Review on 🎧 Master & Dynamic MW65 ANC Wireless Headphones – Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones with Mic – Lamborghini Black/Yellow Alcantara/Black Metal by Ronny Welch

When you're spending over $300 on a pair of headphones, I think you want to feel like you're not making compromises. I tried 6 pairs of wireless noise canceling headphones and settled on the MW65. Although it was the most expensive of the 6, it was also the only one that I felt was really worth the price. Here's what I tried: Master & Dynamic MW65, Bowers & Wilkins PX, Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i, Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i, Denon AH-GC30, Bose QuietComfort 35. When I started I didn't know much about noise cancellation. wireless headphones, and I was a bit skeptical that it was anything more than a gimmick. After trying it for a few weeks... it's not a gimmick, it really makes a difference, especially when you're working in a noisy office and need to concentrate. 1) For me the most important criterion is the sound quality, not what I want. to compromise. The Master and Dynamic brands are well known for their sound quality and the MW65 doesn't disappoint in that regard. These headphones reproduce everything from modern, fuller, bass-heavy sounds to classic recordings where you need more detail and a sense of space. The Beoplays came second for me, slightly behind the B&W PX and Denon in bass response, and then well behind the Bose. 2) Comfort is another important factor. I wear headphones a lot and for a long time, so they should feel good. Of course, this depends on your preferences and the shape of your ears and head. The MW65 and Beoplay H8i are very comfortable and lightweight. Bose and Denon are comfortable enough. The B&W PX ear pads are a bit stiff and overall the headphones are quite heavy (12 ounces). It's not very uncomfortable, but the weight makes it feel like you're wearing a helmet. H9i was the worst for my ears. They're light, but the shell of the headphones presses on my ears, so I can't wear them for more than an hour at a time. I haven't tried them, but Bang & Olufsen tried to solve this problem with the new generation of H9. Another aspect of comfort is ear pressure. Some people report an uncomfortable feeling of pressure when the ANC is on, and this can become painful after prolonged use. That seems to vary from person to person, but that's how it was for me. Some brands are better than others. MW65, B&W PX and Denon were the best, followed by H9i, then Bose and H8i. The big surprise was how different the H9i and H8i felt. The H8i are overhead, so it's possible they're designed with maximum ANC to compensate for less noise isolation.3) Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). I tested noise-cancelling performance in the office by walking around town and standing next to the bathroom exhaust fan and kitchen hood to see how they handle continuous white noise. Bose is way ahead, followed by B&W PX, H9i, MW65, H8i and then Denon way behind. All headphones except the Beoplay H9i and H8i had the ability to toggle between ANC modes like Airplane, City and Office. The MW65 has two modes: low and high. For me, the difference was imperceptible in most conditions, but noticeable when listening to white noise (more mids in Low mode than High mode), and Low is best for windy environments where High mode is weird produce sound artifacts. The advantage of the MW65 is also that the sound fidelity is very high even with the ANC activated. Bose is at the opposite end of the scale, where the already weak audio performance degrades with ANC on. You definitely don't get the best ANC with the MW65. It's really in the middle of the package. But ANC is one of those things where, in my opinion, the best isn't really the best. Bose is the best at ANC but has compromises in terms of comfort and sound quality that don't make it value for money. What good is excellent noise-cancelling headphones that aren't being used because they're too uncomfortable to wear? My criterion for ANC is whether the headphones can significantly reduce ambient noise, allowing me to feel relieved and able to focus and enjoy the music. All headphones except Denon are more than acceptable. 4) Industrial design and materials. Bowers & Wilkins and Masters & Dynamic win here, they're both absolutely perfect. I love the elegance of the PX, especially in gold. Both feel solid and well-made, which is a particular achievement for the MW65 as it only weighs 8 ounces. The two Beoplays are strong contenders and Denon has its charms, especially when they're from a company better known for its versatile black-body stereos. Evil's ugliness is truly unforgivable. I'm sure their industrial designers are very talented. Why don't we let them do their job? 5) Add. The MW65 lacks some of the other bells and whistles found in other headphones. What I particularly miss is the transparency function, with which you can hear yourself speaking when making a call. The MW65, on the other hand, is the only pair with voice assistant support, works in wired passive mode, and doesn't come with an app for your phone. I consider this a feature as apps for other headphones aren't usually great. The Today screen on the iPhone can be set to show Bluetooth battery life, which is all I really need. When it comes to full-size noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones, Master & Dynamic got it right with the MW65. They cost $500, but it's pretty clear what you're getting for your money. In my opinion, lower prices are not good value for money. For me, they ended up collecting dust, so I'm not sure I'd spend less. If I couldn't afford it, I'd probably wait until I can.