Master and Dynamic MH40 Headphones Review

My thanks go to qualia gadgets  for loaning me this headphone to review. I was a pleasure to do this.

Disclaimer: I didn’t receive any money nor other monetary benefit for reviewing these headphones. I returned the headphones after the review.

About Master & Dynamics:

You might not have heard a lot from Master and Dynamics (yet) but I am sure this is about to change. The company is based in New York and sees itself as a premium manufacturer who is “obsessed with sound and creativity”.  They see their headphones as “thinking caps” – “tools to help you focus, inspire and transport your mind”.

We will see if they succeeded in doing this in this review.

 Manufacture’s Specifications:

• Type: Over Ear Headphone
• Drivers Size: 45mm Neodymium
• Drivers Type: High Performance Dynamic
• Frequency Response: NA
• Sensitivity: NA
• Impedance:  32 Ω
• Microphone sensitivity: NA
• Maximum Input:  NA
• Weight with cable: 360g
• Connector: 3.5/6.3mm single ended
• MSRP:  $399

 Design/Materials/Build Quality

This part is the same as the MH30 review.

Unboxing this headphone is a fest for your senses. From the box to the accessories to the care even the manual (yes manual) received, it’s simply one of the best you will ever had. Then once you handle the headphones themselves, you can only marvel at them. Build wise and manufacturing wise these are just stunning. In the looks and material section they beat anything. I used to think my Sennheiser Momentum are amazingly well produced and have amazing stitching, leather and general materials but they found their “masters” in the Master and Dynamics headphone.

Let me explain:

Everything you see and touch on this headphone is of superior material. The hinges are metal, the ear cups are aluminum, the headband and ear pads are either grain leather or lambskin. The headphone cords are multi-woven with aluminum connectors. The carry case for the cables is made of leather matching the leather on the headphones, the carrying pouch for the headphones has a special soft inside lining to keep the headphones safe. No metal part is painted, it’s either anodized or PVD coated, it’s mind blowing how much care went into this design. Everything is very thought through and simply luxurious.

The construction of the whole headphone, it’s hinges and pads, it all seems like it’s build for many many years of use. But after all that gushing about the build quality and materials, do they sound as good as they look?

 Style

Like their little on-ear brothers the MH30 these are build like tanks too. However their style is a bit different. I rather think they look a bit steam-punk-ish, in a very nice way. I have reviewed the gun metal grey version while there are now plenty of other colors available. The MH40 have rather ovals ear cups that looks weird at first but at least for me proved to be very comfortable. I didn’t think they would fit well but they did. Well done Master and Dynamics.

 Comfort

Funny enough, the same what applied to the MH30 applies here as well. These are not for the large headed. I have the headphones extended nearly completely and my head is only slightly larger than average. So I guess this could be an issue for some. If they fit your head though then.

 Supplied accessories

Lovely box with a leather case for the detachable cables, a 3.5mm to 6.3mm gold-plated adapter, a 1.25m cable with remote and mic for iOS devices, a cable without microphone, 2m long, a canvas headphone carry case.

 Sound

All looks but no substance – nope. Here we find a lot of substance in the MH40.

Master & Dynamics claims they are warm and rich sounding and I can confirm that. They are similar to the Sennheiser Momentum M2 if memory serves me right. I find them a bit too polite in the treble. But the slightly laid back treble area makes them fatigue free long term listening headphones. The right headphone to kick back at home and enjoy your most favorite music. But – still looking good.

This is a special case and not the MH40 Regular box

Bass: The bass on this headphone is pronounced, it might be further appear to be strong because of the slightly recessed mids. I wish for a bit more details in the bass would be present but it is impactful and certainly a fun bass.

Mid-range: Mellow and smooth.

Treble: I would say this is the one area where I wish for a bit more. More detail and precision in the treble. While in no way without detail, the MH40 are clearly aimed at the person in the office or at home listening for a long time in one go. Hence the treble is far from “hot” but rather polite. This makes them fatigue free. The warm character of these headphones shines through the most when you listen to the treble.

Sound Stage and instruments separations: Soundstage is good, medium sized, slightly out of your head but not by a lot. Some headphones make you sit in a concert hall, some make you stand in the first row of a rock concert and some make the music play inside you head. The MH40 is slightly outside you head to the front trying to envelope you but only sometimes succeeding. Good for a closed headphone but no comparison to similar priced open ones.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• best build quality
• finest leather and best metals used
• build to last for generations
• replaceable cables and earpads
• looks to die for
• plenty of accessories
• pleasing, fatigue free fun sound signature

Cons:

• rather expensive closed over ears
• soundquality not as exquisite as the looks (while beating easily all beats though)
• less problematic than MH30 for fit if you have a large head but still something you should try before you buy

 Conclusion

While listening to this headphone you are not missing anything however switching back and forth with the Oppo PM-3, another $399 closed headphone, you realize the micro details you are missing with the MH40 – it’s a gentlemen’s headphone, never too harsh, never annoying, but pleasing and enjoyable.

And then there are the looks and the design, the materials and the haptic quality. Probably unbeatable. The first headphone I enjoyed as much holding and just looking at than listening to.

If you fancy a set of headphones that you don’t need to hide (some are looking truly atrocious) these are one of the best looking and great sounding headphones of the year. They ooze style and sophistication and sound so much better and refined than the run of the mill mainstream hiphop artist brands.