Master & Dynamic MW65 Review: Smooth Noise Canceling Headphones

Master & Dynamic, a New York-based audio company founded in 2013, is recognized for creating products with special attention to form and function. In other words, they produce beautiful headphones and speakers. The MW65 represents the fourth evolution of Master & Dynamic's metal and sheepskin headsets design. Aside from the small details, there is one important difference between the atria: a small red button. This is what controls a new active feature of noise suppression.

Adding noise to its flagship design is a big problem for Master & Dynamic. The company has for the first time integrated ANC into its award-winning, award-winning wireless headphones, the MW07, but transferring technology into the space of the over-the-ear headphones is certainly a challenge. In a field dominated by Bose and Sony – two companies selling bland black plastic cans – Master & Dynamic's high-end and beautiful headphones stand out, however. The new MW65s remind me of the magnificent $ 400 Sennheiser Momentum Wireless headphones, except that noise suppression is zero on the Sennheiser set.

This is not the case with the MW65. Noise removal works pretty well! The headset uses two networks of microphones forming a beam to analyze the noise around you and cancel it accordingly. For comparison, the best Sony 1000X headphones in the category feature four microphones and a dedicated HD noise suppression chip to handle this workload. The MW65 is not as good as Sony's noise canceling headphones. Nor can they be adjusted for atmospheric pressure, a practical feature in aircraft. However, the new Master & Dynamic headsets are at least competitive compared to the Sony and Bose models, in terms of noise suppression.

There are some quirks that I noticed during the tests, though. The pickups seem to catch a little wind if you use headphones outdoors on a windy day, although I never had a problem inside. Moving the headset over your head also caused strange vibration noises, which could have been the setting of the noise suppressor itself. Most people would never notice it in their daily use, unless you're a nutty person like me who is constantly putting your headphones back.

The other novelty of the MW65 helmet is the addition of Google Assistant. After pairing headphones with Google Assistant via the Wizard application, you can press a right headset button and then talk to Google. You can also configure it to be able to hear notifications via the MW65 headset and check its autonomy. Other headphones, including the Sony 1000X series, also have this feature. It's convenient, but it's not something everyone will want to use.

Noise canceling function and assistant side, the MW65 headphones are surprisingly light (250 grams). This puts them in the same weight class as their competitors Bose and Sony. However, MW65s are significantly lighter than older Master & Dynamic helmets, like the MH40 and MW60. If you wear the helmet any longer, it makes a big difference. In my opinion, they are not as comfortable as the Sony 1000X headphones, because the Master & Dynamic earbuds are a little smaller than the Sonys headphones and the headband does not have as much padding. But I would also say that these small compromises mean that MW65 headphones look much smoother.

The MW65s are also just another excellent Master & Dynamic helmet. The sound quality is supreme, especially on detailed tracks such as Radiohead's "2 + 2 = 5." Each keystroke and effect gives the impression that it comes from another part of the room , while nothing is missing when the guitar gets bored … Classical music too If you've never heard Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9" with very good headphones, hear the chef-de-lis. The manic work of the MW65 is a treat, in quiet moments I would like the headphones to be louder, but the noisy parts show the superb setting Master & Dynamic encourages you to leave the volume knob alone.

Pleasantly, the addition of noise suppression technology did not diminish the audio quality at all during my sound tests. Noise cancellation was not strong enough to block out any peripheral conversations in a noisy cafe or protect me from the roar of the subway. As I said above, active noise cancellation on the MW65 headphones is not the best I've ever tested, but it's really good. It's really enough to help you enjoy your music better.

Even though I like to watch the MW65, I can not say that they are for everyone. The rich lovers of excellent audio quality, superb industrial design and sheepskin softness over their ears seem to be the target group of these $ 500 headphones. The Sony 1000X offers better noise reduction technology, slightly lower audio quality and a more classic metal and plastic design for $ 350. I think the Sony headphones look good, especially since I can not see them when they are on my head.

Now, would I aspire to the new Master & Dynamic helmet? I think a lot of people would do it. The MW65 is an ambitious object, the specialty of Master & Dynamic. The headphones sound like a dream and look like a luxury product. That's why they have an exorbitant price. Aspire at your own risk.

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• Surprisingly correct noise in a high-end headphones
• Same audio quality as in other Master & Dynamic headsets
• Excellent connectivity, even with multiple devices
• 24 hour solid battery life
• The headband and ear cups are made of lambskin!
• Lamb skin must be very expensive …