Grasp & Dynamic’s latest audio providing is the MW08 Sport, a refreshed method to it 2021 series of truly wireless earbuds. Priced $349, they’re obtainable in quite a lot of colours of sapphire glass: silver, black, blue, and inexperienced.
For apparent causes, they’re almost equivalent in look to the MW08 in each the earbuds and the case. Given they’re $50 greater than their counterpart, one would count on an additional function or two. Certainly, they do include a few which we’ll contact on later.
Our workforce was supplied a pair of MW08 Sport earbuds; I spent a couple of weeks listening to our favourite music, podcasts, and different audio content material to get a way for the brand new product.
Right here’s the AndroidGuys assessment of the Grasp & Dynamic MW08 Sport.
Design
At first blush the MW08 Sport look equivalent to the MW08 when it comes to general design for the earbuds and the case. They preserve the smaller footprint and forgo the stabilizer fins, one thing we’re very happy to reside with out.
As a substitute of the polished ceramic supplies, the MW08 Sport are made with shatter-resistant sapphire glass. Equally engaging, the black has an ideal reflective shine and we are able to think about the opposite colours do, too.
One other key distinction is the carrying case. Not solely does it have a barely waterproof and hard Kevlar coating, but it surely additionally helps inductive wi-fi charging. A primary for the corporate, it was one of many solely options I discovered missing within the MW08.
Regardless of my finest intentions, I’ve by no means been in a position to maintain the shiny metallic case of earlier Grasp & Dynamic earbuds free from scuffs. I used to be solely too happy to see and really feel the protecting coating with the MW08 Sport. And since these are sporty earbuds, you’ll be happy to know that the case additionally has an IPX4 water resistance score.
The case costs up by way of USB Kind-C and has three lights to point the extent of battery. Grasp & Dynamic says the case can cost as much as 50% in simply quarter-hour and we are able to confirm that’s correct. Furthermore, it takes about one hour to completely cost the case via cable.
The wi-fi charging functionality can also be one thing I welcome with open arms. It’s not a lot that I would like it in my earbuds, however once you command round $300 for a pair, it’s nearly a requisite in 2021.
The MW08 Sport will be charged with just about any Qi-enabled wi-fi charger which is nice for lots of recent telephone customers. Ought to you will have a high-end handset that gives wi-fi charging, you seemingly have a platter or unit that helps the usual.
Wi-fi charging makes extra sense for equipment than it does for telephones, no less than to me. It appears extra intuitive to drop the carrying case onto a charger when not in use and seize when leaving. And once more, when cheaper counterparts embody wi-fi charging, it’s onerous to argue the “premium” expertise.
Grasp & Dynamic have additionally launched its first wi-fi charging puck. Accessible for $69.99 on its web site, it’s a classy wanting unit that options material and aluminum. With a contemporary design that matches any setting, it takes up little or no area.
So far as battery life goes, Grasp & Dynamic say you need to get about 12 hours of playback at 50% quantity ranges with round 10 hours for ANC mode. The case permits for almost three extra full costs, too. All in, you must count on round 42 hours of playback time for a completely charged carrying case.
Options
The MW08 Sport retains the identical bodily controls from the earlier technology and 2021 sibling, one thing I recognize. They’re straightforward to find with out wanting and reply firmly to urgent. Additionally nice, it takes little or no time to determine them out. In the event you’ve used a pair of Grasp & Dynamic earbuds, you already perceive the controls.
The left earbud has two buttons which management quantity ranges however lengthy urgent them permits and disables ANC and ambient listening modes.
The earbuds have a built-in optical sensor that may detect once they’re eliminated out of your ear, instantly pausing music. There’s an choice to disable this function within the companion cell app but it surely does assist with battery life.
The MW08 Sport are IPX5 water-proof which is about the one factor that makes these “sporty” earbuds. They don’t have any flashy or eye-catching coloration pops and look in any other case subtle.
I just like the tactile really feel that comes with a bodily button press, and the MW08 Sports activities are fairly responsive and have a noticeable click on. I’ve come to easily pinch the earbuds when urgent as pushing down with out help beneath will trigger them to return free.
In relation to pairing, the MW08 Sport solely help you have one machine actively paired with them at a time. Ought to you will have a laptop computer, pill, or one other consumer in the home which may prefer to share the earbuds you’ll need to put them into pairing mode (lengthy press proper ear bud) every time you turn.
Lively noise cancellation (ANC) is current and from what I can inform, it’s excellent. Out of the field with the preset ear ideas it does an ideal job of filtering and eradicating voice particularly. In the event you plan to put on your earphones in a house workplace, espresso store, or library, you’ll discover the earbuds allow you to settle into the audio with no main distractions.
Like their normal mannequin brethren, the MW08 Sport will be managed by way of an M&D Join app from Grasp & Dynamic. Easy and easy, it provides listeners a little bit of management over their audio expertise. It’s off to begin however we’d recognize extra settings equivalent to equalizer.
Audio
For quite a lot of years now I’ve been a champion of the Grasp & Dynamic model. And on the subject of sound high quality, I’ve but to return encounter one in every of its merchandise that left me needing extra. The MW08 Sport are not any exception and additional cement its legacy as among the best within the area.
Given this isn’t an audiophile web site or one which facilities round headphones, however I can acknowledge high quality audio once I hear it. The expertise right here is correct in step with expectations. It’s balanced, full, and crystal clear. Each degree of the spectrum is represented equally and I by no means discover myself aggravated or worn down by an excessive amount of bass.
Relying on my setting or state of affairs, I’ll allow the ambient listening mode in order that I can half-listen for somebody who could also be trying to get my consideration. The identical goes for ANC, too. I actually recognize that I don’t need to second-guess whether or not one of many modes is activated.
Taking calls on actually wi-fi earbuds is at all times a contact unusual if solely as a result of it sounds just like the caller is inside your head. With that in thoughts, voice could be very clear and balanced for telephone calls.
Conclusion
I really feel like a damaged file, however Grasp & Dynamic have yet one more killer pair of earbuds with the MW08 Sport. I really feel very snug recommending the model for individuals in search of a high quality set.
The “Sport” facet of the earbuds is kind of attributed to their IPX5 score. And certain, the carrying case has its personal water resistance, however these don’t have any outward look of being sporty or geared towards a special demographic.
These are premium earbuds in each sense and may be higher referred to as the MW08 Plus. That’s until Grasp & Dynamic have some funky colorways coming down the highway. Because it stands at this time, they’re unassuming and never one thing you’d count on to see in an athlete’s ear.
Do you keep in mind rising up and the way dad used to have issues that had been “his” and also you had been informed to not contact them? That’s precisely what Grasp & Dynamic merchandise are for me. They’re mine, they don’t get loaned out to others, they usually’re handled like gold.
At $349 it will get fairly robust to persuade individuals to spend that kind of cash on a pair of earbuds. Then once more, when you drop that a lot on one thing, you’re theoretically shopping for them for all times.
It’s as much as you to resolve whether or not it’s value the additional cash so as to add wi-fi charging, water resistance, and a harder carrying case. Alongside that route, I’d really feel higher if these had been $299 with the usual mannequin dropping all the way down to $249.
Be taught extra in regards to the MW08 Sport true wi-fi earbuds on the Grasp & Dynamic web site the place you possibly can purchase them in a handful of colors.
