It's increasingly unlikely you won't have heard of Master & Dynamic, but just in case, it's an NYC-based startup that has looked to disrupt the high-end personal audio market in recent years. Its MH40 over-ear headphones launched in 2014 with a focus on quality materials and audiophile-level acoustics. 5 years later, the company is releasing its first set with active noise cancellation.

While the design language has evolved with each new product, Master & Dynamic headphones retain an unmistakable aesthetic. The MW65 continue in this fashion, but they're also lighter than any of their predecessors at 245g. This is due to the anodized aluminum construction, with Lambskin leather and memory foam earpads adding a touch of luxury. Thankfully, there are tactile, physical buttons for on/off, volume up and down, play/pause, and ANC. Feed-forward and feed-back hybrid active noise cancellation technology ensures external noise is kept to a minimum, with a pair of beamforming mics used to pick out your voice during calls.

You can use the MW65 wired with the detachable 3.5 cable or wirelessly thanks to Bluetooth 4.2, with a 20-meter range. A warm sound profile is produced by the 40mm beryllium drivers, while AptX and SBC are both supported. Battery life is pitched as 24 hours, and with USB-C charging they can apparently reach 50% in just 15 minutes. The Google Assistant comes built in, with a long-press of the pause/play button summoning it. Additional options in the Google app allow for spoken notifications.

As with all Master & Dynamic headphones, you get a fancy set of accessories in the box including a 3.5mm audio cable, flight adapter, USB-C cable with adapter, and canvas carrying case. That's just as well since the MW65 cost $499. They're available to buy right now from masterdynamic.com, with two color options to choose from (silver/brown or black/gunmetal).

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