These wired earphones from Master & Dynamic beat the AirPods on sound

Wired earphones aren’t the most popular audio products these days, but they still serve a purpose for music lovers who desire an authentic listening experience. They produce better sound quality than most wireless earbuds by transmitting uncompressed audio data with minimal latency and signal interference. Not to mention some provide excellent noise isolation, blocking out environmental distractions better than some noise-cancelling earbuds.

The Master & Dynamic ME05 fit right into the category. This rehash of the company’s 10-year-old wired earphones are constructed from premium materials and work with old, new, and next-gen devices via dual connectors (3.5mm auxiliary, USB-C). They deliver fine-tuned sound with emphasized bass that doesn’t bloat the soundstage or mask subtle details in the complex recordings.

Are they a must-have replacement for your AirPods Pro 2? Not in my opinion. However, the ME05 outperform many of the best wireless earbuds in the audio department and aren't as expensive as the top-tier in-ear monitors.

If, like me, you value sonic presentation over all other factors, the Master & Dynamic ME05 deliver the goods.

MASTER & DYNAMIC ME05 REVIEW: Cheat sheet

• What is it? M&D’s update to their well-received wired earphones. They have been updated for hi-res listening on current media devices with USB-C connectivity.
• Who is it for? Old-fashioned-headphone users that prefer wired sound over wireless.
• What does it cost? $199 / £163 / AU$324
• What do we like? The chic aesthetics, full-bodied sound, and extra accessories.
• What don’t we like? The controls and lack of ultramodern features.

MASTER & DYNAMIC ME05 review: Price & availability

You can purchase the Master & Dynamic ME05 for $199 / £163 / AU$324 on M&D’s website or at select online retailers like Modesens. The earphones are sold in four colors: Gold/Black, Gunmetal/Black, Palladium/Black, and Palladium/White.

The ME05 sell for less than upscaled rivals like the $500 Sennheiser IE 600, as well as top-ranking wireless earbuds like the $249 AirPods Pro 2 and $298 Sony WF-1000XM5. That said, if you want to save big on a pair of quality in-ears, check out the $45 SoundMagic E80D for solid sound quality at a more attainable price.

MASTER & DYNAMIC ME05 review: Design

• Elegant and well-built
• Heavier than most wired earphones
• Nice set of bundled accessories

The ME05 are a beautifully designed pair of earphones — just look at the brass-machined casing that covers the 8mm high excursion biocellulose drivers. It’s exquisite. Other details like the tiny brass wrapping with laser-etched insignia a few inches below the casing add to the earphones’ swagger. The slim rubber cable is tough and can survive forceful tugs. Equally durable is the control module that’s housed in hard plastic.

As beautiful as it looks, it's worth noting that the inclusion of brass adds extra weight to the earphones, which often slip out when moving around. There were a few times when I had to adjust them for proper stabilization, so I really don't recommend them as a replacement for your workout headphones.

Packaged with the ME05 are a basic canvas pouch that stores a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter and five different sized tips: XS, S, M, L, and XL. The multiple tips accommodate listeners of all ear shapes.

MASTER & DYNAMIC ME05 review: Features

• Futureproof via USB-C connector
• No companion app

Extended functionality is limited on all wired earphones and sadly the ME05 are no different. Yes, the USB-C adapter lets you connect the earphones to numerous media devices, including desktops, laptops, MP3 players, smartphones, and tablets. You can also enable your device’s native assistant (e.g., Google Assistant, Siri) by holding down the multifunctional button.

That’s where the perks end, however.

M&D has a companion app, but it only works with the brand’s current wireless earbuds and wireless headphones. That means you lose out on personalized features like a customizable EQ, noise cancellation, and sidetone setting to hear yourself louder on calls. A long list of features is not one of the ME05's strong suits.

MASTER & DYNAMIC ME05 review: Controls

• Acceptable voice assistance
• Hard buttons
• Aux mode disables volume

These earphones support multiple digital assistants: Alexa, Bixby, Google Assistant, and Siri. The mics demonstrated adequate speech recognition to execute lengthy voice commands with precision. During my time with them, I was able to access websites and dictate emails hands-free without any problems.

Now, let’s address the ME05’s primary issue: the control scheme. The volume buttons don’t work in aux mode. I noticed this immediately when plugging the earphones into my MacBook Pro. At first, I thought it was an issue with my laptop. Then I tested the earphones with an iPod Classic and experienced the same issue.

The good news is that all the controls functioned well in USB-C mode. Unfortunately, the stiff buttons made it unpleasant to activate commands.

MASTER & DYNAMIC ME05 review: Sound quality

• Exceptional bass and treble
• Sculpted highs
• Hi-res DAC integration
• Inconsistent performance in USB-C mode

I found the ME05's sonic presentation warm and thumpy, and there’s enough depth to enjoy well-balanced sound across all music genres.

Neo soul jams like Ella Mai’s “Hearts on Deck” are symphonic pleasures highlighted by crisp and vibrant mids that the earphones produce effortlessly. The singer’s harmonies blend nicely over the acoustic finger snaps and chime-like synths.

Green Day’s “Longview” brought out the ME05’s powerful low end. The heavy drum snares and thrusting cymbals created an energetic soundscape that stimulated serious headbanging vibes. I was impressed by how articulate and clean Billie Joe Armstrong’s voice sounded when switching from mellow to rage-filled rocker on a dime.

The absence of active noise cancellation means you’ll encounter some background interference when listening to music in rowdy environments. Luckily, the ME05 isolate noise extremely well. They won’t completely block out a lawnmower or a loud cry from a nearby child, but these distractions will be less audible than before.

M&D’s USB-C adapter has a built-in DAC with 32-bit/384 kHz resolution to boost sound quality. However, the results vary, depending on your media player. Music was pleasant in aux mode on my MacBook Pro, but mids were aggressively sharp when streaming tracks in USB-C mode. That wasn’t the case when listening to the best music streaming services on my Android devices (Google Pixel 9, OnePlus 11).

MASTER & DYNAMIC ME05 review: Call quality

• Surprisingly great for voice and video calls

The ME05 made an outstanding calling headset. Feedback was positive on both ends. Many people were complimentary of enunciation and volume. M&D’s built-in mic captured vocals exceptionally well. It also picked up noises from far distances, though the good news was that it prioritized my voice over all incidental sounds.

If you're used to taking calls on speakerphone, get ready for a whole new level of clarity in your phone calls.

MASTER & DYNAMIC ME05 review: Verdict

The ME05 are good alternative to wireless earbuds. Expect a terrific mix of lows and mids that feed your ears meaty bass and transparent vocals. Highs are taken down a few notches, but the USB-C adapter stabilizes them, plus you can pair the ME05 with any other portable DAC to enhance frequency response.

The brass housings cause these buds to slip out a lot, which means these can be a little irritating to wear while moving about, and a mediocre control scheme and feature set don’t do the ME05 any favors either.

However, you’re not investing in sound-first earphones for their extended functionality, and that’s where the ME05 prove their worth. So, if you want something with greater sound accuracy than the AirPods, and don’t mind dealing with cables, then these in-ears can serve up plenty of sonic goodness.

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