Master & Dynamic MW08 Review: Indulge in the sublime sound
"The wonderful sound quality makes the MW08 an excellent choice for audiophiles."
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Beautiful design and materials
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Very convenient
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Excellent sound quality
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Really long battery life
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Effective transparency mode
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Good call quality
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Simple and intuitive controls
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Expensive
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Limited customization
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No wireless charging
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No EQ adjustments
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Poor ANC performance
Master & Dynamic (M&D) may not have the brand awareness of Sony, Apple, Bose, or Sennheiser, but the New York City-based boutique audio company has made some really standout headphones and earphones. The latest of these is the $ 299 MW08, the successor to the excellent MW07 Plus, which is now set to drop to $ 249 in price. With new materials, better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and improved battery life, here's what you can expect from the MW08.
What's in the box?
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First of all, I would like to take a moment to praise the MW08's box itself. It is a master class how to create an elegant package for a high-end product from 100% easily recyclable materials. It even has a book hinge design that stays closed without the use of embedded magnets. This is how all the electronics should be shipped.
The extremely sustainable box contains the earphones, your charging case, a cord denim carrying case, four sizes of silicone rubber earplugs (in addition to the pre-installed set) as well as a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a USB -C to USB-A adapter (thanks M&D!) And some quick guides in paper form.
design
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Master & Dynamic attaches great importance to the appearance of its products. The MW07 Plus was available in a wide range of 10 colors and styles (28 if you include M & D's partnerships with brands like Nike and Leica), most of which had a unique pattern and gave them a handmade feel. The MW08 continues this tradition, but places greater emphasis on simplicity: It is available in four single-color combinations of earphones and charging case: black ceramic / matt black stainless steel, white ceramic / stainless steel, brown ceramic / stainless steel and blue ceramic / graphite gray stainless steel.
Attention to detail is everywhere.
The black ceramic earbuds we tested have a subtle M&D logo and a high-gloss finish that exudes sophistication (despite being a giant fingerprint magnet). If you look closely, you will see a small black aluminum tape encircling the ceramic surface, which serves as both an antenna and a frame that holds everything together. This design approach was made famous by the iPhone 4.
While not as light as some other models, the earbuds are very compact and even smaller than any other high-end earbud, with the possible exception of Apple's AirPods Pro. The MW08 retains the same tiny physical control buttons as the MW07 Plus, making it look like a touch-based set of earbuds, but with the precision of real buttons.
The matt black stainless steel charging case is heavy and sturdy and has a hinged lid that can be opened and closed with the authority of a luxury car door. When you put the earbuds back in your pocket, you'll feel like you're putting them in a protective vault, not just a carrying case. Now, if I were to pick the best looking charging case, it would be a dead heat between the MW08 and the Zippo-inspired design of the Klipsch T5 II.
Attention to detail is pervasive, from the smooth movement of the hinge, to the way the earbuds are angled slightly towards you – so you can pull them out with ease – to the fact that the only thing that breaks the steel surface is three indicator LEDs are. You won't find any text or even a logo on the outside.
Wireless charging would have been a nice touch, but to my knowledge, steel and wireless charging are not happy companions, and M&D would have had to create a plastic charging window to achieve this.
It was easy to get a comfortable and secure seat.
The earbuds are rated IPX5 – more than enough for handling sweat and rain – while the case is rated IPX4, which we've only seen on a handful of other products like the Marshall Mode II.
Convenience, control and connections
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Thanks to the ergonomic shape of the MW08 and the generous number of silicone earbud sizes in the box, it was easy to get a comfortable and secure fit. M&D dumped the rubber wing tips of the MW07 Plus, which meant a compromise.
The MW08 are more comfortable for longer periods of time, but they don't lock in with the same level of security. As long as you're not trying to break sprint records, they should stay fine.
While you can definitely use them while running, I don't recommend it. Despite their small size, the earbuds are surprisingly heavy at 0.31 ounces each. For comparison, the AirPods Pro and Jabra Elite Active 75t are both 0.19 ounces.
Most of this mass is on the outer part of the earbud (that beautiful ceramic and aluminum) where it is least supported. As your feet pound on the sidewalk, that weight can be felt with every step, which I found tiring after a while, although they were still very comfortable overall.
The MW08's tiny control buttons are at the top of each earbud – a single button on the right and a double rocker button on the left. They work effortlessly, with very little travel and a pleasantly precise click when you press them.
They require you to put your thumb on the bottom edge for leverage, and I found that sometimes while jogging this can interfere with the position of the earbud in my ear. The bigger concern (at least for those who live in wintry conditions for half a year), however, is that the buttons can be difficult to operate with gloves on – a surprise given M & D's NYC headquarters.
Still, you get everything you need: volume, play / pause, answer / end, track forward / backward skip, access to voice assistant and ANC / transparency mode.
"Audiophile Quality" is being overused, but if there has ever been a line of true wireless earbuds worthy of the term, it is the MW08.
There's no way to change these (even though M&D created their very first smartphone app for these buds), but they're so intuitive that I wouldn't change them even if I had the option.
You can use each earbud independently if you want, but only the correct earbud can be used for calls.
Each earbud has a wear sensor that allows it to pause and play automatically when you remove or reinsert it. The response time is a bit slow: it can take up to three seconds for the sensors to register a change and then stop / start the music. You can deactivate this function in the M&D Connect app.
