MASTER & DYNAMIC MH40 Over-Ear Headphones with Wire - Noise Isolating with Mic Recording Studio Headphones with Superior Sound

These headphones are such an amazing product. I honestly don't write reviews, this is actually the first review I am writing. I just wanted to let everyone know that if you are looking for a headphone in the $400 range, I would recommend everyone to buy this. Initially I did a lot of research and finally I was confused between the B&W P7, B&O H6 and the Master and Dynamic MH 40. Upon further research and trying on the other pair of headphones I finally bought the MH 40s and I couldn't be happier. I want to start with the unboxing. It was definitely an experience. The boxing of the product is just as premium as the headphone. The build quality is truly amazing. The steel and aluminium components fit perfectly with the leather and give it a very premium look. It feels amazing in your hands and also looks great with all my clothes(I do put it in a good amount of time into how I look everyday). They are a bit heavy, just a bit above average but they are extremely comfortable and I've had no problem wearing them for extended periods of time. This is definitely one of the most beautiful headphones I have ever owned or seen. The MH 40s also sound as great as they look. I am not a big audiophile but I have owned and tried on a wide range of headphones and earphones in a lot of different price ranges and I research a lot too so I feel like you could use my advice. The sound is exceptionally crisp and very clear. They have a pretty wide sound stage and the lows, the bass is perfect. It is not too much or too less, it seems like the perfect amount. So if you are looking for high bass, I would recommend you to still buy them because they are just spectacular and get used to the not-so-superhigh bass since the sound is still too good to miss out on. Comparing it to its rivals, P7 and the H6, the MH40s sounded better to me and fit my audio profile perfectly. The H6 don't even look as good as the P7 and the MH40 so between the two I would recommend MH40 since they look better, sound a bit better and are newer headphones than them. Lastly I would just like to say that Master and Dynamic is a newer company in the market, a lot of the reviews that we read about products from other bigger companies might be biased. Since the bigger companies and already established companies have the resources and the money to probably manipulate other reviewing agencies. I'm not saying that everyone does but I am saying this could be possible. The point is it is extremely hard for a smaller or a less established company to do so. This results in a lot of honest reviews of their products and mine is one of them. The only incentive I had to write this review was to create more awareness for this masterpiece and the company and hope other people invest in such an amazing product if they can since this has been a clear winner for me. I have not been contacted by the company, I bought the product using my dad's hard earned money and this is my form of thanking you Master & Dynamic for this stunning piece of art and technology. I look forward to seeing such outstanding products from you in the future. One of the reviews of the MH 40s that helped me make my decision: [...] P.S I do wish if Master and Dynamic would provide a hard carrying case rather than a soft cloth pouch for the $400 headphones but everything else is just perfect.

Okay let's get this out of the way, these headphones are gorgeous and just a beauty to look at. I would have to look very hard to find anyone that would disagree with me regarding the look of these cans. I will break this review into 4 parts: aesthetic, build quality, comfort, and sound. Aesthetic: as mentioned before, these are very good looking headphones. Just from the look alone, ones can tell that Master & Dynamic has put much thought into designing the MH40, making sure that the design translates to the user. Aside from being a tool to listen to music, I think these are also a fashion statement for many people who like to stand out from the crowd (especially the tan/silver color scheme). These are probably the best looking headphones at any price point. Note that they offer these in many colors and should appeal to many individuals. Build quality: unfortunately, I have to take one star off of the review due to the build quality. Let me be transparent and upfront, the build quality is solid overall, but suffers from a few issues. The first pair I received had a loose adjustment hinge that keeps slipping around; this affects the fit of the headphones. The second pair was much better but not sure how well they will hold up over time. If you are individuals who constantly adjust their headphone band, it might wear out over time. The sliding metal rod is simply held together by a rubber gasket. Another problem I experienced with the 2nd pair is the fact that the magnetic ear pads keep sliding around and are not tightly attached to the metal housing. I am sure it won't fall off, but an annoyance regardless. I believe this is