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Master & Dynamic MW65
88
Engadget Review
Master & Dynamic took its time to deliver a set of noise-cancelling headphones, and the wait was well worth it. They have a more refined design than most of the competition, but the MW65 are expensive. Even though the premium materials and stellar sound are better than many of M&D’s rivals, the price tag is hard to overlook.
The company took a while to build its first noise-cancelling headphones, but the wait was mostly worth it.
Billy SteeleMay 22, 2019
Pros
- Stellar design
- Great audio quality
- Lightweight and comfy
- Intuitive controls
- USB-C charging
Cons
- Expensive
- Noise cancellation won’t please everyone
- Doesn’t fold flat for storing
Master & Dynamic
MW65
Engadget
88
Critics
10 reviews78
AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE
Users
4 reviews70
AVERAGE USER SCORE
View All Critic & User Reviews
Master & Dynamic MW65
- Critic Reviews (10)
- User Reviews (4)
- 78AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE10 ReviewsWired90Master and Dynamic MW65 Headphones ReviewThe list of things to love about the MW65 is long: The styling and materials, the low weight, the crazy battery life, the excellent noise-reducing tech, the crisp audio. But the $500 price is about as lovable as a good toe stubbing. I can't remember the last time I spent more than $350 on a pair of headphones, and even that is some gourmet cheese.Gizmodo80Master and Dynamic MW65 reviewNow, would I aspire to the new Master & Dynamic headphones? I think a lot of people would. The MW65s are an aspirational object, which is Master & Dynamic’s specialty. The headphones sound like a dream and look like a luxury good. That’s why they carry an exorbitant price tag. Aspire at your own risk.CNET80Master and Dynamic MW65 reviewWhile it's a little overpriced at $500, the Master & Dynamic MW65 is a mostly excellent noise-cancelling headphone.Android Authority80Extravagantly expensiveIf you want sophisticated headphones with great ANC, the Master & Dynamic MW65 are a strong contender. You don’t just get great looks when you shell out for these, though; you also get excellent audio quality thanks to the aptX HD support. The biggest drawback? Price.TechRadar60Master and Dynamic MW65 reviewThe Master & Dynamic MW65 feel great and have unrivaled build quality but using them is frustrating. The ANC is weak compared to the much cheaper competition and while we appreciate the luxurious build, we can’t recommend them for those who rely on noise cancellation on flights.iMore80Good noise-cancelling headphones at a steep priceBeautifully designed, these ANC headphones should provide years of enjoyment. Still, because of price alone, many might be turned off before ever experiencing this near-perfect product.iMore80Good noise-cancelling headphones at a steep priceBeautifully designed, these ANC headphones should provide years of enjoyment. Still, because of price alone, many might be turned off before ever experiencing this near-perfect product.AppleInsider90Master and Dynamic MW65 reviewAirPods or the excellent MW07 are our go-to for casual listening with their tiny form factor but relaxing listening at home or travels on a plane the MW65 are going to be our first choice.Digital Trends70Master and Dynamic MW65 reviewUnlike the more affordable flagships from Bose and Sony, Master and Dynamic’s MW65 don’t offer the kind of noise cancellation that knocks you out of the living world into peaceful serenity. Instead, the MW65’s noise cancellation serves as a clutter-free canvas upon which they paint some of the best sound you can get from headphones at their price point, wireless or otherwise.Digital Trends70Master and Dynamic MW65 reviewUnlike the more affordable flagships from Bose and Sony, Master and Dynamic’s MW65 don’t offer the kind of noise cancellation that knocks you out of the living world into peaceful serenity. Instead, the MW65’s noise cancellation serves as a clutter-free canvas upon which they paint some of the best sound you can get from headphones at their price point, wireless or otherwise.
