Master & Dynamic MW50 Review | 93 Data compared

The Master & Dynamic MW50 headphonesGo are described as a luxurious on-ear option, featuring high-end materials like lambskin leather and aluminum for a comfortable, durable design. Sound quality is characterized by an accurate, rich, and crisp signature that prioritizes clarity over heavy bass, alongside an excellent passive wired mode. Pros include the high-quality build and detailed audio, while notable cons are the high $449 price point and the lack of an inline remote on the audio cable. Furthermore, those seeking thundering, deep bass may find the audio profile underwhelming.

The Master & Dynamic MW50 is a premium, wireless on-ear headphone that manages to challenge the audiophile stigma surrounding the on-ear design. Built with hand-forged aluminum, stainless steel, and lambskin leather, it contains zero visible plastic parts and weighs a mere 240 grams. Performance-wise, its standout feature is a pair of 40mm custom beryllium drivers that provide exceptional, highly detailed high frequencies, deep resolution, and an aggressive yet smooth treble response. Additional strengths include a lightweight and highly portable form factor with flat-rotating ear cups, superb comfort from memory foam padding, an impressive 100-foot Bluetooth antenna range, and dual noise-cancelling microphones for voice calls. However, these luxury headphones come with a steep entry barrier and a few functional trade-offs. The primary con is the hefty $449 launch price, making them significantly more expensive than many competitors. Furthermore, the compact on-ear design lacks a foldable headband hinge, which may disappoint those looking for maximum collapsibility. While the sound quality is top-tier for its class, it still falls short of the expansive soundstage reproduction found in M&D's larger, over-ear MW60 sibling. Finally,...

The Master & Dynamic MW50 is a luxury pair of wireless on-ear headphones praised for its vintage-inspired design, premium build materials, and impressive comfort. Built with high-quality lambskin earpads and a cowhide headband, it offers a remarkably comfortable fit that stands out among competitors. In terms of performance, the headphones deliver a well-balanced, slightly warm sound profile with refined bass and energetic treble, making them highly versatile across multiple music genres. Additional pros include smooth hydraulic-like friction adjustments, excellent stereo imaging, a reliable 30-metre wireless range, and the inclusion of modern USB-C fast charging capabilities. However, the headphones come with notable drawbacks, primarily centered around their steep $449 (£399) price tag, which makes finding better value elsewhere quite easy. A major con is the complete lack of active noise cancellation (ANC), resulting in weak sound isolation due to the inherent design limitations of on-ear earcups. Furthermore, reviewers noted that the soundstage could be wider to better isolate separate instrumental layers. The battery life is merely average at around 16 hours, the playback controls are awkwardly small, and the wireless signal...

The Master & Dynamic MW50 Wireless Headphones review by Paul Rigby highlights a premium, retro-industrial design crafted from anodised stainless steel, aluminium, cowhide leather, and lambskin ear pads. Retailing at £399, these compact on-ear headphones feature 40mm Beryllium drivers, offer a 16-hour battery life, and support both Bluetooth 4.1 pairing and passive wired listening via an included slim cable. On the positive side (Pros), the reviewer praises their neat, high-quality styling, ease of use, and quick Bluetooth setup. They are highly commended for outside, mobile use because their sonics successfully combat aggressive ambient street noise while offering the cable-free convenience needed when carrying bags or navigating busy public areas. Conversely, the review exposes several notable drawbacks (Cons). In terms of physical comfort, the headband fails to accommodate larger head sizes comfortably, a design flaw the reviewer notes he has never encountered in dozens of other headphone tests. Furthermore, the company neglects to include a necessary mains plug attachment for the charging cable. Sonically, the headphones are strongly discouraged for indoor or analytical listening. The sound profile is described as highly...

The Techaeris review highlights the Master & Dynamic MW50 headphonesGo for their exceptional build quality, featuring stainless steel, aluminum, and leather materials, along with a warm, balanced sound produced by 40mm beryllium drivers. Pros include excellent build, robust Bluetooth connectivity with an external antenna, and a USB-C charging port. Cons, however, center on the very small, hard-to-use physical control buttons and the inability of the headphones to fold for compact travel. Additionally, the $450 price point is noted as a significant investment.

The Master & Dynamic MW50 on-ear wireless headphones feature a premium design with a strong brushed-metal frame and high-quality leather covering both the ear cups and the headband. They come in diverse color combinations and include convenient features such as physical controls, a 16-hour battery life, and a modern USB-C charging port. The sound quality stands out due to a well-tuned mid-range, an exciting high-end, and a powerful, focused bass response that is enhanced without causing muddiness. Performance is stable over Bluetooth 4.1 with minimal skips, and the package includes useful accessories like a high-quality carry pouch, an auxiliary cable, and a USB-C cable. The major pros of the MW50 headphones are their beautiful and robust aesthetic design, exceptional sound quality across all frequencies, and highly comfortable lambskin leather padding on the ear cups. Additionally, the implementation of a USB-C port and the impressive battery life for on-ear headphones serve as notable highlights. On the downside, the cons include a very high retail price of $449, which hurts their overall value score, and a slight lack of padding on the...

