It’s not common for most people to spend over $500 on a set of headphones, let alone most other mobile accessories. However, for those of you who do care about quality audio, the budget for quality products might be uncommon for you. I happen to be one of those who loves music more than other forms of media, especially over television shows and movies which I rarely make time for. However I do listen to music for almost eight hours a day: work, in the car on the commute, at the gym and out while I walk my dog every morning and night. I wrote a full review of the Master & Dynamic MW60 Wireless Headphones just about a year ago and want to give you an update as to how they’ve held up and how much I still enjoy them.
Build Quality
The MW60 Wireless Headphones are quite an investment at $550, however, you can find them for a little less from third-party sellers on Amazon. Most people would never dare to spend $100 on headphones, so if you’re one of them, this product isn’t for you. If you find value in the accessories you buy and can justify the cost of enjoyment/usage vs. cost and justify high-quality headphones, you need to consider the MW60 as a product that can keep you happy for a very long time.
I raved about the build-quality of the MW60 Wireless Headphones over a year ago. They’re made from the most premium materials: premium grade cowhide leather for the headband and exterior, lambskin for the earcups which are as soft as it gets, stainless steel for ultra-durable hinges and a metal alloy that houses the 45mm neodymium drivers.
After a year’s worth of daily usage, at a minimum of one hour a day, with multiple business and personal trips across the globe, the MW60s look almost the same from the moment I opened them. There was one incident where I was watching my cousin’s crazy lab, who managed to get me tangled in her leash and pulled them from my head. It was one of those heart-stopping moments when the headphones were ripped from my head and I froze in utter shock that I might break my most beloved wireless accessory. Upon inspection of the MW60s, one of the earcups flew off (by design), and the headphones managed to pick up slight scratching on one of the hinges. Overall the headphones stood up quite well to this accident and I put the ear cup back on and there were absolutely zero issues with the internals of the headphones.
Besides those minor scuffs, everything has held up perfectly. No tears in the leather headband or lambskin earcups and the hinges are holding up fantastically. If my earcups ever do wear out, I’ll probably change the look of my headphones with a unique color replacement from Master & Dynamic. What’s particularly nice about the earcups is they are designed to be interchangeable with magnets that hold them in place. That means anyone can change out their earcups with ease.
Sound Quality
I walk my dog twice a day for 45 minutes, once in the morning and once in the evening. As soon as I put on the MW60s, Taro perks up and stands by the door as she knows it’s her time to get outdoors. It’s also my time to get excited because I know it’s my time to listen to some of the best sounding headphones I’ve ever tested.
I’m not delusional when it comes to the MW60s. They don’t sound as good or as detailed as high-end wired headphones from the likes of Focal and Audeze, which I’ve owned and tested, but the MW60s don’t require a $1000 headphone amp and are also not portable. While audiophilia is a fun hobby to have, I don’t like that I am stuck in one room listening to high-quality music. The MW60s aren’t trying to compete with headphones like those though. Instead, its competition is more in line with Bose, Sony, and Beats which all have headphones that run well over $300. Where those are plastic and tend to break (Beats), the MW60s have superior sound quality and a build that shouldn’t even be compared to those plastic pricey options. I’ve realized after about 200 hours of playback, the drivers opened up even more than out of the box.
The low-end is more relaxed now and provides a subtle but warm overall sound signature. The mids and highs on the MW60s are still incredible, but the mids are still where they truly shine the most. We hear the most sound frequencies in the mid-range, and the MW60s shine in that area and allow for long playback sessions without overly detailed sound that can tire your ears out.
The MW60s handle all music genres with ease. Country, classical, rap, hip-hop, R&B, bluegrass, jazz, and rock make up my eclectic mix of music, but the MW60s allow me to appreciate each genre with pleasure. They manage to drop deep bass on rap and R&B, while bringing vocals to the forefront on country. These headphones manage to emphasize the sound image of every genre differently. I don’t know how they do it, but I do appreciate their ability to pump out quality tunes. The audio engineers at Master & Dynamic must make up the “Master” part of the brand because they are experts at the sound quality that everyone can enjoy.
I still look forward to putting on my MW60s every single time I put them on. And when the music comes on, I appreciate every bit of effort the company put into perfecting its wireless headphones.
Battery Life
The biggest concern I have about the MW60s is the irreplaceable internal battery. All batteries wear out over time and will need to be replaced as their life cycles decrease with each full charge. I have yet to see any battery performance issues after one full year, but if I do, Master & Dynamic said it will replace the battery for a nominal fee. I still get 12-17 hours of playback before I need a recharge, and have an estimated 40 full recharge cycles used on them. Most batteries have at least 500 cycles in them, so I expect to get another 5-10 years of use before I will need a battery replacement. And to be 100% honest, I expect I’ll still be using these headphones a decade from now. They are simply incredible.
If the battery ever does fail, I still can use these cans with the included 3.5mm cable that can power the headphones as well. The MW60 headphones are truly designed to last.
Overall
I couldn’t be happier with the MW60 Wireless Headphones from Master & Dynamic. They are a true masterpiece in the realm of wireless headphones and should make most audiophiles happy with its rich and warm sound signature, best in class build quality and superior battery life. After a full year of use, I still love my MW60s as much as the day I opened them. If you enjoy premium accessories and aren’t afraid to invest in a product you can enjoy for a decade, you should truly consider adding the Master & Dynamic MW60s to your audio stable. They’re easily one of the best sets of headphones I’ve ever tested and think you’ll enjoy them too.
To learn more about the MW60s, head on over to Master & Dynamic.