because the three alignment rods holding the leather pads are a bit short and cause the pads to have a little play. I'll have to see how well these parts will hold up through time. Comfort: given how heavy these headphones are, they are actually very comfortable over longer listening sessions. This is thanks to the super soft lamb skin ear pads. Also, the clamping force of these headphones are not too tight and won't slip around while on your head. I wear glasses and still find it comfortable enough to listen to about 2 hours at a time. I cannot say the same about other over-ear headphones such as the Beats Studio 2 Wireless. They are almost as comfortable as the Sennheiser Momentum M2 over-ear, which are the most comfortable I've used to date. You might have to play with the positioning while they are on your head to get the best comfort and sound. Sound: Okay, the sound quality of these headphones is what REALLY got me. I didn't expect a fashion oriented headphone company would make such great sounding headphones. These are the most balance sounding headphones I've had, as compared to the Beats Studio 2 Wireless, B&W P5, and the Sennheiser Momentum M2. The lows are very well defined and never mask any other frequency range. The bass make its present but never overwhelming. The midrange is not overly exaggerated like the Sennheiser Momentum and not as bright also. Treble is where these shines for me. They are airy sounding and not piercing at all. Overall, the sound signature of these headphones lean towards the darker side and sound very intimate. Furthermore, they are good for extended listening since they are not fatiguing. They sound similar to the B&W P7, but a bit darker. One thing they can improve on is the soundstage presentation. While the soundstage is realistic and convincing, it is not as wide as the Sennheiser or the B&W P7. But at the end of the day, I think the M&D MH40 is well suited for many music genre and will give listeners a well balanced listening experience. If you ever listen to Sonus Faber speakers, these headphones sound exactly like them. Conclusion: these headphones are surely geared towards higher end fashion oriented individuals who also appreciate great sound. From an audiophile point of view, these headphones are a great tool to a great musical experience without sacrificing aesthetic. ***Note: I used my MacBook Pro Retina, iPhone 7 plus, and Fiio K1 to power these headphones.

This is my new standard for stylish portable headphones. Hats off to Master & Dynamic, a brand that is relatively new to me, for getting so many things right on the MH40! While its sound quality alone is not worth the ~$400 at the time of this review, so many other aspects of this headphone come together in this rugged yet elegant that make this worth the hefty price tag. - SOUND - The sound quality of this headphone is superb, especially considering its size and lack of a requirement for an amp or DAC. However, it must be noted that this headphone is quite bass heavy! This was very jarring for me, and it rubbed me the wrong way at first. I thought that, perhaps, I had fallen for this headphones' looks and got myself a dressed-up pair of Beats! However, once I got used to the pronounced bass, I noticed that it does not quite overpower other aspects of the music (though I think it toes the line here; the bass is quite pronounced) and retains detail in the upper ranges. If you prefer a more balanced, clear sound, I would suggest something else (such as the BeoPlay H6, which is also a great looking headphone and at the same price range as the MH40). If you're a basshead, I think these headphones will hit the sweetspot of fullfilling your bass cravings while giving you everything else that is a part of a balanced tonal diet. - BUILD QUALITY - Wow, these headphones are built like a tank. Everything is made out of solid metal and leather. As a result, these are a little heavy for the size, but not uncomfortably so. Enough to give these a solid heft to make these headphones feel solid.These are my go-to portable headphones and I have know that these will serve me faithfully for years to come. - COMFORT - These headphones are so comfortable. The ear pads are stuffed with memory foam, so they feel like pillows for your ears. The headband is also padded and comfy (which we take for granted, but sometimes headbands can look cozy but actually put pressure on weird spots on your head... not so with these). - PORTABILITY - These headphones sound great from any source, and I did not notice any difference in sound quality when I used an AMP and DAC. The built in mute button is handy. The supplied removeable cable can be connected on either the right or left side, which is handy feature. The unused cable port can be used to plug in another pair of headphones to share music (a cute feature that I honestly don't use too much). Master & Dynamic really did a wonderful job making a really solid product. I really can't pick out anything they did wrong (unless you just don't like the bassy sound signature). I think this headphone is worth the high price tag.

