Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless Review | 93 Data compared

The 2023 Master & Dynamic MH40 ($399) features a premium design with anodized aluminum and leather, offering an accurate, balanced sound with rich lows and detailed highs. Notable upgrades include 30-hour battery life, reliable Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive support, and versatile wired/wireless operation. However, the headphones lack active noise cancellation (ANC), limiting their utility in loud environments compared to competitors. Reviewers criticized the minimal companion app and potential discomfort from the headband over time, concluding that the high price is difficult to justify without ANC.

The Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless (2nd Gen) over-ear headphones deliver a premium, aviator-inspired aesthetic by blending an aluminum body with a coated canvas headband and removable lambskin leather ear pads. Weighing 280 grams, these headphones provide a lightweight and comfortable fit that avoids applying excess pressure to the outer ears. In terms of performance, the major pros include an improved 30-hour battery life (up from 18 hours on the previous model) with a quick-charge feature yielding 6 hours of use from a 15-minute charge. Additionally, their physical onboard controls are highly reliable, and the upgraded 40mm titanium drivers produce a warm, natural sound profile with punchy treble, rich lows, and distinct musical detail without resorting to overblown bass. Despite these clear upgrades, the headphones carry several notable cons that make their $399 price tag difficult to justify for many consumers. The most significant drawback is the total absence of active noise cancellation (ANC), putting them at a major feature disadvantage compared to flagship rivals like Sony's WH-1000XM5, which offers robust ANC for roughly the same price. Furthermore, while microphone...

The Master & Dynamic MH40Go headphones deliver excellent timbre and low distortion, featuring custom 40mm titanium drivers, aptX Adaptive support, and a frequency response that closely aligns with consumer preferences. Key strengths include exceptional build quality, design aesthetics, and clear, wide-separation audio. However, the review notes a lack of integrated spatial audio, which limits its performance in immersive scenarios compared to competitors at the same price point.

The Audiophile Heaven review highlights the Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless for its premium, plastic-free build featuring leather and metal, along with a V-shaped sound signature that delivers fast, heavy-hitting bass and musical, expressive mids. With a 14-to-16-hour battery life and fast charging, it is praised for its performance, although the treble lacks ultimate extension, and the heavy, colored bass slightly impacts the lower midrange. Physical limitations include non-folding ear cups that only lay flat. For the full, detailed review, visit Audiophile Heaven.

The Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless over-ear headphones feature an industrial, high-quality build crafted from premium metal, canvas, and memory foam padding. Priced at $299, these closed-back headphones offer excellent, natural sound quality highlighted by highly detailed high frequencies and warm, well-tuned mid-tones. They connect reliably via Bluetooth 5.0 and provide a very comfortable, lightweight fit (276g) suitable for hours of continuous use. For wired listening, the package uniquely includes a USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable alongside a standard canvas carry bag. Despite receiving a Silver Medal recommendation, the headphones have a few notable drawbacks. The 40mm dynamic drivers produce a weaker bass response that may lack the deep punch preferred by some listeners. Furthermore, its 18-hour battery life falls on the lower end for modern wireless headphones. The device also completely lacks active noise cancellation (ANC), making it less ideal for travel compared to competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM3, though it remains a stellar choice for stationary, high-fidelity listening.

The Master & Dynamic MH40 wireless reissue updates the brand’s iconic, industrially styled debut headphones with modern features for its fifth anniversary. True to the original, the physical design boasts exceptional build quality, showcasing textured metal mesh earcups, canvas accents, and premium lambskin leather detailing. Hidden inside the earcups are geographical coordinate "Easter eggs" representing landmarks that inspired the design team. On the performance front, the lightweight headphones offer a well-balanced, warm sound profile with remarkably clear high and low-end definition. They deliver exceptional wireless range of up to 100 feet via Bluetooth 5, support aptX and SBC audio formats, and provide a solid 18-hour battery life that can recharge to 50% capacity in just 30 minutes. Despite these upgrades, the review highlights a few notable drawbacks. A major downside is the total lack of active noise-cancelling (ANC), which may disappoint users looking to block out ambient sound. Additionally, the box contents include a peculiar step backward: it bundles a high-quality USB-C to 3.5mm audio cord but only pairs it with an outdated USB-C to USB-A charging cable, completely omitting...

The wireless Master & Dynamic MH40 5th Anniversary Edition over-ear headphones retain the iconic, cool retro aesthetic and exceptional craftsmanship of the original wired flagship model while reducing the overall weight by about 3 ounces to a nimble 9.6 ounces. Priced at an affordable $299, these closed-back headphones deliver high-end sound quality, a comfortable, tight fit that effectively seals out external noise, and 18 hours of battery life via Bluetooth 5.0. Standout physical features include distinctive antenna-like sizing sliders, a dual-microphone array for clear phone calls, and an entry that can alternate between wireless and wired configurations using an included USB-C to 3.5mm cable. As a charming, personalized bonus, each unit features geographical coordinates etched onto the outer left ear cup pointing to one of ten global cultural hotspots, such as the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. While the reviewer highly recommends the headphones, the review reveals distinct pros and cons to consider before buying. The pros include their lighter build compared to the original model, excellent noise isolation, robust construction quality, dual-microphone performance, versatile wired backup option, and a...

