Master & Dynamic USB-C to 3.5mm Audio Cable Is a Great Accessory

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Greg turned me on to Master and Dynamic headphones at CES a few years ago. He loved the MW60 wireless over-the-ear headphones he reviewed. The company sent me a pair, and I agree; they’re awesome. Their $49 USB-C to 3.5mm Audio Cable is great when I need a wired connection to my iPad Pro.

The MW60 offer a strong wireless connection, great battery life, and awesome sound. There are, however, times when a wired connection is preferable. The problem is the headphones ship with two cables. One is a USB-A to micro-USB cable for charging the headphones. The other is a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. That’s great except for the fact that, except for my laptop, none of my primary devices have a 3.5mm headphone jack any longer. My iPhone has a Lightning connection, and my 2018 iPad Pro has a USB-C connector. That eliminates the option for a wired connection.

Thankfully, Master & Dynamic offer some different cables that can be purchased accessories. They offer a 3.5mm to Lightning Cable in black or white for $39. They also offer a 3.5mm to USB-C cable in the same white or black. It costs $49 and, while that might seem like a lot for a cable (especially when the headphones work well wirelessly), I purchased one to make sure I have the option available to me.

The 1.2m cable is a simple, braided affair that gets the job done. The woven fabric covering the wires is thick enough to offer long-lasting use and, as a bonus, it has a tangle-free design.

In addition to the 3.5mm connector on one side and the USB-C connector on the other, the cable has a three-button in-line controller 1/3 of the day from the 3.5mm connector. That places it at the ideal location for easy access while listening to the headphones.

There is also a microphone built into the cable. It is positioned a few inches from the 3.5mm connector. This places it right next to your mouth while using the headphones.

This would, in and of itself, be enough to make this a great accessory for your MW60s or any other headphones that accept a 3.5mm connector. There is, however, more to this cable than meets the eye. Built into it is a digital to analog DAC that helps ensure you get the most from your music. As the company notes:

Our USB-C to 3.5mm Audio Cable optimizes the connection between our headphones and your Android device. An advanced digital to analog (DAC) converter provides acoustic benefits while heavy-duty woven fabric ensures durability. Cable includes a remote and voice control-enabled microphone, and is compatible with MW60, MW50, MH40 and MH30.

Master & Dynamic note that the cable is intended for Android devices that have a USB-C connector, but I found that it worked just fine with my iPad. The audio is excellent, and the three button controller worked as intended despite being connected to an iOS device.

The Master & Dynamic USB-C to 3.5mm Audio Cable is a terrific accessory for your M&D headphones. No, I don’t expect to use it that often — after all, these are wireless headphones — but I do like knowing that I can still enjoy my music and video even when a wireless connection isn’t advisable, or the battery in the headphones has run down. Check it out here.

Source: Personal purchase

What I Like: Thick, braided cable won’t tangle and will last a long time; three-button controller works well and is nicely placed along the cable; Microphone is built into the cable and is just a few inches down from the 3.5mm connector placing it in the perfect position for conversations; Built-in DAC ensures you get the best possible sound

What Needs Improvement: Required an additional purchase since the included cable assumes you still have a headphone jack; Designed for Android so may not always work with non-Android devices

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.