Since I spend a great deal of time flying for work, I decided it was time to upgrade my cheap headphones for a better quality set instead of the cheap pair I usually have or the ones provided by airlines (can never tell if they actually sanitize them). After a great deal of research reading reviews by audiophiles, I decided to try the MH40's out along with the Beoplay H6, Beoplay H8, MH30. numerous Beats models and what ever model Bose what available at the local Apple Store. I made sure to listen to the same songs on each pair to determine the sound quality that I liked as well as which offered the best comfort (I wear glasses) and muffled out background sounds. Luckily it was a busy day at the Apple Store so there was a very good amount of background noise created by all the other shoppers. Out of all of the pairs I tried, I loved the MH40's the best with the H6's a close second. The Bose much like other users have noted had a very bland or muted sound quality no doubt due to the noise cancelling feature. Everything else I tried was too bass heavy which I do not like. The H8's actually produced a certain low frequency that almost immediately cased discomfort in my ears and a headache. Pro's that made me decide on the MH40's: * Extremely light, comfortable and does not disturb or effect my glasses * I love the sound quality, works great with everything I listen to (Classical, Blues, Rock, R&B (non-Hip Hop), and the variety of Electronic music) * Sounds great with movies as well * Comes with 2 cables that can be removed in case they are damaged * Well made with great materials (still have to see how they hold up long term) * Breath well, no sweating around my ears even after wearing them for an extended period in a warm store * Has an easy to reach mute button on the right side * Love the retro look Con's or things I did not like: * $399 price (but I prefer quality so expect to pay more) * Lacks a hard case, only a cloth bag (especially for this price point, a $20 hard case like the Geekria could have been included) Over all I look forward to enjoying the MH40's on my upcoming flights this year. One quick note, if you are like me and tend not to read instructions before using devices, make sure to plug the cord into the left side and not the right side otherwise you will notice issues with the sound quality since the right side is meant as an output only connection. For Mac users, I tested the MH40's on my iMac, 17" Mac Book Pro and 11" Mac Book Air as well as both of my iPhones (6 & 6+) and found that they work great with all of them (including the inline volume controls). If you are thinking of purchasing a pair of MH40's but also want a hard case to protect them, check out the Greekria case I purchased and wrote a review on as well.

This is the third pair of "good" headphones I've purchased in less than a year. The NAD headphones ($399) looked cool, but had a very mediocre sound quality (the designer apparently attempted to make them sound like living room speakers, which wasn't a great sound, in my humble opinion). The headband adjustment broke the second time I put them on my head, so I returned them. Then I went with the Bowers & Wilkins PX (also $399), which had outstanding materials and build quality, and even better sound quality. Unfortunately, the Bluetooth wireless functionality didn't work, and they kept shutting off every second or two, literally 30 or 40 times in a row, every time I tried to use them. And each time, they would power down and I'd have to power up and pair again, over and over. I sent them in for repair, and they sent me a new pair, which to me said they agreed that there was an issue, but that they were unable to resolve it. The second pair sounded great at first . . . then they started doing the exact same thing. I tried the recommended firmware updates, but still had the problem. Eventually, I returned them. The reason I'm mentioning that here is because Amazon buried my critical review of the B&W PX headphones, and I think potential buyers should know that there could be a glitch with the PX headphones. My third choice was the Master & Dynamic MH40 in brown leather and silver metal ($299 just a month or two ago, now $199). These look very nice, and the materials and build quality are outstanding for the price point. And the closer you look, the more impressive they are, in terms of build quality and top notch materials. I like them a lot, but I have four fairly minor criticisms/observations: 1) The sound quality is nice, but definitely not in the class of the B&W PX . . . then again, they don't cost as much; 2) They don't stay on my head if I bend over even a little bit; 3) The ear cups are probably too soft, so they tend to twist a bit on my head because the front of the ear cup is too squishy; 4) They come with a long braided cord and a shorter braided cord with a mic and volume control, which appear to be top notch quality, but the control on the shorter cord doesn't seem to work. In spite of these criticisms, I would still rate these very highly, between 4 and 4.5 stars. The main thing I like about these is the look and build quality. I wish the sound quality was better at lighter volumes, but it actually gets better at louder volumes, which I've found is not usually the case with most headphones. All in all, I like these a lot for the price point, and I find that I don't miss the wireless and noise cancellation features as much as I expected.

