Master & Dynamic MH40 Over-Ear Headphones: 5th Anniversary New Wireless Model
Five years ago, at the New York Audio Show, I came across a new Manhattan-based headphone Company, Master & Dynamic, debuting their first headphones. The MH40, at $399; was an over-the ear closed model. I was impressed, and planned on trying to get a review sample at some point soon after.
Coincidently, the next day I went back to the show with my then 3-year old daughter and started by having lunch in the hotel restaurant. At the table next to me, I recognized the two very nice ladies who had been working the show table for Master & Dynamic and they recognized me. They were lunching with a gentleman I did not know; the ladies introduced him to me: Jonathan Levine, Founder and CEO of Master & Dynamic. We had a very pleasurable conversation about his new company, and we ended up with a beautiful and priceless (to me) photo (taken by Levine using my camera) of my daughter in my lap wearing a pair of the MH40. Soon after I wrote a review of the MH40, and in my summary, I stated:
There might be other good sounding closed headphones on the market in the same price range as the MH40, but it is doubtful that you will find any with all the extras you get with the MH40 including the solidity of construction and quality of compo- nents, the small size, weight, and portability, the fashionable, classy, and tasteful presentation and well thought out details and peripherals.
Since then, Master & Dynamic has produced a variety of very impressive headphone and earphone models—all reasonably priced with high-end sound quality—and has been rapidly moving into the wireless domain (check out their top-of-the line at only $499 MW65 active noise cancellation over-ear wireless model and the two very recently released in-ear wireless models.
But the MH40 is where it all began, their flagship model, so it is with pleasure that I found out they were releasing a new wireless version of the MH40—as a 5th Anniversary model today, November 12, 2019, and obtained a Gunmetal / Black Leather review pair in advance.
Quickly summarizing, at 9.6 ounces they are about 3 ounces lighter than the original (but about 1 ounce heavier than the MW65) and considerably less expensive (only $299); they have almost the identical cool retro look (with the antenna looking sliders on each side for fitting), and have the very same high level of craftsmanship; the closed fit is comfortable, tight and keeps noise out. For that lightness and the wireless component, it borrows from the newer technology of the MW65 and the newer MW07 in-ear models (such as a dual microphone array for when making phone calls). They have an 18 hour battery charge for using Bluetooth 5.0 wireless, using a removable USB-C to USB-A charging cord, but also, as with the MW65, may be used wired with a USB-C to 3.5mm cable.
An interesting and fun twist: They include on each pair on the outer Left (L) ear cup the coordinates from among 10 of their favorite hotspots on earth. Mine had 48.8766 degrees north, 2.2634 degrees east; Paris, the Louis Vuitton Foundation. (The original model always had New York’s Grand Central Station (40.7527 degrees north, 73.9773 west) inside the left cup behind the leather ear pad, and so does this new version.)
If you have the original MH40 you will probably want to upgrade to these new ones; otherwise if you are looking around for an exceptional pair of wireless headphones at only $299 you should check these out. I loved the original MH40s. Now wireless, even better. Very highly recommended.
Further information: Master & Dynamic
Look for an Audiophilia giveaway of a pair of the new wireless MH40s for subscribers of Audiophilia’s new YouTube channel. Please Subscribe today. Thank you.