Sound quality
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
M & D charges a premium price for the MW08. If the company's choice for exotic materials and workmanship doesn't justify the $ 299 it cost, the sound quality should make you a believer.
Just like the MW07 Plus, the MW08 is a treat for your ears. The term "audiophile quality" is becoming increasingly popular, but if there has ever been a line of true wireless earbuds that deserve it, it is the MW08.
Take one of your favorite songs – you know, one of those songs that will never get old no matter how many times you listen to it – and the MW08 will breathe new life into it. Details hidden at the very end of a note, possibly the slightest click of a piano key or the vibration of a string while plucking or selecting, all become audible and put a smile on your face.
M&D doesn't offer EQ tweaks in the app, but if a sound signature is that good, who cares? The output of the MW08 is a clever balancing act, bright and precise through the upper mids and highs and warm and resonant in the mids and lows. The bass? Oh, there is plenty of it, but you will not hear it until asked, and then it cannot be ignored. The sound stage has an open and airy quality and is somehow intimate.
I owe the ventilated design of the MW08 to this achievement. Letting a small amount of air move between the outside world and your inner ear has a positive effect on openness – not to mention comfort, as it partially eases the sucking sensation of some earbuds – but it can also cause unwanted noise.
This is where the MW08's noise cancellation comes into play. Without them, you'd have to seek a quiet, controlled environment. But turn it on and almost any room can be your concert hall.
At the forefront of the true wireless market, it can be very difficult to pinpoint the best sound among giants like the Sony WF-1000XM3, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2, the KEF Mu3, the Grado GT220, and the Bose QuietComfort earbuds. But I would argue that the MW08 can easily hold its own against these other models, and in my opinion they are the current market leader.
Noise cancellation and transparency
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Based on what I just said above, you probably expect me to give M&D praise to the ANC of the MW08, but it's not that straightforward.
There are two settings of ANC – "max ANC" and "all day ANC" – the latter being designed for less intrusive environments.
When it comes to creating a calm floor for indoor music enjoyment, max ANC is really good. But as a focus tool, it can't compete with the AirPods Pro or the Bose QuietComfort when you want to escape roaring noises like the fans, machinery, or engines of an airplane (not that this has been much demanded lately) earbuds. It also struggles to suppress the daily commuting noises like traffic.
There are also two modes of transparency (or ambient mode, as M&D calls it): language and awareness. Think of these as zoom modes – voice enhances nearby sounds like conversations, while the mind tries to bring in sounds from further away. Both work very well, depending on what you need right now.
The MW08's fast charging capabilities are downright insane.
The biggest downside to both ANC and Transparency modes is that you have to press and hold the corresponding left earbud rocker button to activate it, rather than being able to instantly switch from one to the other. The Jabra Elite 85t can do this and is ideal for quick calls. The other thing I could do without is the sultry female voice announcing these mode changes every time. It gets old very quickly.
Battery life
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The MW07 Plus was already an outstanding performer in terms of battery life with 10 hours per charge and three additional full charges for a total of 40 hours. M&D claims the MW08 has even more juice: 12 hours per charge and an additional 30 hours in the case for a total of 42 hours of playtime.
Unfortunately I was unable to verify this. In my tests, the M&D Connect app showed 22% remaining battery life after eight hours of continuous playback. If this is accurate, it means the total playing time is closer to 10.4 hours, not 12.
When I reached out to M&D staff with these results, they were surprised and offered to review them at the end. I will update this review with their answer as soon as they have had a chance to run their own tests.
What I can confirm is the MW08's fast charge capabilities which are downright insane. If you put the earbuds back in the case for just 15 minutes, they will be charged to 50%. This is class leading in every way.
Call quality
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Calling the MW08 is very good. I found that the microphones did a great job of making my voice sound natural, without the compression that can plague other earbuds. In quiet places, it almost sounded like I was speaking directly into my phone's microphone. This is the holy grail for earphone call quality.
They also did a good job of blocking out background noise like traffic as I walked through some busy intersections. Some particularly loud noises still managed to drown out my voice, but that's not surprising – only the Bose QuietComfort earbuds turned out to be far better for calls.
Our opinion
The MW08 is beautifully crafted, offers great sound quality and battery life, and is an excellent choice for those who want to get the most out of their music. Just keep your noise cancellation expectations in check and you won't be disappointed.
Is there a better alternative?
I don't think you'll find a lineup of true wireless earbuds that look better, sound better, or last longer than the MW08, but that doesn't mean there aren't any worthy alternatives, especially if you're looking to save some cash.
The $ 230 KEF Mu3 have very comparable sound quality and I would argue that they are very attractive in their own unique way. But their ANC is mediocre, they have a larger and less pocketable charging case, and their call quality wasn't very impressive.
Sennheiser's $ 300 Momentum True Wireless 2 They also have great sound and very effective ANC, but are larger and bulkier and only get around six hours per charge.
If noise cancellation is a top consideration, the $ 280 Bose QuietComfort earbuds are amazing with sound quality that will not disappoint. However, they are significantly larger and less comfortable than the MW08 and have the shortest overall battery life of any of the alternatives.
How long will they last?
Master & Dynamic grants a two-year guarantee on all headphones. With IPX5 water resistance and great materials and build quality, I expect the MW08 to last for many years.
Should you buy it?
Yes. They have the best sound quality of any earbud we have tested. Reason enough to consider them for your next set of headphones.
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