4.5 I want to start by saying these are fantastic headphones and this review should serve more as a reflection on what's included in the box rather than a review of the headphones themselves. Many others have reviewed the sound profile of these (punchy bass that somewhat bleeds into the mids, headband can create some top-of-head discomfort, etc...). Regardless of the minor drawbacks of the sound quality, if you buy these you will not be disappointed! Plus you will turn a lot of heads. These are beautifully crafted headphones. My issues start and end with the accessories included in the box. First, instead of a hardshell case, we get a canvas bag to store the headphones. Before buying these headphones I had purchased some V-Moda Crossfade LP2s. While the V-Modas produced some of the worst sound (Do you like bass? Great! That's all you are going to hear!) of any pair of headphones I have used, for $150 I received braided cables, a quarter inch jack, and a great hardshell case to keep my headphones protected while they bounced around in my bag. It is very surprising to me that for $400, M&D decided to opt for a canvas bag. This isn't to say the bag isn't quality. There is a spot to store your headphone's cables and a great magnetic clasp that runs along the top of the bag. But for $400 I would have expected something a bit better. That said, these headphones are 100% metal and leather. You aren't going to find any flimsy fragile plastic, so maybe a hard case isn't as important? (time will tell and I'll return to this review with updates) Secondly, M&D have not included a lightning cable for iPhone 7, 8, X users. This makes absolutely no sense to me as these headphones are clearly marketed as an all around headphone for all manner of users. They are for the retiree who wants to sit back and smoke a cigar listening to old jazz records. They are for the hip-hop enthusiast that wants boost bass and treble and scoop mids. And they are for the NY hipster that wants to listen to Bear's Den or Mumford and Sons while they chow down on some kombucha and avocado toast. The lack of the required cables to accommodate all users is surprising. For $400 I would have expected to see a lightning cable included. Instead, M&D wants you to go to their website and buy a lightning cable for $60+ dollars. Not cool guys... Not cool. TL;DR - These are amazing headphones. They are super comfortable and have a sound profile that works for just about every genre I have thrown at them. However, they don't include accessories that you expect to come with $400 headphones. This in no way detracts from my overall enjoyment of the headphones, but I hope M&D starts to include a hard shell carrying case and lightning cables in the box for future consumers.

Please note part of my review being so low is the new Amazon return code process. That being said the best I could give these beautiful cans is a three star due to a design flaw. The craftsmanship is impeccable. No plastic. Beautifuly designed with a major flaw, they won’t stay on my head. The Adjustment mechanisms should have been locking but it slips. There is not enough clamping pressure or the ear pads are too small. All I know is they spent more time on form than on function. The sound was overall good and I would of kept them but the constant fiddling to try and keep them on took the fun out, The return process, one star. First they gave me a return code that the local staples couldn’t use (wasted hour). The closest ups is a 35 min drive. I finally was able to get someone to get me a label I could print. Drove back to the staples. Got my refund but instead of going into my bank it was a gift card. When the person changed the return so I could print the label the switched to a credit instead or a refund that I can use anywhere. What a terrible experience.

