APRIL 2017
MASTER & DYNAMIC
MW60 WIRELESS HEADPHONES
REVIEW / MASTER & DYNAMIC / MW60 WIRELESS HEADPHONES
MASTER & DYNAMIC
MW60 WIRELESS HEADPHONES
$699 RRP
“class and flair in creativity with a clear and ambitious goal”
New York based audio company Master & Dynamic are a vision of class, delivering beautiful and well-thought out products in their impressive line-up of headphones and IEMs. Although a newcomer to the world of audio, they have quickly learnt the ropes through releasing precisiondesigned boutique headphones with a sound to match. Their website clearly shows off their class and flair in creativity with a clear and ambitious goal; to marry sound with design. Recently released was the MW60, a gloriously built wireless over ear headphone and successor to the MH40 headphones. Like the MH40, the MW60 is built with premium materials in mind but also with in-built Bluetooth capabilities and a novel design. The MW60 features 45mm neodymium drivers and comes in at a relatively light 345 grams.
The Packaging The MW60 arrived in a neatly packaged box with the headphone clearly seen on the outer box insert with its key features. Inside, there is a hinged matte-black box where the headphones rest on a foam insert next to a cylindrical leather container. Within this container is a standard detachable 1.25m cable (when the headphone is used in wire mode). Also included is a micro USB charging cable to power up the headphones to 16 hours of battery in wireless mode.
The Design & Build
Comfort & Isolation
Aesthetics are outstanding on the MW60 with
At first, the headband was quite grating in
them essentially being cut from the same
terms of comfort but when the headband was
cloth as its predecessor, the MH40.
adjusted all the way up, this quickly subsided.
Unlike the MH40, the MW60 only come in 2 colour schemes for the time being; gunmetal/ black leather and silver metal/brown leather. The headband is constructed from a premium grade cowhide and the ear-pads themselves made from lambskin covered memory foam. The hinges are made from stainless steel with the ability to easily be retracted and extended. Overall, the design is very sleek with a build that is set to last for an extensive period of time.
To get the best comfort out of these, it is essential to make sure there is no overhang in the stainless-steel hinges so as not to put the full weight of the headphone on the small headband alone. The lambskin treated memory foam earpads are amazingly comfortable. While the headphone itself was designed as an on-ear, my ears were able to sit flush inside the pads making for a comfortable listening experience. Like the MH40s, the weight distribution of headphone is good. However, at 345 grams, it is certainly not the lightest headphone I
“the design is very sleek with a build that is set to last for an extensive period of time�
have tried out. Thus, during long listening periods, I have found that I needed to take the headphone off and readjust because of pressure from the small headband. In terms of isolation, these are not the best at closing yourself from the outside world. A moderately high amount of volume is needed to drown out sound from the outside. Some sound does leak out if the volume is too high and thus a balance needs to be obtained where there is ambient noise.
Sound Impressions The Bass Bass extends moderately low with decent
stridencies or peaks that would detract from the otherwise smooth presentation.
Schiit Magni & Modi 2U Stack With this more affordable combination,
decay and slam. However, it should be noted
Compared to the HE-400S, the MW60 has
the MW60 picks up on soundstage (in
that this is not the headphone for bassheads
less air to its treble but the two share similar
the dimensions of height and width) with
who require authority and deep reaching
levels of extension. Next to the V-Moda
an elevated bass response that is tighter
lows to satisfy their cravings. Instead, the
M100s though, the MW60 wins out on
rather than more fleshed out as above.
mid-bass is relatively extensive employing
perceived extension compared to the relatively
Detail levels are slightly better with the Schiit
good articulacy and rumble. The sub-bass,
more laidback treble on the former.
