Since around 1926, Mercedes-Benz has operated under the motto "the best or nothing" (although let's not forget that Karl Benz introduced what is widely recognized as the first gasoline-powered car in 1886), and it certainly seems to have been the corporate approach. here.
Master & Dynamic is a much younger company (founded in 2014 in New York) and specializes in high-end headphones that compete to be one of the best over-the-ear headphones we've had the pleasure of testing. But both brands operate in the realm of luxury: Master & Dynamic has even collaborated with Louis Vuitton in the past.
Today, the companies are proud to announce the inaugural fruits of their new partnership: not one, not two, but five different earbuds plus an inductive wireless charger.
Arguably the most eye-catching audio-visual delight is the MW65 x Mercedes-Benz Active Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones (main image), as these wireless headphones definitely have F1 flair and you can adorn your ears with the iconic chrome Mercedes-Benz on 3D. Benz hood ornament, and I love it.
While these cans are clearly based on the Master & Dynamic MW65, which only earned three stars in a comprehensive review in 2019, we rate them on ANC. Sound? We rate it "excellent".
And the wireless headphones with active noise cancellation MW65 not only impress with the emblem accents on the bonnet and the embossed Mercedes-Benz lettering on the headband. You also get two modes of active noise cancellation to adapt to different environments, managed by two ANC microphone arrays that use a combination of hybrid feedback and feedback technology to analyze both ambient noise outside the cone and perceived external noise. by the user - ie. inside.
Master & Dynamic also indicates that the weight of the headphones has been optimized to increase comfort during prolonged 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-star Master & Dynamic MW08).
Two 11mm beryllium drivers deliver brilliant sound, protected by a hybrid solution to actively cancel ambient noise. And the housing of the MW08 in-ear headphones is also exceptional, according to M&D, as it is made of a particularly strong ceramic, the kind often used in high-end watches.
Here, a total of six proprietary noise-canceling microphones should ensure crystal-clear phone calls on the go and battery life is a competitive 12 hours, which can be extended for an additional 30 hours with the supplied charging case (don't worry, this also features the emblem).
Now the MW75 x Mercedes-AMG Wireless Active Noise Canceling Headphones. They offer 28 hours of battery life, three active noise-canceling modes including adaptive ANC (which automatically adapts to the noise level of your surroundings), and sound comes from 40mm beryllium drivers with the best viewing angle. M&D.
Here you get the Mercedes-AMG emblem as a chrome 3D logo on the ear cups and as a raised pattern on the leather headband, and the black design is accented with fine red accents.
Player? Excellent. The MG20 x Mercedes-AMG wireless gaming headset (above) promises to set new standards for gaming, and if our four-star review of the original Master & Dynamic MG20 is anything to go by, you won't be disappointed. Crafted from magnesium, fine leather and Alcantara, the luxurious MG20 headset features a detachable boom mic and an additional built-in microphone array for clear in-game communication.
50mm beryllium drivers and 7.1 surround sound support also promise brilliant acoustics, meaning you should stay fully immersed in your game, and a low-latency adapter should make switching between console and PC gaming a breeze. easy.
These headphones also offer 22 hours of battery life after a single charge and feature over-the-head detection to conserve battery power when not in use.
Finally, Sporty Mercs. The MW08 Sport True Wireless x Mercedes-AMG earbuds are advertised as "unbreakable sapphire crystal earbuds" with a scratch-resistant metallic finish and an "ultra-durable carbon fiber charging case" (see our favorable Master & Dynamic review MW08 Sport for reference).
Fit is of the utmost importance here: along with five different pairs of silicone tips, two additional pairs of foam tips should ensure they stay in place even during the toughest of workouts.
Two noise-canceling modes and two ambient listening modes are also built in, and the headphones charge wirelessly to provide 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; is compatible with the MW08 Sport Active Noise Canceling True Wireless Headphones and other mobile devices, including top-of-the-line Apple iPhones (iPhone 8 and up).
Opinion: They're not cheap, but they're certainly intriguing...
Master & Dynamic are 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's WH-1000XM5 a close run for their money, surely it's just a matter of time...
Prices? Of course, they have to these. Take note: we're in AirPods Max and Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 territory here, but Master & Dynamic's collaboration with Mercedes isn't as ambitious as Meze Audio Liric, shall we say. Official application fees for the US and Australia are not yet known, but we provide ballpark figures based on UK prices.
MW65 Mercedes-Benz – €449 (about €530, AU€784)
Mercedes-Benz MW08 – €279 (about €330, AU$478)
Mercedes-AMG MW75 – €549 (about €650, AU$959)
Mercedes-AMG MG20 – €429 (about €509, AU$749)
MW08 Sport: €329 (about €390, AU$574)
MC100 charging pad: €49 (about €58, AU$85)
Master & Dynamic tells us that all products in the collection are available for pre-order now on the Master & Dynamic website (opens in a new tab) and will ship at 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'd love to try them on and be seen wearing them, like I just jumped out of the open cockpit of my F1 car.
As Janis Joplin once sang, "All my friends have Porsches, I have to make up"...