When comparing the MW75 to any of the flagship models from the aforementioned brands, it is instantly clear that Master & Dynamic headphones often use higher-end materials than more affordable alternatives. These are exquisitely crafted from leather and aluminum and have the sort of timeless look you would expect from a $600 accessory. This is due to more than just the use of premium materials. Additionally, the build quality is superior than designs like the AirPods Max. They feel substantial though not particularly heavy, at a few ounces lighter than the AirPods Max—on my head, with enough of padding on top and on the earcups. The headband adjusts flawlessly easily.
Master & Dynamic MW75 review: Design
The colour of the headband and earpads differs between the Gunmetal/Black Leather (this sample), Silver Metal/Grey Leather, Silver Metal/Brown Leather, and Black Metal/Black Leather colorways of the MW75. Although I prefer the brown leather version, I wouldn’t turn down the silver one either. The earcups have tempered glass on their exterior face and are composed of lightweight, strong aluminium. The large earpads have a plush, cushioned sensation thanks to a memory foam and lambskin blend. Although the use of lambskin will undoubtedly turn off vegans, their appearance is beautiful. Although they seem heavy at 338g, they don’t weigh down the head and have good comfort qualities. The earpads’ oval cutouts provide enough area for my ears to fit within, and the seal the earcups provide is respectably excellent; nevertheless, the seal can be tightened using the adjustable headband. Thankfully, if they get harmed, the earpads may be changed. Similar to the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, the M&D MW75 cannot be collapsed, but they can be folded flat and stored in the sizable hard-shell, soft-felt case. In a knapsack or—more likely—one of those male/female designer bags that the MW75 will try to stow away—the case takes up a good amount of room.
Master & Dynamic MW75 review: Comfort
Therefore, it is fortunate that the MW75 are composed of such tactile materials and have such a wonderful appearance. Aluminum is widely used for the earcups, yokes, and hinges. Tempered glass is used for the outside of the earcups, where it gathers fingerprints like a crime scene investigator. Memory foam wrapped in lambskin is also widely used (for the earpads and headband – so long, vegetarians, it was nice knowing you). It’s not too strong to call this indulgent. Build quality is undeniable; everything that should move moves with precise damping, and everything that shouldn’t just doesn’t. Despite being large headphones, the MW75 weigh 338g, which is not particularly heavy and makes it easy to become comfortable wearing them. Once they are in place, they remain pleasant for a considerable amount of time, and the thickly padded earpads outlast many alternative designs in their ability to keep your ears from overheating.
Master & Dynamic MW75 review: Connectivity
The $400 Sony WH-1000XM5 is still your best option if you’re looking for the ideal pair of wireless over-ear headphones to make your return to flying more relaxing and enjoyable. However, if you’re all in on the Apple ecosystem and value effortless wireless connectivity (plus having quick access to the occasionally helpful Siri), the $550 AirPods Max is the way to go. When it comes to sound quality, the MW75 surpasses both Sony and Apple, but for $600, I was expected to be completely floored by its ANC performance, and I wasn’t. Despite the high-end polish, this does make the high price tag more difficult to defend. Premium build materials that can last for decades don’t matter as much as they did when Master & Dynamic was founded because the technology inside a pair of headphones will likely be outdated in a few years. This is in contrast to the 60+ year old analogue headphones that served as the company’s inspiration.
Master & Dynamic MW75 review: Noise cancelling
With noise cancelling turned on, the headphones have a battery life of up to 32 hours, and proximity sensors will automatically cease playback if they are taken off. You can playback for six hours on a 15-minute rapid charge. Even while this reviewer personally favours the actual volume dial that Master & Dynamic utilised on its MG20s, the on-body controls, which include volume up and down, play/pause, on/off, ANC and Bluetooth, are conveniently accessible. Additionally, there is adjustable auto power off. With Bluetooth 5.1 and the aptX Adaptive codec at up to 24-bit/48kHz as well as the common AAC and SBC codecs, Bluetooth pairing is simple. Impressive 100-foot range, and they keep a strong connection even when transferred to a neighbouring room. Multipoint capability, which allows you to switch between two devices without having to pair them again, is something that is becoming important and will save you time if you frequently switch between a smartphone and a laptop, for example.
Master & Dynamic MW75 review: Audio performance
The Master & Dynamic MW75 is one of those items that combines functionality with status symbolism and substance with style. That does not imply that they are unworthy. In fact, I can’t think of anything that was executed incorrectly. These headphones are top-notch. They are simply exceedingly pricey. For the majority of individuals reading this review, that price will be the biggest barrier. Only audiophiles or those who enjoy splurging often agree to pay this much when buying headphones. Additionally, audiophiles could disapprove of a set of headphones.
Call performance
The MW75 headphones have 40mm beryllium drivers, eight microphones (four for active noise cancellation; the other four are for voice calling), Bluetooth 5.1 support, the ability to pair multiple devices at once, and support for Qualcomm aptX, AAC, and SBC Bluetooth codecs. The two EQ adjustments that may be configured in the companion app for iOS and Android can also be used. The app has a number of uses. First of all, it provides a second way to modify important settings like ANC and ambient modes. Additionally, EQ presents are available for selection, but no personal personalization is provided. The headphone’s auto-off time may also be configured using the app, with options including 30 minutes, an hour, three hours, and never. When available, software updates are also displayed in the app. Updates for apps are put in place remotely.
Battery and charging
The MH40, Master & Dynamics’ initial set of over-ear headphones, served as the MW75’s inspiration. The New York-based business has since improved its over-ear formula with the introduction of the MW50 and noise-canceling MW65, as well as two lines of true wireless earbuds: the MW07 and MW08. We originally evaluated those back in 2017, and since then, the brand has released the MW50 and MW65. The MW75 are M&D’s premium over-ear option and the company’s most sophisticated headphones. They enhance the noise cancelling found on the MW65 by adding an adaptive component, stream audio more efficiently, and improve connectivity. When noise cancellation is turned on, battery life increases from 24 to 28 hours, while turning it off completely reduces listening time to about 32 hours.
Master & Dynamic MW75 review: Final words
The Master & Dynamic MW75 are a superb pair of wireless headphones, but they fall short of the “must have” threshold. One of the reasons for this is cost, however even if the price is only a slight inconvenience for you, much less expensive headphones perform better at noise cancellation. However, you do get one of the more fashionable pairs of headphones on the market, superb sound quality, and wireless performance for the price.
