Greg introduced me to Master & Dynamic at CES a few years ago. The small company produces high-end headphones, and they have received critical acclaim not only from us but from others who truly value their music. Now, Master & Dynamic has released the MW07 true wireless earphones, and we think they look amazing.
There are companies that put the vast majority of their effort into the design of their headphones. The result is products that look great but, at best, sound mediocre. There are other companies that put the vast majority of their effort into designing headphones that sound amazing. The result is awesome headphones that deliver great audio but look rather pedestrian. Then there is Master & Dynamic. They know that designing headphones need not be an either/or option; you don’t have to choose between head-turning style OR rock-your-day sound. As a result, Master & Dynamic produces a line of headphones that look amazing and sound even better.
Now they have released the MW07, their first true wireless earphones. Sure, there are plenty of earphones already on the market that cut the cord, but the MW07 do so with MD’s commitment to producing audio products that sound as good as they look. I haven’t had a chance to try the MW07 (yet) but they look amazing and, since they come from M&D, I have little doubt they sound great, too.
The MW07 measure 25 by 22.2 by 28.3mm and weigh just 76 grams each. They are made from handcrafted acetate and come with a stainless steel charging case. The fact that the earphones are handmade may sound like a minor, unimportant detail, but it translates to the fact that no two pairs of earphones will be the same.
Handcrafted Acetate: Beautifully eye-catching and durable finish, with a lightweight, slim design. Each pair of earphones may vary in its exact pattern and color due to the material and hand finish.
In other words, through their choice of materials and manufacturing techniques, Master & Dynamic has found a way to break free from the cookie cutter uniformity that plagues mobile devices and accessories. That was not, however, the only challenge they faced when designing the earphones. They also had to address the challenge of keeping the earphones in place. After all, when you cut the cord between the two earphones, you lose one of the options for stabilizing them during activity. To answer this challenge, M&D designed special silicone stabilizers. They call these “Fit Wings” and include two sizes of these proprietary add-ons. The result is true wireless earphones that promise not only to fit well but also stay in place while you walk down the street to your next meeting.
Their design effort also went into creating the battery case. Made from stainless steel, it not only protects the earphones when not in use but offers three additional charges so you won’t need to plug them in to recharge during the day.
Inside the MW07 there is just as much innovation. The company used 10mm Beryllium drivers for great sound. They have Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX, get over twenty meters of wireless connectivity range and are IPX4 rated for dust and water resistance. Also, they employed specialized antenna technology for strong connectivity. (This has been one of the major complaints with true wireless earphones.) They also found room to include optical sensors that detect when the earphones are removed from your ears and automatically pause the music until they are reinserted. This goes to show that, as the company notes, “when it comes to designing the ultimate true wireless listening experience, no detail is too small.”
Features:
- Beryllium Drivers: Custom 10mm high-performance Beryllium drivers deliver rich, expansive sound.
- Advanced Antenna: Quick pairing technology and 20+ meter range of Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
- Stainless Steel Charging Case: Compact portability and holds three additional charges for a total of 14 hours of listening time.
The Master & Dynamic MW07 earphones are available in a range of color combinations including tortoiseshell, steel blue, Grey terrazzo, and matte black. The $299 price tag includes the protective battery case and, for an additional $30, you can have it personalized with a monogram. Check them out here.