- 70AVERAGE USER SCORE4 Reviewsrecoil80November 7, 2019Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!So I had the opportunity to do a shootout with these, the Bose 700s and the Sony wh-1000xm3. I also had an old pair of Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 wireless and Master and Dynamics MW60s.The MW65s don't seem to have the build quality of the MW60s as they were significantly lighter and seemed a little more flimsy. That being said they still seem more rugged than the Sony or Bose. From a sound quality perspective I though they sounded the best between the Sony, Bose and Sennheiser but I felt the MW60s sounded better. The weird thing also is that they sounded significantly better when you went wireless with them or turned on the noise canceling when they were hard wired. My guess is this is because of some sort of eqing they do in the built in amplification.As for the noise cancellation it was pretty decent. Reading some of these reviews I have seen people have a misconception about noise canceling. Noise canceling will not block out people talking or noises that aren't consistent like an engine or motor etc.That being said the Bose and Sony did have a slight edge in the noise cancelling department but it wasn't by much in a plane where the true test was for me. It was truly close.As for comfort the Sony and Bose were more comfortable but by no means were the M&Ds completely uncomfortable. I did start to feel a little discomfort after wearing them for a couple of hours but they didn't hurt and I found them more slightly comfortable than the Sennheisers after a similar time of wearing them.Overall I ended up going with the Master and Dynamics because sound quality was the most important factor and the other "issues" were not enough of an issue for me to not go with them. If I could make my perfect wireless, noise canceling headphones I would take the sound of the MW60s, the comfort and noise cancellation of the Bose 700s and the battery life of the Sony's. The fact that the MW65s do not sound anywhere near as good using them wired was a little frustrating as I do like to listen to my home stereo or hi res portable music player without noise cancellation and wired but I do have other headphones I can use in that instance I guess but I was really hoping I didn't have to.If sound quality in a noise canceling wireless headphone is your top priority I have no reservation recommending these. If comfort and the minor improvement in noise canceling is more important than sound then I would probably go with the Sony or more importantly the Bose.Dustin60November 7, 2019Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I bought these because I tried the mw60 in a magnolia store and they sounded and felt great. I bought the Kevin Durant version mw65 thinking...newer equals better. They did have some features like google that I felt I needed. First off these do sound good. Are they so much better than my bose or sony? No.....not at all. But sound great. My first disappointment was the ear room. I have small ears. They fit great in the mw60s. These cups are smaller inside. My ears brush up against the speaker easily.. yours will too guaranteed. They heat up too. Second disappointment is noise cancelling. It just sucks. I went on a flight this weekend...which prompted this review. I could hear all the voices unless music was turned up. Noise cancelling just does not work...not like Bose or Sony. For the price I would expect this not to be case. They case is terrible also. Last disappointment is when you rub the outside of the cup while music is on.....you get a loud scratching noise.....like velcro. This happens all the time brushing up against my jacket collar., etc. Simple stuff. If I sit on my couch and listen to music....these excel. For outdoor and travel. They are not good. Especially for the price. They are worth $250 in my opinion. I would send them back if I was not out of warranty. Ask yourself this question......why doesn't m and d allow customer reviews on their website. I think this review gives you the answer. Average headphones at a big price. The good about these is materials. They are aluminum and leather and I bought them because they are unique and look cool. Also, the sound is great if you sit still and dont move your head much. I would recommend you do not spend a penny over $250 for these down the road or go for something else.Chris70November 7, 2019Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I got the KD edition of these cans. Started out good enough but, being the good Techy that I am, I updated the firmware. Immediately noticed the quality of the sound prompts degraded after the update. I tried resetting but to no avail no matter how many times I tried holding the BT and NC button. It never 'indicated' that it was reset. Not sure if it actually happened or is even related but the sound quality appeared to suffer as well.NC was not impressive for me. Had them on a short flight from San Francisco to San Diego and they did enough but I could still make out the engine noise. Kind of disappointing given the price point.I'm not sure if these are considered over or on ear but they were definitely ON my BIG ears. Time on ear was limited because of it. It eventually lead to sore ears and a VERY slight headache. The flight was about an hour and immediately relieved to take them off after the flight.Final word, the cans were bought used so not sure what the prior owner put them through but I did not see any immediate signs or abuse, mis-use or handling. So I gave it the benefit of doubt that they were in mint condition when I received them. I would consider this a 2nd or 3rd option for me above the better ranked/rated headphones out there.Ol70September 16, 2019Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Amazing sound. Not usable as a real headset. Can't use the devices for calling. Microphone sound levels are so quiet nobody can hear me to my utter frustration. Tried both android and windows 10. Neither OS gives me the ability to change levels are adjust boost for the bluetooth device. Using a cable will disable the microphone at all. My 100 bucks JBL headset and my 10 bucks logitech headset perform better at this. Not really a way to describe my frustration since off course I spend 500 bucks.I hope it's a problem with the device and it will be sorted out. Anyways be wary buying this thing. Better check it out and test it out yourselves and whether it works for you. The sound is lovely though.
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Key Specs
TYPE
Over-ear
CHANNELS
Stereo
NOISE ISOLATION
Yes
ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION
Yes
CONNECTIONS
3 5mm, Wireless
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