Battery life is on par with different high-end noise-canceling headphones at 32 hours, and the headphones include a USB-C cable inside an excellent hard-shell carrying case that enables them to plug into a pc or telephone and act as their very own high-quality digital-to-analog converter—fairly superior for many who like to hearken to high-end audio on the go. If you’re with no USB port, there may be additionally a 3.5-mm converter for traditional powerless listening and a quarter-inch converter for headphone amps and different higher-end sources. That’s two wired methods, and one wi-fi approach, to hearken to the MW75, which is fairly nifty.

Sound Quality

The 40-mm beryllium drivers contained in the MW75 mix with Master & Dynamic’s wonderful onboard digital-to-analog conversion to supply probably the most vivid and fulfilling soundstages I’ve ever heard from a pair of wi-fi headphones.

I assumed that the AirPods Max sounded implausible, however these someway beat their wonderful replica, with the MW75 providing a soundstage so dynamic you’re feeling like you can bathe in it. The bass particularly stands out above many different choices within the class, with punchy, assertive sounds by no means muddying the waters for tones proper above them. If you want bass-heavy music, this acts like a transparent canvas to listen to it anew, with data like Kaytranada’s 99.9 % coming by like they’ve by no means performed for me on lively noise discount fashions previously. 

Then once more, something sounds good by these headphones. I really like listening to jazz, classical, people, and different acoustic music by them as a result of the high-side tuning actually lends a directness, making the digital-to-analog sound just like the devices are proper there in your ears.

The M&D Connect app helps you to modify noise-canceling and ambient sound modes, in addition to messing with EQ, however I discovered that these headphones sound finest with noise canceling on excessive and the EQ set to straightforward, as you may count on most individuals to go away them out of the field. That stated, the ambient mode can come in useful on flights or while you need to have a fast chat with a beloved one, pet, or coworker (or some combo thereof).

Boo, Hiss

Noise-canceling high quality is superb, with the headphones simply tuning out the sounds of my HVAC system and my clacky mechanical keyboard. I’d say that it’s nearly as good as I’ve heard from any of the highest manufacturers of late, although Sony and Bose may barely outclass these in the case of midrange sound discount. I can nonetheless typically hear the 600-hz whine of my air filter by the Master & Dynamic algorithm. Likewise, the onboard mics are good, simply inferior to these from Apple and Bose. They’re nonetheless totally useable on calls.

The solely actual bug within the ointment is that the MW75 have a low stage of noise-canceling hiss always, solely audible to me when nothing is taking part in. It jogs my memory of the tremendous low-level tape hiss after I report on analog gear. I’m a stickler for a low noise flooring, and it doesn’t trouble even me (actually disappearing as quickly as I hear any music), however in the event you’re the kind of one that wants no noise in any respect, I like to recommend one other pair.

Overall, I’ve actually loved my time with the MW75 and firmly advocate them to excessive rollers and aspirational audio nerds alike. The sound is so good that I can forgive a little bit of noise-canceling hiss when nothing is taking part in, and the truth that you possibly can hearken to them so some ways—wired or wi-fi, with or with out an exterior digital-to-analog converter—is fairly superior. If you want bells and whistles, particularly the best way they sound in excessive constancy, these are a fairly superior pair.