How the Master & Dynamic MW75 Wireless Headphones Rival the Apple AirPods Max
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The Master & Dynamic MW75 wireless noise-canceling headphones are a follow-up to the New York City-based maker's beautiful MW65 over-ear cans. The new iteration has a thoroughly revamped design, upgraded hardware for next-level audio performance and battery life, and a $100 higher price tag than the MW65's $499 sticker.
In late 2020, Apple normalized dropping $500-plus on a new set of premium wireless cans with the introduction of the AirPods Max. In the months and years that followed, audio makers like Bowers & Wilkins, Master & Dynamic, and V-Moda, to name a few, followed suit by introducing premium headphones to rival Apple's own.
I tested multiple ultra premium noise-canceling headphones over the past couple of years, and the Master & Dynamic MW75 is an appealing alternative to the AirPods Max. By delivering a fusion of captivating design, impeccable craftsmanship, top-tier sound, and a best-in-class set of bundled accessories, the luxe headset is worth its hefty price and your attention. Here's why:
MW75 Wireless Headphones
amazon.com
$599.00
amazon.comSCORES
Sound: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10
Design: 10/10
Battery Performance: 8/10
Overall Score: 9/10
Master & Dynamic MW75 at a Glance
Exceptional build quality and comfort
Luxurious storage case and cables
Up to 32 hours of battery life
Sound: 9/10
The MW75 headphones produce a lush and vibrant sonic experience worthy of their price range and a contender for the best in its class. Their acoustic prowess is brought by masterfully tuned 40-millimeter audio drivers and support for advanced hi-res audio codecs. In USB-C wired mode, the cans can also deliver lossless audio content with uncompromising fidelity.
During my testing, the MW75 dazzled me with accurate, balanced, and detail-rich sound, regardless of the music genre I played. Kind of Blue — the eternally iconic 1959 Miles Davis jazz album — sounded magnificent on the headphones. Davis’ trumpet, the saxophones of John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans’ piano, the bass, and the drums were faithfully presented and lifelike.
The M&D companion app offers limited tools for customizing the headphones’ sound. You can boost or reduce the bass with screen taps or opt for a podcast setting that enhances voice reproduction, but you can’t create your own. An audiophile sound profile is also available, but strangely, I couldn’t enable it on the iPhone and the Android versions of the app. I disabled the personalization to get the hi-fi listening experience mentioned above.
The noise cancellation of the MW75 headphones is solid. The cans enveloped me in quiet bliss when I put them on and pressed their power button, instantly doing away with the permanent traffic din underneath my living room window. Still, their ability to generate silence isn't a match for the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones.
You can adjust the noise cancellation and ambient noise levels of the MW75 in their app. The ambient option has awareness (ideal for commuting and outdoors) and voice (great for office use) settings. The cans have a dedicated button for switching between ambient mode and noise cancellation. Old-school audiophiles can disable both features if they wish.
The MW75 met my high expectations during phone calls and virtual meetings thanks to a quartet of onboard microphones — up from two in their predecessor. Participants heard me clearly, regardless of whether I was indoors or outside.
COMFORT: 10/10
When it comes to comfort and ergonomics, the Master & Dynamic MW75 headphones are one of the best in the business. The cans' supremely cushy memory-foam ear pads allowed me to spend hours with them without feeling the urge to take a break. Remarkably, their soft leather and fabrics brought me a cosseting feeling every I placed them on my ears.
The minimalist metal button controls of the headset are super reliable and great to interact with. Pressing a button to power the MW75 on, change the track, or adjust the volume, among many other tasks, is always accompanied by reassuring sensory feedback.
Like other top-shelf wireless headsets, the MW75 has built-in wear sensors that will pause the playback when you remove the headphones and resume it when you put them back on. You can enable or disable the wear sensor in the companion app.
DESIGN: 10/10
Timelessly beautiful design has been a calling card for Master & Dynamic products since the brand began offering such products almost a decade ago, and the MW75 is no exception. The over-ear cans provide a new take on their maker's signature look that's fresher, yet instantly recognizable. Compared to the distinctive retro styling of older Master & Dynamic offerings, the MW75 has larger but sleeker ear cups and noticeably thicker ear cushions.
The build quality of the MW75 is as impressive as its design. The headphones’ construction is a fusion of metal, genuine leather, and tempered glass, leaving no doubt about their craftsmanship and price category. You can order a pair in black, brown, or gray leather with contrasting metal components.
The hardshell storage case of the MW75 headphones is hands down the best in the business. The accessory has a felt exterior and interior, which feel cozy and decidedly luxurious, bringing a sense of occasion every time I reached for it. The storage cases of other top-shelf headphones look (and feel) more generic, while the AirPods Max Smart Case is nowhere near as protective and luxurious.
I also tip my hat to Master & Dynamic for including an unrivaled set of accessories alongside its range-topping headphones. In addition to the attention-commanding case, it consists of a duo of braided cables, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, a flight adapter, and a 1/4-inch audio adapter. The case has a neat compartment to store all accessories.
BATTERY PERFORMANCE: 8/10
You can expect up to 28 hours of wireless playback from the MW75 between charges with noise cancellation switched on. Disabling the feature will extend their battery life to 32 hours — on par with other premium headsets. The product's battery endurance is significantly longer than the 20-hour battery life of the preceding Master & Dynamic MW65 and the AirPods Max.
The USB-C connector for powering up the cans is fast and convenient. It can treat the MW75 to 6 hours of tunes in only 15 minutes.
WRAP-UP: 9/10
The Master & Dynamic MW75 headphones are beautiful and acoustically excellent. You'll love the MW75 if you prioritize design, craftsmanship, and included accessories as much as everyday performance and your budget permits. Otherwise, you can consider the more affordable Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2.
Suppose you are an Apple user torn between the MW75 and the $50 cheaper AirPods Max — two products that deliver incredible sound and effective noise cancellation. In this case, you should know that the AirPod Max supports more immersive spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and instant connectivity with any iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV that uses the same iCloud account.
That said, the standout design, longer battery life, superior storage case, and rich set of bundled accessories of the MW75 should be enough to make you consider the cans. For comparison, getting a just-as-luxurious third-party storage case and cables for the over-ear AirPods will cost you a pretty penny.
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