This is a Review of Master & Dynamic MH40 Full Size over ear headphones.
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Dynamic...dp/B00Q3ELGUU/ with manufacturer site:
http://www.masterdynamic.com/products/mh40Typically when I receive a new pair of headphones, regardless of full size or in-ear, the first thing I do is to run a quick sound check out of the box before I start my usual 2-day burn in. When I opened Master & Dynamic packaging box to reveal a pair of MH40 I was sent for review, suddenly I forgot all about my usual routine because I was preoccupied with looking at a piece of art. I have to admit, it's one impressive move for a newcomer (M&D) to make a grand entrance into already saturated market with a design that definitely stands out from a crowd. There is a number of great sounding headphones, but when it comes to a build quality and material selection, I see more and more manufacturers cutting corners. Other manufacturers build their fortune on looks and celebrity endorsements while putting sound quality as a secondary priority. Master & Dynamic was able to keep their focus on both and to deliver a solid release with their MH40 model. Here is what I found.
Starting with unboxing, the high res image of MH40 captured my attention right away, especially a curiosity about a mesh-vent since I knew it supposed to be a closed back design. On the back of the sleeve, you have a plethora of useful info about accessories, details about the cable with inline mic, and a brief yet very detailed overview of the company's philosophy followed by explanation of material selection and sound design which shows how much pride M&D takes in their product. With an outer packaging sleeve removed, you are presented with an elegant black box where under a cover you see MH40 in a display setting of foam cutout. In the middle of this cutout I found something I never seen before, a custom leather box designed specifically for a cable storage. We are talking about a round high quality leather box you would expect to see as a storage case for 00 IEMs, while here its purpose was just to store removable cables. Other details like a foam cutout around that leather box with extra room for easier access or ribbons on each side of top foam tray for easier removal of it so you can get access to the bottom of the box - all adds up to a very rewarding unboxing experience!
Unboxing pictures.
But the attention to details doesn't stop at packaging. As I mentioned before, the intention of round leather box was for a cable storage. MH40 utilizes a design with removable cables, and M&D included 2 sets of high quality OFC cables, both with woven shielding (velcro friendly, btw) and slim metal 3.5mm connectors, one for audio only purpose (2m long) and the other one with inline remote and mic for smartphone control (shorter, 1.25m). Interestingly enough, both cables has TRRS connectors, even so audio only cable doesn't require an extra "ring". The connector housing has an excellent grip and is slimmed down toward the gold plated plug so you can use it with any smartphone case, even something as bulky as Defender. The cable with smartphone controls has been partitioned where inline remote is separated from mic positioned closer to your mouth for a better voice pickup. Inline remote, in a metal cylindrical housing similar to mic capsule, is intended for a full integration with iDevices but with an exception of Volume up/down the multifunction button works perfectly with my Galaxy Note 4 where a single click used for Play/Pause/Call and double click used to skip to the next track.
Also included with cables is 1/4" gold plated headphone adapter with a matching metal body and etched "M&D" - very impressive they didn't go for a generic adapter and instead used a customized one. To complete this accessories package you will also find a canvas headphone pouch, and honestly I would prefer to call it a case since "pouch" is an insult to its design details. This canvas material is rather high quality cotton on outside, and soft layer on inside with a small inside pocket for cable storage and magnetic top closure with two handy rubber tabs for opening convenience. The one thing I wish they would include is a hard storage case, and not because it's necessary to protect MH40 (those headphones are build like a tank), but because I could only imagine it being another piece of art. Perhaps M&D will offer it in a future as part of a separate accessory just like they have it with a headphone stand.
Accessory pictures.
With all my gushing about details of packaging and accessories, you can only imagine what awaits you when you actually get to headphones. I always held B&W and V-Moda on a high pedestal as two of the companies that know how to design nice looking headphones, especially B&W with a selection of their fine material. In my opinion M&D just raised a bar to a level above both of those manufacturers. Master & Dynamic used a heavy grain premium cowhide leather on outer part of the headband as well as earcup outer inserts. The soft lambskin leather was used on inner part of the headband surrounding a shallow layer of foam and also earpads surrounding a plushy memory foam layer. The headband has 2 partially exposed metal rods and a hidden tubing in the middle for wires between earcups. The only material used in these headphones construction is aluminum, stainless steel and leather, which does contributes to about 350g of weight (not including the cable), but surprisingly MH40 felt very lightweight on top of my head due to a balanced distribution of the weight. Clamping force was perfect, which contributed to a decent sound isolation.
