Master & Dynamic MW08 Review – Gleam

Sound –

Testing Methodology: Measured using Arta via IEC 711 coupler to Startech external sound card. 7-9KHz peaks may be artefacts/emphasised due to my measurement setup, less so with deep fit. Measurements besides channel balance are volume matched at 1KHz. Fit depth normalised to my best abilities to reduce coupler resonance. Still, due to these factors, my measurements may not accurately reflect the earphone or measurements taken by others. Of note, I was receiving some inconsistencies with my measurements, this graph most resembled my subjective experience, however, please take this with a grain of salt due to these factors. I gave the MW08 100hrs burn-in to ensure maximum performance prior to subjective breakdown.

Tonality –

Sonically, the MW08 represents a shift away from the more energetic MW07 line towards their over-ear headphones. That means a warmer tonality, and a richer, fuller bodied but also more laid-back presentation. It is a modestly L-shaped earphone, making them suitable for long-listening but with a small bump in the lower-treble so as not to sound blunt or detail deficient. They have a mid-bass hump and a small dip in the lower-midrange before a progressive climb to 3.5kHz emphasis for midrange clarity and openness. The top-end has a small lower-treble peak in equal volume to the upper-midrange before falling off into a clean background. Do note that treble won’t be as bright in listening as on my measurements due to the fit depth being especially shallow on my coupler which can exacerbate 8k peaks due to coupler resonance. Despite the dips and upper-mid emphasis, a good amount of body and warmth are carried into the midrange due to the bass tuning. Similarly, as the centre midrange is relatively even and slightly laid-back, so too is the vocal image relative to bass and treble instrumentation. Overall, the MW08 strikes as a rich, lush and pleasant sound signature that doesn’t feign any form of balance and introduces smoother transitions than the MW07 Plus before it at the cost of separation and tonal transparency. In turn, those wanting balance and clarity, may prefer the MW07 models with the MW08 coming across as grander and smoother. Do note that activating ANC barely affects the sound quality and has zero effect on the sound signature too.

Bass –

Sitting at the forefront of the presentation, bass doesn’t overwhelm but surely commands attention with its enhanced punch and fullness. The large diaphragm flaunts its strengths with excellent extension and palpable pressure as has always been a strength of M&D’s TWS designs. Sub-bass has satisfying slam and tightness though sits behind the larger mid-bass. The upper-bass isn’t too emphasized, retaining moderate midrange cleanliness and separation, though warmth remains clearly evident throughout due to the level of emphasis. Accordingly, linearity and note timbre are not the MW08’s strengths, some bloat and a tubbier, rounder note presentation is evident. However, though the presentation isn’t muddy or boomy either.

The agile Be driver, as with the MW07 PLUS, helps to retain a good amount of agility in both attack and decay alongside strong control. So, despite large mid-bass emphasis, this earphone remains impressively articulate in its note delivery. Mid-bass possesses admirable detail retrieval, even with ANC on. Notes are well-defined throughout and separation was never lacking if not an outstanding performer in isolation. The MW08 will never be called a detail monster, though I never found it lacking in texture or definition either. This is an impressive feat given that the MW08 is the bassiest MW earphone, making it a great choice for those wanting a grand, punchy yet tactile low-end while still enjoying some of the finer details.

Mids –

By comparison, the midrange is moderately laid-back though with a clear vocal image that retains enjoyable intelligibility and clarity. With a dip through the lower-midrange, separation is enhanced and body is slightly reduced, which somewhat counterbalances the increase in warmth and volume from the low-end. In turn, the presentation isn’t chesty nor veiled though still clearly warm in tone and moderately full-bodied on top. To further compensate, M&D have implemented a gradual climb through the centre midrange leading to an upper-mid hump that serves to bring vocals forward in the presentation in addition to bolstering their clarity.

The result are warm yet clear and delicate vocals that retain good openness, clarity and extension. There’s a slight bias towards vocals over instruments, similarly, female vocals take some precedence over male. However, I would characterise the MW08 as a rather innocuous sounding earphone here. It is euphonic, organic and rich in its voicing, but not the slightest bit sharp, over-forward or strained. Vocals retain good size and a natural voicing despite the clear colouration in tone. The midrange is more laid-back than the MW07 PLUS and definition is markedly reduced from these models in favour of a richer and more coherent experience.

Highs –

I found the high-end on the MW07 models was likely my least favourite aspect of their sound as, though detailed, the emphasis could make them sound a little hot – especially when turning up the volume during commute. The MW08 handily solves this with a far more modest lower-treble bump and much smoother high-end in general. It sits about in-line with the midrange meaning details aren’t overshadowed nor are is treble blunted in any way. Admirably, the company have tamed the high-end without negatively affecting headroom or air, though both are inherently limited to some extent by the TWS form-factor and available circuitry for it.

The lower-treble bump does help to imbue additional energy and detail into its otherwise warmer sound. The earphone is well-detailed and focused in the foreground, just slightly thin in body but crisp, clear and clean altogether with good separation. Above is a good sense of air and even a hint of sparkle though hardly any micro-detail as one would expect. There remains some background detail and impressive foreground/background contrast that contributes to a layered soundstage that isn’t so easy to come by from TWS earphones. The MW08 isn’t the most detailed TWS earphone I’ve heard but certainly in the upper echelon and tastefully tuned to balance engagement with long-term, higher-volume listenability.

Soundstage –

Though clearly a step down here from any decent wired earphone in this price tier, the MW08 performs nicely for a TWS earphone. It has good width and depth, for a slightly oval presentation overall. Width especially impresses, stretching nicely beyond the head. Furthermore, imaging is quite sharp too, layering is an especially strong performer, and the MW08 sounds uncharacteristically organised and complex for a TWS earphone as a result. Though not the most balanced, it is able to position well, delivering both a strong centre image and relative instrument positioning laterally, if minimal transition coronally. Separation is not the best due to its full and lush voicing, but ample throughout and good in the treble. In turn, fine details are easy to appreciate here but on certain tracks, some can be difficult to discern in the bass and midrange.

ANC On –

Many TWS earphones sound markedly different with ANC on and off and this is thankfully not the case here. The MW08 sounds identical in all settings, however, slight degradation of sound quality is evident under scrutiny. With ANC on max, the transient response becomes slightly hazier and note definition is slightly reduced. The background is not as clean and there is less separation between layers in the soundstage with a slight drop in width too. The difference is not huge but if you’re critical noticeable. However, in the presence of ambient noise, the trade-off is heavily justified by the substantial noise cancellation and most listeners would be hard pressed to notice the differences.

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