An American Audio Brand Brought Back a Modern Classic for Hi-Fi Purists

Same look. Same price. Improved hi-fi sound.

Published December 5, 2024

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Updated December 5, 2024

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Wired earbuds are having a bit of a moment. You’ve likely seen celebrities and Gen Z wearing them for the nostalgia factor — part fashion accessory, part anti-AirPod culture — and audio companies are taking notice.

Master and Dynamic, the New York-based luxury audio brand, is the latest one. It just released new and improved versions of its classic wired earbuds that were released nearly a decade ago.

Meet M&D’s new ME05 wired earbuds.

Master & Dynamic ME05 (2024)

A modern revival

The 2024 versions of Master & Dynamic’s ME05 wired earbuds look identical to the 2015-released originals (which have now been discontinued). Like before, they’re made of high-quality materials — brass, specifically — and, since the earbud shape is the same, they fit exactly like before.

Naturally, the new ME05 been updated in a few key ways. The most notable improvement is that they come with a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter — which has a built-in DAC — so that they’ll work with most modern smartphones, including the latest iPhones, which lack a traditional headphone jack.

A hi-fi upgrade

Master & Dynamic has improved the new ME05 in other ways — such as giving them a new microphone system for improved call clarity — but the main upgrade is with the sound quality.

The new ME05 earbuds have 8mm bio-cellulose drivers, as opposed to the 2015 ME05’s 8mm titanium drivers, which M&D claims helps them deliver an “updated dynamic sound.”

To listen the best quality sound, you’ll want to use new ME05 earbuds with their included USB-C adapter, as it has a built-in DAC that supports high-resolution audio up to 32-bit/384kHz.

Price and availability

The new Master & Dynamic ME05 wired earbuds cost $199 — exactly like same as the originals. They come in four different colors: gold, black, gunmetal/black and palladium/black.

The gold and black models are available now from the company’s website. The gunmetal/black and palladium/black models are available for preorder and will start shipping December 5th.