Master and Dynamic MW09 Review: Stylish Earbuds with Great Sound, but Average ANC

Rating: 3.5/5

Introduction:

The Master and Dynamic MW09 are the latest noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds from the premium audio brand. They offer a sleek design, a long battery life, and a clear and balanced sound profile. However, they also come with a high price tag and a mediocre ANC performance. In this review, we will examine the design, features, pros, cons, and limitations of the MW09 earbuds, and compare them with some alternatives.

Design:

The MW09 earbuds have a distinctive “D” shape and a glossy finish, available in black, gold, or silver with an aluminum case, or blue, green, or gunmetal with a Kevlar case. The earbuds are lightweight and comfortable to wear, and come with five pairs of silicone eartips and two pairs of foam eartips for a secure fit. The earbuds have tiny buttons on the top edge for controlling playback, volume, calls, and ANC modes. The buttons are tactile and responsive, but they can be hard to press without pushing the earbuds deeper into the ear canal. The case is elegant and sturdy, with a magnetic lid and a USB-C port for charging. The case also supports wireless charging, which is a nice feature.

Features:

The MW09 earbuds use Bluetooth 5.4 and support a wide range of codecs, including AAC, AptX Adaptive, AptX Lossless, LC3, and SBC. They also work with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound platform and Auracast, which allow for audio sharing and pairing with multiple devices. The earbuds have 11mm beryllium drivers that deliver a rich and detailed sound, with a customizable EQ in the companion app. The app also lets you adjust the ANC settings, check the battery level, and access the user manual. The earbuds have six microphones for noise cancellation and voice calls, and an AI-powered talk solution that automatically adjusts the ANC and volume based on the ambient noise. The earbuds have a battery life of up to 16 hours, and the case provides an additional 32 hours. The earbuds also have an IPX5 rating for water and sweat resistance, making them suitable for workouts.

Pros:

• Stylish and comfortable design
• Long battery life and wireless charging
• Clear and balanced sound with adjustable EQ
• Cutting-edge codec support and audio sharing
• Water and sweat resistant

Cons:

• Expensive
• Drivers require EQ tweaks to sound their best
• Merely decent noise cancellation
• Toggling ANC is a pain
• Bold style might not appeal to everyone

Limitations:

The MW09 earbuds have some limitations that may affect your decision to buy them. First, the ANC performance is not very impressive, especially compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Sony WF-1000XM5, which are cheaper and offer better noise reduction and transparency modes. Second, the mic quality is not very good, as the voice sounds muffled and distant, and the background noise is not well filtered. Third, some of the settings, such as the EQ and the ANC modes, are only accessible through the app, which means you need to have your phone nearby to change them. Fourth, the earbuds do not support the LDAC codec, which is more widely available than AptX Lossless and offers higher-resolution audio. Fifth, the earbuds have a bold and flashy design that may not suit everyone’s taste or style.

Conclusion:

The Master & Dynamic MW09 are attractive earbuds that offer a great sound quality and a long battery life, but they fall short in terms of ANC, mic fidelity, and physical controls. They are also quite expensive, and may not be worth the premium price for most consumers. If you are looking for the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds, you may want to consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Sony WF-1000XM5, which offer better performance and value. However, if you are a fan of Master & Dynamic’s design and sound, and you don’t mind the average ANC and the high price, the MW09 earbuds may still be a good choice for you.

Recommendation:

We recommend the Master & Dynamic MW09 earbuds to people who value a stylish design, a long battery life, and a clear and balanced sound, and who don’t mind paying a premium price for them. We do not recommend them to people who prioritize noise cancellation, mic quality, and physical controls, and who are looking for the best value for their money.

Alternatives:

Some of the alternatives to the Master & Dynamic MW09 earbuds are:

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: These earbuds offer the best noise cancellation and transparency modes, a comfortable fit, and a balanced sound, but they have a shorter battery life, a bulky case, and no volume controls on the earbuds.
• Sony WF-1000XM5: These earbuds offer excellent noise cancellation and transparency modes, a customizable sound with LDAC support, and a sleek design, but they have a shorter battery life, a less comfortable fit, and no wireless charging.
• Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2: These earbuds offer a superb sound quality with aptX support, a decent noise cancellation and transparency modes, and a classy design, but they have a shorter battery life, a larger case, and no wireless charging.