Skip to main content

Master and Dynamic’s MW50+ are a flexible take on already-great headphones

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Master and Dynamic launched its MW50 wireless headphones in 2016, and when we got our hands on them, we were impressed both by how they sounded and how they looked, with a classy combination of metal and leather. Now the company has announced a follow-up, but instead of slightly updating the look and calling it a day, Master and Dynamic has taken a major step forward in terms of flexibility.

If you’ve ever been shopping for headphones, you’ve probably spent time wondering whether or not to opt for on-ear headphones for the smaller profile, or over-ear for the bigger sound and better sound isolation. With the MW50+, Master and Dynamic packs in both over-ear and on-ear pads, meaning you don’t have to make a choice when you’re buying them, just when you’re putting them on. The headphones even include a case for the ear pads you’re not using.

Recommended Videos

“We build sound tools for creative minds, and we understand just how wide-ranging that spectrum can be,” Master and Dynamic founder and CEO Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “From day one we’ve been obsessed with designing perfect headphones for the creative community. We understand how these professionals live, work, play, and relax, and wanted to develop a product that could move with them throughout their day. Now, for the first time, the decision is not about on-ear versus over-ear, but simply which color.”

The MW50+ headphones feature 40mm drivers constructed using beryllium, which Master and Dynamic says has superior acoustic qualities. The headphones use a patented milled aluminum antenna that the company says provides up to 100 feet of wireless range. The headphones pack up to 16 hours of battery life, which Master and Dynamic points out is the length of a flight from New York City to Hong Kong, and the onboard USB-C port supports quick charging.

The Master and Dynamic MW50+ are available in silver metal/brown leather, silver metal/black leather, and black metal/black leather color varieties. The headphones will sell for $400 and are available for pre-order now via the Master and Dynamic website. To make sure you’re getting what you need, take a look at our headphone buying guide to make sure the headphones are right for you.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
V-Moda’s pricey new S-80 puts a Bluetooth speaker into your headphones
A man is wearing a black pair of V-MODA S-80 headphones around his neck.

As a brand, V-Moda has not shied away from big swings -- particularly in the design department -- and now with the S-80 two-way headphones, they’re taking a rather unique swing. Available soon via the V-Moda site, the S-80 is a brand-new pair of wireless-only Bluetooth headphones that looks similar to much of V-Moda line but behaves quite differently.

Sporting the V-Moda signature hexagonal enclosure shape, the S-80 passes pretty convincingly as any other member of the line … if you squint. On closer inspection, a soft, contoured approach to the edges -- alongside angled control buttons and an asymmetrical metallic headband connector on each earcup -- makes the S-80 headphones visually unique. V-Moda is also selling magnetic plates (with pretty zany design options) that are interchangeable so you can customize the outer look to your taste.

Read more
Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport first impressions: Lighter weight, wireless charging
Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport true wireless earbuds.

Master & Dynamic (M&D) has just released the $349 MW08 Sport, an almost identical set of true wireless earbuds to the company’s MW08, which it debuted earlier this year for $299. So what makes the MW08 Sport so er, sporty? And why do they cost $50 more than the regular MW08? It pretty much comes down to weight and wireless charging.

The original MW08 are a stellar set of active noise cancellation (ANC) earbuds, with fantastic sound quality, battery life, and ergonomics. But their slick-looking all-metal charging case, at 2.8 ounces, weighs considerably more than most charging cases and it doesn’t support wireless charging.

Read more
Master & Dynamic MW08 earbuds feature exotic materials and hybrid ANC for $299
Master & Dynamic MW08

Master & Dynamic (M&D) has released its latest set of true wireless earbuds, the $299 MW08. They look just like the company's previous two true wireless models -- the MW07 and MW07 Plus -- but the MW08 boast highly polished ceramics and stainless steel, which makes them much more durable, according to M&D.

They're also the company's first true wireless earbuds with hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC), a system that uses an internal and an external microphone to help cancel out sounds. They're available starting March 30, in four colors: Black ceramic/matte black stainless steel, white ceramic/stainless steel, brown ceramic/stainless steel, and blue ceramic/graphite gray stainless steel.

Read more