First thing's first: these headphones seem to have a 50/50 shot at making you completely happy. "What the heck does that mean?" you ask; let me explain. Some folks, like myself, will have to regrettably, and with sorrow, send these headphones back to Amazon. I suspect that others, perhaps like you, will find my complaints don't really apply, and you absolutely love these headphones. With that being said, let's start the review. From the moment I saw these online, I wanted to love these headphones. I mean, I scoured the web for every video, searched Instagram for photos; I was all in on wanting these to be great. And the first impression upon them arriving was awesome. When other reviews talk about how wonderfully made these are, they are not lying. Probably the most impressively built cans I have ever seen; the aluminum is reminiscent of an Apple MacBook, the leather looks beautiful (I bought the tan and silver version), and there are absolutely no creaks like some headphones I own. Even the adjustment rods could bring a smile to your face, the way they so smoothly operate. So yeah, these things look and feel impressive, and I absolutely cannot fault them for their craftsmanship. The only area they did skimp on was the included cables. I've seen videos of the original generation of MH40's, and those cables looked amazing with metal end pieces. These are tiny plastic pieces, nothing impressive. I suspect that this is due to the price dropping substantially, so it's not really a true criticism. And, it's pretty easy to swap out the cables for any 3.5mm cord you would want to use instead. They block a fair amount of outside noise, and the sound is pretty dang nice for such a fashion oriented headphone. Not the most analytical sounding headphone I have, but they sound pleasant, have a nice clarity across the board, with an emphasis on the low end. Honestly, these cans are able to accurately reproduce sub bass frequencies that are pretty much inaudible to the human ear, yet these things pump them out and make your ear drum flex. The only real downside I noticed was a slight rattle in the right speaker, specifically during loud bass and only at certain frequencies (I work on music production software and noticed this using a sub bass synth). Totally unlike my OCD self, I was willing to look past this small issue since the majority of the time I'm not blasting my music, and it wasn't too terribly in your face. There were others issues I couldn't look past though... Well, remember how I talked about the adjustment rods? If your head is too big, and mine almost was, these simply won't fit. I mean, I had the rods all the way out, and I had to slide these more toward the front of my head to get them to fit "properly". I say "properly" because they still didn't feel amazing. I wear a size 7 7/8 to 8 in fitted hats, so plan accordingly. It really boggles my mind why they didn't add about a centimeter more length to the rods. But on to the next complaint... These things seal around your ears. I don't mean they "sort of" seal, where ambient noise is reduced, no: these things feel like a suction cup going around your ears. Which means (for me, my opinion) the entire time you wear these you have a very odd, pressurized feeling in both of your ears. This is probably where the sub bass mastery comes from, but my goodness...I will admit, I am much more sensitive to this pressurized feeling (I don't know why, I just am), so this may not be so noticeable to you. Then again, moving to almost any other headphone after wearing the MH40 feels like a relief. The longest I wore these cans was about 2.5 hours straight, and hours later I felt as if my ears were still recovering. That, and the ear pads aren't really that large. I don't have huge ears, but it felt as if my ears touched all over the edge of the inside of the pads. Not the worst feeling in the world, but that, coupled with the big-head-bad-fit, and the ear pressurization meant I was always fidgeting with these to get more comfortable. Oh, and they're pretty darn heavy. What I'm trying to say is, you will NOT forget that you are wearing these. Geez, it seems I really ripped into these guys. Which is a true shame, because I feel like if my head was smaller, and they didn't have that insane pressure on the ear canal, I probably would have kept them. Which is why I gave them 3 (2.5) stars. It seems to be a total coin flip on this one. Some of the best looking, most well made headphones I have ever seen and used, with a really nice sound to match. I honestly don't know whether or not you will like them, which isn't a great way to end a review designed to help you decide. For me, the overall discomfort led me to send them back. Because if there's one thing I've learned in all my years of trying, buying, and using headphones: if it isn't comfortable for you, it's not worth it. That said, I really hope they work for you, and heck, I hope the company does well and sticks around; they truly know how to build a set of headphones. With some tweaks, this could be one killer headset. Anyway, I do hope this has helped anyone out there who might be struggling to make a decision.