The Master & Dynamic MW50 is a premium pair of wireless on-ear headphones praised for its high-end build and comfortable fit. Hand-stitched with luxurious cowhide and lambskin leather over memory foam, they look, feel, and smell like an upscale product built to last. They feature a 16-hour battery life, reliable Bluetooth connectivity with a strong signal range, and include high-quality braided cables in a dedicated leather case. On the positive side (pros), the headphones deliver a punchy and detailed sound, remain painless and lightweight to wear at just 240g, and feature a robust construction from top-tier materials. However, they are not without limitations, particularly when judged by strict quality-per-pound metrics. A major drawback (con) is the expensive price tag of £400, making them difficult to recommend unequivocally over less costly rivals. In terms of performance (cons), the MW50 lacks ultimate dynamic headroom and struggles with absolute timing and momentum when tracks become highly complex. Additionally, they present a relatively small, tight-knit soundstage. While they are a great aesthetic "sound tool" for those wanting to flaunt a high budget, they fall...

The SoundGuys review highlights the Master & Dynamic MW50 WirelessGo as a luxurious, well-constructed headset featuring premium leather, stainless steel, and aluminum materials. Key pros include a robust 16-hour battery life, excellent comfort from memory foam ear pads, and a warm, enjoyable sound signature. Conversely, the review notes significant cons, specifically the high $450 price point and small, hard-to-navigate playback controls. Additionally, the microphone struggles with wind noise, and the Bluetooth connection can be temperamental when obstructed.

The Master & Dynamic MW50 is a luxury pair of wireless on-ear headphones designed to elevate portable audio without crossing the $500 threshold. Weighing under nine ounces, these exceptionally comfortable headphones feature a premium build consisting of black leather, lambskin, and metal, alongside removable magnetic earcups that provide custom-feeling comfort. The MW50 shines brightest in its sonic performance, delivering an incredibly balanced mix and standout vocal reproduction that feels open and airy, reminiscent of high-end open-back headphones. Additional strengths include its robust 15-hour battery life, excellent call quality via twin built-in microphones, stable Bluetooth 4.1 aptX connectivity, and top-tier accessories like a premium canvas carry bag and a separate leather cable case. However, the headphones do come with a few design and audio drawbacks. A major point of contention is the prominent grilles on the earcups; while they heavily resemble open-back headphones, they are entirely closed-back, meaning the grilles serve a purely aesthetic, somewhat misleading purpose. From a sound perspective, the 40mm beryllium drivers prioritize clarity, nuance, and mid-range detail over power. As a result, the low-end mix lacks a...

The Master & Dynamic MW50 wireless on-ear headphones balance premium luxury with outstanding audio performance. Designed in New York City and priced at $449.99, these headphones are built for durability using a robust stainless steel and aluminum frame paired with premium cowhide leather and marshmallow-soft lambskin earpads. Their sound signature is exceptionally warm and detailed, featuring an expansive, hemispheric soundstage that is remarkably wide for on-ear cans, along with a powerful bass response that adds great energy to tracks. Additionally, they boast an impressive Bluetooth range of around 100 feet—triple the industry standard—thanks to a specialized aluminum antenna. Key Pros and Cons While the MW50 offer a gorgeous design and top-tier audio quality, they do come with a couple of practical drawbacks. Pros: Dashing, luxury build quality with robust metal and soft leather. Pros: Warm, powerful, and highly detailed sound signature. Pros: Surprisingly wide and expansive soundstage for on-ear headphones. Pros: Long Bluetooth range extending up to 100 feet. Cons: The 16-hour battery life falls short of competitors offering over 20 hours. Cons: The steep $450 price tag makes them...

The Master & Dynamic MW60 and MW50 are premium wireless headphones featuring high-quality metal and leather construction, exceptional sound profiles, and reliable wireless signals. The over-ear MW60 offers a slightly warm sound with 45mm neodymium drivers, an impressive wide soundstage, and comfortable lambskin pads that provide decent passive noise isolation. However, it is quite expensive ($549 US), on the heavier side, and its headband could benefit from more padding. The smaller, on-ear MW50 utilizes highly responsive 40mm beryllium drivers, producing a surprisingly punchy and large audio profile with impactful bass. It includes modern USB-C charging and a lower price point ($449 US, later updated to $399 US with included interchangeable over-ear pads). Its primary drawbacks are a lack of folding capabilities for transit and less overall noise isolation due to the on-ear design. Both models deliver user-friendly physical metal buttons, clear microphone call quality, and a robust 16-hour battery life with passive audio playback capability via an included cord if the battery dies. The reviewer ultimately prefers the MW50, noting that it matches or exceeds the MW60's audio performance, provides...