Master and Dynamic MW65 Active Noise-Cancelling (ANC) Wireless Headphones Premium Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones, Black Leather/Gun Metal

In the elegant box you get:-• Master & Dynamic MW65 ANC headphones• Protective canvas carrying case• USB-C to C charging cable• USB-a to C adapter• Flight adapter• 1.25m standard 3.5mm audio cableUnfortunately a leather box for lead storage isn’t provided so it does seem that the provision of ANC technology has led Master and Dynamics to cut down on the luxury a little bit. The supplied canvas case is also only just big enough – it feels like a tight squeeze putting the phones in after each use.Also, the magnetic headphone pad fastenings have gone- replaced by a clip on system – this is also probably to do with the provision of ANC but may be a tech rather than a cost issue.The headphone pads are still made of Lambs leather and other headphone parts are made up from premium aluminium – it means the MW65’s feel rugged and very lightweight.The cut out in the headphones does feel small – there isn’t plenty of room for my ears and I’ve read one review that calls them “on ear” headphones because of this. They’re not – they are definitely “over ear” headphones but there is definitely limited room when compared to the MW60 – I’d say the form factor is much more MW55+There is a three way off/on/pairing button on the left phone - pairing is quick and easy to achieve and the obvious switch positions make these headphones very easy and intuitive to operate. The left headphone is also home to a push button for ANC – which can be turned “high”, “low” or “off” – each position is announced by a female voice. The ANC works very well but it’s not as complete at noise isolation as the technology used by Sony or Bose – however it doesn’t work at the expense of the core sound either. Switches on the right headphone allow you to adjust volume, play, pause, rewind or fast forward audio – and control Google Assistant if you want it… I didn’t but it was very easy to set up and worked very well if you do want it.And the sound doesn’t disappoint – smooth rich detailed bass, sparkling but not too pronounced treble and an adequate mid range response, put together with a broad sound stage mean that these headphones deliver high definition audio in spades- which will leave you looking to find all your favourite tracks to try out on the headphones. The Beryllium drivers really do seem to make a difference in terms of delivering a punchy bass that isn’t overwhelming – the typical warmth of the sound profile of Master and Dynamic headphones is still there but there’s one heck of a lot more detail and width to the sound signature. If anything I felt that the headphones could have been a bit louder – they seem to need more driving than previous versions so I guess the impedance has been tweaked to accommodate the ANC?All in all, these are beautifully constructed, beautifully sounding headphones with excellent ANC (though not up to the level of Sony or Bose) which will delight fans of good quality audio – but a few of the luxury touches have gone AWOL with the introduction of the high tech ANC and that’s a bit of a shame – unpacking Master and Dynamic headphones was always a treat because of those little luxury extras…Edit Feb 2020: having lived with these headphones for a while I’ve put my rating up a star - highly recommended. Whilst the supplied case is a soft pouch, these headphones are very robust and the pouch gives more than adequate protection and make the headphones very portable and great for travelling with -the soft pouch makes them easy to stow in a computer case or an overnight bag without any problem.And the sound..... now that they’ve burned in, the clarity of the sound from these ‘phones has become apparent- the profile is neutral - but this doesn’t mean these beryllium drivers lack any bass- it’s beautifully layered without being overpowering - and the mids and high end are beautifully balanced and provide loads of high definition detail whilst not being uncomfortable to listen to. Haven’t heard clarity like this in a wireless headphone set. Ever.I’ve had a chance to compare with the Bowers and Wilkins PX7 and the Beyerdynamic OasisPX7 - do a better job of NC at low frequencies - have larger 43mm drivers - bass too overpowering at the expense of mids and highs - sound a bit muddy in comparison though have an exceptionally wide soundstage. There also seems to be some sort of dynamic compensation going on with some tracks which is odd. They’re comfortable to wear but the supplied hard case is large too, so not as easily portable.Beyerdynamics Oasis - more difficult to pick a winner - the touch controls on these headphones are a joy to use, but the plastic headband creaks, but the sound is very detailed and smooth , perhaps a little more bass than the M&Ds for a slightly darker profile - but oodles of detail here and a big soundstage. They’re very portable too, fold into a nice hard shell case, needed as these are plastic and not as robust as the M&Ds. The NC is a bit better too, takes most of a 747 cruise noise out when sat over wing.The M&D MW65s are much better than the PX7s in terms of audio profile but It’s much closer when you compare them to the Beyerdynamics Oasis - M&D build quality is superior, Beyerdynamics touch controls and ANC are superior but both sets,of phones get close to audiophile territory. I think the beryllium drivers in the M&Ds just make them a bit more detailed than the Beyerdynamics, even with their personalised sound profile switched on so for me, My M&Ds win by an inch even if their ANC is a little weaker than their rivals.... if you appreciate sound, give them a try and I doubt you’ll be disappointed unless you’re a fan of heavy bass.

If you aim to have one, do not hesitate to get it.

I've never heard of Master and Dynamic so I'm pretty sure they are not a recognized brand name, but that doesn't mean that they have no produced a impressive product, far from it. I do like the retro, almost avionic, look. It gives it a unique edge without looking fat and dated, as headphones often do. The other two I have tested in the past couple of weeks reminded me of those mufflers my grandparents kept from the 70s through to the 80s. It paired with my Nokia 5.1 easily, so that was a relief as that phone often has trouble hooking up with Bluetooth speakers and headphones. Premium materials were used in manufacturing this product so you can rest assured that they will not snap or that the leather cushions will rip. However, I'd still recommend taking care of them as you don't pay for headphones of this price to throw around.They are also fold-able and can be tucked away in a little carry case for when travelling or when stored away at home while also including a little pouch for containing your leads and chargers. I don't know about you but my desk is a tangle of different wires for different devices. I long for the day of fully wireless charging but that might be something out of science-fiction.ANC worked well in my bedroom, cutting out the occasional loud traffic barrelling past my house. As I have said before, I can't fully recommend wearing/testing these in public to see how the ANC fares in noisier environments as I don't believe that cutting off all ambient sound is safe. I listen to a variety of music, from classical to thumping techno and trance music, mostly CD rips, sometimes even vinyl rips, and occasionally ripped in FLAC, as any audiophile would naturally do. For each track that I have played, volume dialled up to the max, the sound was nothing short of perfect and I never struggled or felt dissatisfied as I have done with lesser headphones in years gone by.Battery life is epic, as expected, and for consumers looking to take their HiFi/home theatre set-up more seriously without taking the plunge on the highest-end gear I can wholehearted recommend this MW65 package as the perfect pair for relaxing in bed, the bus, or on long flights while hooked to a laptop or movie. Just stay spatially aware and don't yourself in danger.