At the edges of headband arc, you have a very clever mechanism of y-fork attachment that works both for height adjustment and earcup rotation (for flat storage). The actual y-fork attachment to earcups is spring loaded for a more natural control of earpads seal around your ear - something that plays a significant role in sound shaping because pushing on earcups from outside by hand did affect a sound. Also, outside of the earcup is what appears to be a mesh wire port, but it's only for cosmetic purposes - these are closed back headphones. Both earcups have 3.5mm port for removable cable and you can use either of them for a source connection and daisy-chaining another pair of headphones from the other earcup. At the same time, there is a noticeable microphonics affect, perhaps due to all metal construction. Another very rare feature is a mute button on the right earcup, a metal push-button with a nice spring action which mutes/un-mutes the playback of the sound. It's a great option to mute the music without taking headphones off or reaching out for your source or inline remote.
As I mentioned before, earpads have a plush memory foam surrounded by premium quality lambskin leather. The shape of earcups and earpads is oval with an inner opening of about 65mm x 35mm. I had no issues with my fitment and consider my ears to be of a medium size, no pressure around or my ears touching the grill of the driver, but I can't speak freely for those with larger ears. Earpads itself are easily removable and attached to earcups magnetically, very B&W like except you don't have to deal with hidden cable connection (something I disliked in P5 and P7). Once earpads are removed, you are looking at alloy metal (forged aluminum body) earcup housing with a fine grill protecting their 45mm Neodymium drives. Everything about build and design of these headphones speaks a high quality and durability, and even so MH40 comes with 2 year warranty - they build like a tank and should last many years.
Design detail pictures.
Now the results of my sound test. With such a high quality build I really hoped M&D carried their design passion into sound tuning as well, and to my satisfaction they did! Just like with any pair of headphones, you should expect a different sound signature. If you are looking for a basshead set of cans or analytical bright sound, these are not for you. But if a balanced smooth sound with an upfront characteristics is your cup of tea - you will be very pleased MH40. I don't often use "upfront characteristics" since typically a sound is either neutral or enhanced at low end or upfront mids or v-shaped, but here it felt like a slight boost across low/mid/high frequency bands with everything being accentuated.
Starting with a low end, it has a polite sub-bass extension with a noticeable in quality rumble, though not as much of quantity to balance out mid-bass which is fast and punchy and slightly boosted. Bass is well controlled with a good separation from lower mids. When it comes to midrange, lower mids have a nice body with a touch of warmth, and upper mids are clear and very smooth. I enjoyed a delivery of both male and female vocals which surprised me with rather organic tonality. With treble, I didn't find it to be extend too far, thus keeping up with a very smooth and non-fatigue characteristics without a single hint of sibilance - just perfect for extended listening period.
When it comes to soundstage, I found it to have an average width and depth, though it was more wider than deeper. At the same time, instruments and vocals separation felt a little congested, and imaging wasn't as accurate. This is not necessary a negative comment, but rather an artifact of sound tuning which focuses around a more intimate staging.
While comparing MH40 to some of my other headphones, I found the following. Next to MH40, ATH M50x sounds a little thinner and maybe slightly less detailed, it has more sub-bass rumble and mid-bass being less punchy, also upper mids pushed more back and not as organic, while treble having a bit more extension. Next to MH40, SoundMagic HP150 sounds more neutral, wider and airy, with sub-bass and mid-bass being flatter and more articulate and definitely lower in quantity, also lower mids are thinner and upper mids pushed a little bit back while being more detailed and analytical, and also treble extending further and with more sparkle. In comparison to MH40, B&W P7 has a lot more bass that spills into lower mids, upper mids are more colored and not as organic though more detailed, and treble has more sparkle and better extension. Next to MH40, V-Moda M100 sound signature is a lot more v-shaped with a stronger bass, more recessed mids, and better treble extension.
Overall, to say that I was impressed with M&D MH40 headphones would be an understatement. I wouldn't say exactly they are shining with a stellar audio performance because they stayed on a safe side with a rather balanced, warm/smooth tuning to make it great for listening to any music genre for extended period of time without a fatigue. But where they completely blew me away was a design details and quality of material that probably surpassed most of the headphones I reviewed in the past. It looks like Master & Dynamics really done their homework studying a lot of headphones, picking up the best details, and blending it into their own original design which I found to be top notch! Everything from a premium leather material with use of heavy grain premium cowhide and soft lambskin (the kind you appreciate to the touch and the smell in premium leather jackets), to a forged aluminum body with stainless steel components in all high strain areas, to anodized/PVD coated metals (gunmetal finish looks stunning!!!), and high quality unique custom accessories - all that adds up to a one great looking pair of headphones which you will be looking for any excuse to wear outside. And sound quality is great too because I would never recommend you a pair of headphones to wear as an accessory without an audio content to back it up. Definitely gets my recommendation!
