Master & Dynamic ME05 Earphones review – Back to the Future

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REVIEW – Have you ever heard the saying “You must go back to move forward”? Nah, me neither. However, that bit of sage advice might apply to the “new” Master & Dynamic ME05 wired earphones. These little gems hark back to the time when most wireless earphones were either too meh-sounding, too expensive, or both. Plus, wired earphones could always be plugged into the headphone port on any smartphone or iPod—remember those? So here we are—returning to the M&D ME05 earphones but with some added tech. Is it enough to make anyone want to return to a wired world?

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $199
Where to buy: Master & Dynamic

What is it?

The Master & Dynamic ME05 earphones are a new, yet wired version of one of M&D’s original models. While the exterior is identical looking, the interior tech has been updated and improved. M&D has included a 3.5 mm headphone jack to USB-C adapter with a built-in digital Audio Converter (DAC). More on that later. An improved selection of tips is also included with this new version.

The ME05s come in four colorways: Gold/Black, Gunmetal/Black, Palladium/Black, and Palladium/White.

What’s included?

Master & Dynamic ME05 earphones
DAC dongle cable
Canvas case
Ear tips

Tech specs

Earphone dimensions -12 mm x 26.4 mm x 16.9 mm
Drivers; 8mm high-excursion, bio-cellulose
Impedance: 16 ohms
Weight: 23 grams
Audio format: USB-C adapter supports up to 32-bit / 385 kHz resolution
Materials: Brass, TPE rubber, oxygen-free cable
Cable: 47 in.
Microphone Type: MEMS with wind reduction
Compatibility: 3.5mm aux, USB-C adapter for Android phones and iPhone 15 or newer
Device Compatibility: Remote controls compatible with Android and iPhone 15 (or newer)

Design and features

In 2018, I reviewed the original ME05 wired earphones and liked them—a lot. However, time passed and I became addicted to wireless earphones for two reasons. They were (and still are) too convenient and Bluetooth improved—a lot. I’m hard-pressed to differentiate audio quality between wired and wireless anymore. If I can hear a difference, it’s usually not enough to matter. However, these ME05 earphones matter.

Let’s start with the obvious. The “new” ME05 earphones look identical to the previous one I reviewed. I wish I still had those to compare, but I gave them to a friend. So I’m going from memory.

Although visually the same, the tech has been updated. The metal casing is still brass-mated with TPE rubber connectors with a flat, oxygen-free cable. The flat design makes for a flexible cable that can bend with ease although it can tangle easily.

More tips are now offered. There are 5 silicone sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, and 2 Foam sizes: S, L. I’m not a big fan of foam, plus the L size was too small for my ears. The XL silicone works for me and prevents much outside noise. Granted, it’s not active noise-canceling, but it’s still pretty good.

Gone from this version of the MW05 is the nice, round leather-wrapped box. It was great at protecting the earphones. M&D kept the canvas pouch which does a good job, but I still preferred the box.

The speaker drivers are now made of 8mm high-excursion biocellulose in a brass acoustic enclosure. M&D states that biocellulose provides powerful bass with more detailed highs. Whatever. All I know is that they sound pretty darned good. The detail is impressive. There’s a sharpness to the music I’m listening to with no harsh effects. I’ve been listening to Apple Music in Lossless on my iPhone—because I can!

That’s the beauty of wired. No aptX, LDAC, or other Bluetooth abbreviations are necessary. The new ME05 earphones are fed a hi-res lossless digital signal (Apple Music) through the iPhone’s USB-C port. Keep in mind, that you can’t hear digital. That’s just 1’s and 0’s. To hear digital, it needs to be converted to an analog signal (what we hear) using a DAC (digital audio converter). Every smartphone, digital audio player, or digital source with a headphone jack has a built-in DAC. The dirty secret is that many built-in DACs are not that good. Master & Dynamic’s DAC inside their included short dongle cable can handle 32-bit / 385 kHz resolution—a resolution that is better than CD and can handle high-resolution music files from Apple Music—my preferred streaming service.

Note: The included DAC dongle can accommodate any earphone/headphone with a 3.5 mm plug. So if you have other wired earphones, you’re in luck.

Before, I said there was a sharpness to music. Listening to a song like The Power Station’s “Some Like It Hot” proves my point. This song’s strength is the percussion. I don’t know if it’s the bio-cellulose drivers or not, but the percussion has moments when it stops—immediately. With the ME05 earphones, there is no audio drag or slight echo. When the recorded drum hit stops, there is dead silence until the next hit. It reminds me of more expensive headphones.

Then there’s Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon (50th Anniversary). I know this album is everybody’s test record—I don’t care. It’s almost a perfect album, even 50 years on. The lead-in heartbeat has just the right amount of thump without becoming buzzy or too bassy. Granted, it’s not the same visceral effect a room speaker provides, but within the limits of earphones, the ME05s hold their own quite well. On the Run” has great stereo effects and the subtle background sounds don’t become overshadowed by Richard Wright’s synths giving this song a nice depth with all of its layers. “Brain Damage” and “Eclipse” close out the album in dramatic fashion. The ME05 earphones bring out all the drama ending in the same heartbeat that started the album. I still get chills.

Final thoughts

Even though listening with Master & Dynamic’s ME05 earphones might bring on a bit of nostalgia, they’re so much more. The sound is tight, clear and so spot-on. The ME05 earphones can handle anything asked of them. Will they cause anyone dependent on wireless earphones to switch? I doubt it, but it’s nice to watch M&D pay homage to their roots rather than forget them.

What I like about Master & Dynamic ME05 Earphones

Well-made with premium materials
Comfortable
Good selection of tips
Able to play hi-res audio directly from the source
Audio is sharp and yet fun-sounding

What needs to be improved?

Wired (if you love wireless)
Expensive
Round, protective box removed from accessories

Price: $199.00
Where to buy: Master & Dynamic
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Master & Dynamic. Master & Dynamic did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.