When we first looked at the Master & Dynamics brand during the soft launch of their headphones line, we focused on the classy, "grown-up" look of the the high-end cans and how they were a welcome departure from the loud plastic design of others on the market. We talked about the detachable lambskin ear cushions and the slick brown or black colors and how comfortable they felt after wearing for long periods of time.
What we didn't talk about much was the sound.
The full line of Master & Dynamics products launched recently, and having gotten our hands on their signature product — the over-ear MH40 — we can say with confidence that these sound every bit as good as they feel. Powerful 45mm Neodymium drivers pump out the deep, punchy bass lovers of today's most famous over-ear headphones expect, while still delivering the mids and highs necessary to not drown out the sound. And while this may leave classical fans attempting to decipher the notes of a single concert violinist wanting a bit more, most of us listening to rap, rock, pop, EDM, etc. will be satisfied.
Master & Dynamic's design also does wonders to help you keep your music to yourself. While their products don't feature any specific noise-canceling technology (as to avoid pumping in artificial sound), the same effect is there due to the air-tight suction cup sensation one feels while wearing them. This works the opposite way as well, keeping sound locked in the headphones with very little leakage even at high volumes.
Aside from the sound, the product feels luxe and high-quality, right down to the near-impossible-to-tangle cord and steel components holding things together. The only drawback I encountered after a week of testing was some discomfort with the padding and my left ear, but that may simply be the result of my having big ears. Even after hours of wear, the irritation is minimal and I continue wearing them daily. Which — when considering M&D branding this product as a "Modern Thinking Cap" for creative professionals — is probably the type of extended use they were built to endure.
Check out the other models of Master & Dynamic headphones here, or go ahead and cop the MH40's here for $399.