The Master & Dynamic MH40 (2023) review highlights a pair of luxury wireless headphones that prioritize outstanding design, premium build quality, and excellent sound performance over modern technical features. Priced at $399, these headphones stand out from typical plastic models due to their beautiful, robust construction utilizing anodized aluminium, lambskin leather, and titanium. In terms of audio performance, the new 40-mm titanium drivers deliver incredible clarity, balance, and rich detail across frequencies, featuring full bass and energetic high-end attacks. Additionally, they provide up to 30 hours of battery life, allow multipoint pairing for two devices, support hi-res audio, and feature highly effective passive noise isolation from their comfortable, magnetically attached memory foam ear pads. However, the reviewer emphasizes that the MH40 omits several core features standard for premium headphones at this price point. The most significant drawbacks are the total lack of active noise cancellation (ANC) and a transparency mode, making them less ideal for loud commutes compared to heavily featured rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM5. Furthermore, they lack smart functions such as auto-pause sensors and a comprehensive multiband EQ...

The Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless (Gen 2) updates a classic, premium design with new 40mm titanium drivers, offering a wider soundstage, improved bass, 30-hour battery life, and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. While retaining luxurious materials, the headphones lack active noise cancellation (ANC), are relatively heavy, and have limited app functionality, making them a luxury-focused choice.

The Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless (V2) headphones stand out primarily for their striking, vintage aviator aesthetic, featuring premium materials like a leather-wrapped headband, hand-stitched detailing, and distinct external metal grilles. This design prioritises premium build quality and long-term wearing comfort, using a flexible headband and magnetically detachable, cushioned ear cups that sit easily on the head without a vice-like grip. On the performance side, the second-generation model updates its connectivity suite by introducing Bluetooth 5.2, aptX Adaptive for high-resolution CD-quality wireless audio, Google Fast Pair, and digital cabled audio capabilities via USB-C. It also delivers a robust battery life of approximately 30 hours of playback time. However, the headphones suffer from several functional limitations when compared to other models in their $400 (€449) price bracket. A major disadvantage is the complete lack of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and poor sound isolation, causing severe audio leakage that makes them unsuitable for commuting or public environments. Furthermore, they omit modern quality-of-life features like on-ear/head detection for automatic pausing. While the sound profile is described as an enjoyable and warm listen with...

The Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless over-ear headphones are a retro-aviator-styled, hi-fi Bluetooth 5.0 pair of headphones that deliver a very powerful, bass-rich, and warm sonic character. They feature premium materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, canvas, and lambskin-wrapped memory foam earpads, resulting in an exceptionally robust build that is lighter than its original wired sibling. On the technical side, they utilize 40mm neodymium drivers with a low measured impedance of 14.7 ohms and achieve a high maximum sound pressure level of 99.34 dB, making them exceptionally loud in wireless mode. They also boast a reliable 30-meter Bluetooth range, support high-quality aptX and SBC codecs, and provide a 16-to-18-hour playback battery life that fully recharges in 60 to 80 minutes via a fabric-coated USB-C cable.

The Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless ($249) is a stylish, retro-looking reissue of the brand's flagship headphones that shifts to a cordless design with Bluetooth 5.0, new controls, and a slightly lighter frame. Boasting a premium build of anodized aluminum, coated canvas, and lambskin leather, these headphones deliver a highly comfortable fit and a uniquely mechanical, eye-catching aesthetic. Acoustically, they provide a very clean, airy, and detailed sound signature that excels with genres like jazz, alongside superb passive noise isolation that effectively muffles high-frequency city sounds. Wireless connectivity is stable, supporting multipoint technology to pair with two devices simultaneously up to a 40-foot range. However, the headphones suffer from notable feature omissions and performance compromises for their price point. On the downside, they completely lack active noise cancellation (ANC) and mobile companion app support, and their sound signature features a heavily subdued bass that will disappoint electronic, rock, and hip-hop fans unless used in wired mode. Furthermore, the battery life is subpar, lasting only about 15.5 hours in real-world testing compared to the rated 18 hours. Other minor flaws include...

The Phandroid review of the Master & Dynamic MH40 WirelessGo praises the headphones for updating a classic, rugged design with a 25% lighter frame, improving comfort through a plush headband and deeper ear cups. Key features lauded include the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.0 and a balanced, clear sound profile. However, the review notes significant cons, such as the complete lack of active noise cancellation (ANC) and the absence of a USB-C to USB-C charging cable in the box. Additionally, the natural, flat tuning of the low frequencies may underwhelm users seeking heavy bass.

The Master & Dynamic MH40 (2023) is a luxurious pair of wireless headphones priced at $399/£399 that prioritises exceptional audio performance and premium build quality over modern digital features. Its standout strength lies in its semi-open back design, which delivers an expansive, airy soundstage, precise image placement, and immense volume headroom without distortion. The headphones feature a unique, aviation-inspired aesthetic constructed from top-tier materials like anodised aluminium and genuine lambskin leather, offering a comfortable fit at a relatively light weight of 280 grams. Additionally, the device provides a highly reliable 30-hour battery life with convenient USB-C fast-charging that supplies six hours of playback from a quick 15-minute charge, and it comes packaged with useful travel accessories, including a plane adapter and a canvas pouch. However, the headphones are heavily hindered by a stark lack of competitive features given their premium price point, most notably omitting active noise-cancellation (ANC) and a transparency mode. The physical layout relies on a minimalistic four-button control scheme that takes time to locate by touch, and the accompanying M&D Connect app is notably barebones, offering only...