The best sounding wireless headphones in 2023: Get the highest sound quality

Master & Dynamic’s earlier MW07 and MW07 Plus provided premium sound for true wireless, but were a bit lacking in features and weren’t as good for making calls. The MW08s offer some significant upgrades, including the addition of solid noise cancellation and call quality, making them one of the best models for 2023. Alas, they’re expensive at $299 (the more durable MW08 Sport, which sounds the same, is $349).

Battery life has improved a bit (up to around 12 hours of battery life at 50% volume versus 10 hours for the MW07 Plus), and the headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.2, active noise cancellation with three microphones on each earpiece (noise reduction during of calls is not at the level of AirPods Pro, but in general the quality of calls has improved). Noise cancellation on the MW07 Plus was quite weak; MW08 is much more efficient.

You can choose 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. Currently, the app has no way to adjust the sound profile (I’m fine with that because the sound profile is fine for my taste), and the headphones have a physical button on each bud to control playback rather than touch controls.

The headphones may not fit everyone’s ear equally well, but they certainly have a distinctive look, as well as excellent sound and great listening if you manage to stick them in tight. (I was able to achieve a secure fit with the largest tip.) They provide a more than audiophile sound profile, with smooth, well-balanced sound and well-defined bass. This model has new 11mm drivers that add a bit of punch to the bass and a bit more clarity. The MW08 works well with all genres of music.

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

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