Since 1926 or so, Mercedes-Benz has operated under the slogan “best or nothing” (although let’s not forget, Karl Benz introduced what is widely recognized as the first gasoline car in 1886), and this certainly seems to have been the company approach here.
Master & Dynamic is a much younger company (having been founded in 2014 in New York) and specializing in high-end headgears vying to become some of the best headphones we’ve had the pleasure of testing. But both brands operate in the luxury world – Master & Dynamic has collaborated with Louis Vuitton in the past.
Now the companies are proud to announce the maiden fruits of their new partnership: not one, not two, but five different sets of earphones, as well as an inductive wireless charging pad.
The most eye-catching audiovisual treat is arguably the MW65 x Mercedes-Benz Active Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones (key image), as there is a definite F1 look to these wireless headphones. and you can adorn your ears with the iconic chrome 3D Mercedes-Benz hood ornament – and I love it.
While these cans are clearly based on the Master & Dynamic MW65, which only earned three stars under intense review in 2019, it’s the ANC that we tagged them. The sound? We call it “excellent”.
And the MW65 active noise-canceling wireless headphones don’t just impress with the bonnet badge details and embossed Mercedes-Benz lettering on the headband. You also get two active noise canceling modes suited to different environments, handled by two sets of ANC microphones using a combination of hybrid feed-forward and feed-back technology to analyze ambient noise on the outside of the cone and external noise. perceived by the user – ie. inside.
Master & Dynamic also says that the headphones’ weight has been optimized to increase wearing comfort during extended listening.
Want those classic accents and noise cancellation, but in a true wireless headphone design? Look no further than the MW08 x Mercedes-Benz Active Noise Canceling True Wireless Headphones (based on the four and a half stars Master & Dynamic MW08).
Two 11mm beryllium drivers deliver brilliant sound, protected by a hybrid solution to actively suppress ambient noise. And the headshell of the MW08 in-ear headphones is also exceptional, says M&D, as it’s made from particularly durable ceramic, the kind often used in high-end watches.
Here, a total of six proprietary noise-canceling mics should ensure crystal-clear phone calls on the go, and the battery life is a competitive 12 hours – which can be extended to another 30 hours with the accompanying charging case (don’t worry , this also features the emblem).
Now the MW75 x Mercedes-AMG Active Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones. They offer 28 hours of battery life, three active noise-cancelling modes including Adaptive ANC (which automatically adjusts to the ambient noise level), and sound comes from M&D’s optimal-angle 40mm beryllium drivers.
Here you get the Mercedes-AMG badge as a chrome 3D logo on the earcups and as an embossed design on the leather band – and the black design is enhanced with red accents.
Player? Great. The MG20 x Mercedes-AMG wireless gaming headsets (above) promise to set new standards in gaming – and if our four-star review of the original Master & Dynamic MG20 is anything to go on, they won’t disappoint. Made from magnesium, fine leather and Alcantara, the luxurious MG20 headphones feature a detachable boom mic and an additional built-in mic array for clear in-game communication.
50mm beryllium drivers and 7.1 surround sound support also promise brilliant acoustics, meaning you should be fully immersed in the game, and a low-latency adapter should make switching between console and PC games easy.
These headphones also offer 22 hours of battery life after a single charge and feature on-the-head detection to conserve battery power when not in use.
Finally, Sporty Mercs. The MW08 Sport x Mercedes-AMG True Wireless Earphones are advertised as “shard-resistant sapphire glass headphones” with a scratch-resistant metallic finish and an “ultra-rugged carbon fiber charging case” ( see our favorable review of the Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport for reference).
Fit is of paramount importance here: along with five different pairs of silicone fittings, two additional pairs of foam ear tips should mean they stay in place even during the toughest workout.
Two noise-canceling modes and two ambient listening modes are also built-in, and the earbuds wirelessly charge to deliver up to 42 hours of battery life with the charging case.
Of course, the ideal complement is the MC100 Wireless Charge Pad x Mercedes-AMG; It is compatible with the MW08 Sport Active Noise Canceling True Wireless Headphones and other mobile devices, including Apple’s best iPhones (from iPhone 8 onwards).
Opinion: not cheap, but certainly intriguing…
Master & Dynamic is a force to be reckoned with in the world of audiophile headphones, and while they haven’t yet given Apple’s AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM5 a close run for their money, it’s certainly just a matter of time…
prices? Of course, it has these. Take note: we’re in AirPods Max and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 territory here, but Master & Dynamic’s collaboration with Mercedes isn’t quite as aspirational as the Meze Audio Liric, let’s say. Official order rates for the US and Australia are not yet known, but we provide stadium numbers based on UK prices.
MW65 Mercedes-Benz – £449 (about $530, AU$784)
MW08 Mercedes-Benz – £279 (about $330, AU$478)
MW75 Mercedes-AMG – £549 (about $650, AU$959)
MG20 Mercedes-AMG – £429 (about $509, AU$749)
MW08 Sport – £329 (about $390, AU$574)
MC100 Charging Pad – £49 (about $58, AU$85)
Master & Dynamic informs us that all products in the collection are now available for pre-order at Master & Dynamic website (opens in new tab)and will ship by the end of July.
Could these Mercedes-Benz headphones become the latest addition to our best set of noise-canceling headphones? Time will tell – but I would love to try them on and be seen wearing them, as if I had just jumped out of the open cockpit of my F1 car.
As Janis Joplin once sang: “All my friends have Porsches, I must make amends”…
