Master & Dynamic's popular ME05 wired earphones get a refresh

Master & Dynamic is well-known for having some high-quality audio products and this week it’s launching a refreshed version of one of its most popular releases, the ME05 wired earphones.

The company first launched these back in 2015 and since then it’s come to release several high-end pairs of headphones and true wireless earbuds. The MW08 was a personal favorite of mine. The company even ended up launching a wireless gaming headset with the MG20 in an attempt to blend the worlds of gaming and luxury audio. The ME05 is neither for gaming nor wireless. Nor is it Master & Dynamic’s most high-end product, and yet, it’s remained a staple at the company since its inception.

Even the company’s Founder and CEO, Jonathan Levine, says he uses them on a daily basis. “It’s a product I use personally every day. I’m proud to re-introduce this iconic analog product now with improved performance and compatibility,” Levine said.

The ME05 wired earphones are a testament to the fact that no matter how good wireless headphones and earbuds get, there’s always a place for analog options. While much of the Master & Dynamic ME05 remains the same, they have been updated and improved to provide better audio clarity than before. The earphones also now work with more devices.

Master & Dynamic launch the ME05 at $199

One thing that you can generally expect from most wired earbuds or earphones is a lower price point. That’s usually the case anyway. Master & Dynamic’s ME05 won’t be cheap. Then again they are made with higher quality materials. So they undoubtedly sound a whole lot better than the $30-$40 pair of wired earbuds you can pick up at Target. At $199, the ME05 will cost just as much as some pretty good pairs of wireless earbud options.

The difference is that these are connected directly to the audio source. So you’re not dealing with the constant dread of battery drain or delayed audio thanks to latency or interruptions in the wireless frequency.

The ME05 are forged from solid brass and they use a bio-cellulose driver that M&D says will “deliver powerful bass and clear, incredibly detailed highs.” The earphones also come with several different ear tip options. This is one detail that the company has always considered more than brands. The ME05 come with two different sizes of foam ear tips and five different sizes of silicone ear tips. Making it likely that most people will find a size that fits their ears.

These come in a few different colors as well. Right now only the Gold and Black model is available, but Master & Dynamic does have three other color options up for pre-order. This includes Gunmetal and Black, Palladium and Black, and Palladium and White. At the moment you can only get these from Master & Dynamic directly, but they will be headed to Amazon this Winter, the company says.

A new USB-C adapter widens device compatibility

Perhaps one of the best improvements that Master & Dynamic could have made is the expanded device compatibility. The older pair only supported devices with a 3.5mm audio jack. Now, these come with a USB-C adapter. The earphones still use the 3.5mm audio cable for connectivity in their base state. With the adapter, however, you can plug them into just about any phone or tablet. Or really any device with a USB-C port.

The USB-C adapter also supports 32-bit / 384 kHz resolution for hi-res audio. The earphones have an updated mic system too that allows for clear calls even if it’s extremely windy. So good news for those of you who live in perpetually windy areas.