Best wireless earbuds in 2023: get the best sound quality

Master & Dynamic’s old MW07 and MW07 Plus offered top-notch sound for true wireless, but they were a bit lacking in the feature department and weren’t that great for making calls. The MW08 offers significant upgrades, including the addition of solid noise cancellation and call quality, that make it one of the best models for 2023. Alas, they cost $299 (the MW08 Sport plus durable, which sounds similar, is $349).

Battery life has improved a bit (up to around 12 hours of battery life at 50% volume compared to 10 hours for the MW07 Plus), and the earphones have Bluetooth 5.2, active noise cancellation with three microphones on each earbud (noise reduction during calls isn’t on par with the AirPods Pro, but overall call quality has improved). Noise cancellation on the MW07 Plus was quite weak; that of the MW08 is much more efficient.

You can opt for two levels of noise cancellation in the new M&D Connect app for iOS and Android, as well as two levels of transparency that let you hear the outside world. The app currently has no way to change the sound profile (I’m fine with that because the sound profile suits my tastes just fine), and the headphones have a physical button on each bud to control playback, not touch controls.

The headphones might not fit everyone’s ear as well, but they certainly have a distinct look, as well as great sound and a great listening experience if you can get a tight seal. (I was able to get a secure fit with the larger tip.) They offer a more audiophile sound profile, with smooth, well-balanced sound and well-defined bass. This model has new 11mm drivers, which add a bit of bass punch and a touch of better clarity. The MW08 works well with all genres of music.

Available in a variety of color options for $300, like their predecessors, the MW08 includes a swanky stainless steel charging case (it charges via USB-C) that’s compact but packs more weight than your bulky cases. typical buds. I prefer the matte finishes of the cases that come with the black and blue versions, and you also get a secondary pouch for safekeeping. (Yes, the charging case can be scratched if you leave it in a bag.)

The MW08s now support both aptX and AAC audio codecs, with an extended range of over 20 meters, according to Master & Dynamic. They have an IPX5 (splash resistant) rating and multipoint Bluetooth pairing, so you can pair them with two devices simultaneously.