stack and treble is better defined. Besides
however, is not as extensive which was evident in Three 6 Mafia’s “Late Nite Tip”
Wireless
where the sub-bass rumble did not deliver
Featuring Bluetooth 4.1 with AptX high quality
as much presence or heft as the V-Moda Crossfade M100s. To its credit, however, the bass was neatly kept in check without ever becoming distorted or downright messy. Like the MH40, the MH60 has a respectable decay to its bass. However, it does succumb to both the Fostex TH500RP and HiFiMAN HE-400 in sheer tautness and decay speeds. The Mids
audio, I am impressed at how these sound without wires. They take me back to the
respectable for a closed-back headphone
connection. Both retain most, if not all, of the
with decent space to allow for an out of
sound fidelity when compared with a wired
head feeling. This does improve with an amp
connection which is an impressive feat in and
however as explained above.
of itself. It is a trait that will only grow within this particular industry as time progresses.
compared with the S1, the wireless feature
layered closely together.
substantially improve when the headphones
the MH40 before it, the MW60 can be best
were positioned closer to the Bluetooth source.
compared with the Pendulumic Stance S1
Access to the Bluetooth pairing buttons was
headphones. However, as with the MH40,
convenient with a neat on/off and pairing
the MW60 bests the S1 in the aspects of
toggle. Volume up and down keys as well as
micro-detail retrieval and dynamism retaining a
play/pause were equally accessible.
slight bass bleeding into the lower midrange
The Matching
gives this section some warmth and aids in
The Master & Dynamic MW60 headphones
for those wishing for attack and energy. However, it could be considered a downside for those wishing for a more laidback and darker tuned sound signature. Nevertheless, I am still impressed at how the MW60 manages to deliver vocals in a spacious soundstage for
have an impedance rating of 32 Ohms which mean that they are moderately easy to drive. As a frame of reference, the V-Moda M100s and the Pendulumic Stance S1 are easier to driver with the HE-400S being harder to. Thus, the MW60s require no amps to be driven to sufficient volume and head-stage levels. ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono Pairing this with the MW60, the resulting
a closed-back headphone.
sound becomes more airy and expansive with
The Treble
overtones become more filled out with more
Upper mids are slightly accentuated resulting in some pace and clarity in this region. The treble, on top of this, extends nicely with no pertinent
staging is excellent. However, there is room for improvement as details up top can get
and skipping from time to time. Though this did
dynamic. This could be regarded as a positive
Instrument separation is great and the centre-
Minor drawbacks, however, was that when
tonality that is neither harsh nor abrasive. Like
the MW60’s vocals are much more upfront and
The Soundstage & Imaging
had inspired when first tried with a Bluetooth
the MW60 delivers in spade with a natural
Unlike the less expensive HE-400S however,
hard to discern.
As with the MH40s, the soundstage is
was not as seamless with audio dropping out
the engaging tonality.
differences which would otherwise be quite
same feeling that the Pendulumic Stance S1
Full-bodied and smooth, the midrange of
more airy and open sound in the process. The
the soundstage though, these are subtle
a sweeter tonality to the mid-section. Bass impact and heft than otherwise previously noted. It certainly is a compelling combination which is not without its price.
Conclusion The MW60 is an adept beast with many
While there are still minor glitches and lags
specialities including its brilliant throwback
experienced when the headphones are not
design, premium build and sound fidelity. At
near its Bluetooth source, the sound itself is
times I have often found myself trying to feel
great with easily accessible buttons on the
for a wire in wireless mode and for that reason
housings of the ear-pad.
it is one of the best wireless headphones I have come across. Is it worth the additional money over the
Again, I would highly recommend these to anyone looking for a portable and wireless solution to their audiophilic requirements.
original MH40s? Well, in my opinion, that depends on what you need this headphone for. If you just need a wired connection, then it’s probably not justified as the MH40 shares a very similar sound to the MW60. If however there is a need for Bluetooth, then the MW60’s price is justified.
SPECIFICATIONS
/ / Drivers: 45mm Neodymium / / Rated Impedance: 32 Ω / / Weight: 345 grams // Plug: 3.5mm Gold Plated / / Bluetooth: 4.1 with Aptx™ high quality audio
WORDS: Patel Smit