Master and Dynamic MG20 Review: Multi Talented
The MG20 is not Master and Dynamic’s first headphone, but it is their first gaming headphone. However, you wouldn’t guess that this headphone is a first of anything —the MG20 packs in more features than I can recite, and it’s well-rounded, tastefully-executed, and mindfully designed. As for the specifics, lets get into it!
The MG20 can be purchased directly from Master & Dynamic’s website, here.
About My Preferences: Heads up, I’m a person! As such, these words are my opinion, and they are tinged by my personal preferences. While I try to mitigate this as much as possible during my review process, I’d be lying if I said my biases are completely erased. So for you, my readers, keep this in mind:
- My ideal sound signature would be one with competent sub-bass, a textured mid-bass, a slightly warm midrange, and an extended treble.
- I have mild treble sensitivity.
Source: The MG20 was tested in the following configurations:
- LG V40-> earphones
- Hidizs AP100 3.5mm out -> FiiO A5 3.5mm out -> earphones
- HiFiMAN SuperMini -> earphones
- Windows Desktop PC -> 2.4Ghz Adapter
- Windows Desktop PC -> Bluetooth
All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.
Tech Specs
- Drivers: 50mm Beryllium
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- Mic: 2-mics, on-board and detachable boom mic
- Battery Life: 22 hrs
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 w/ AAC & aptX Low Latency, 2.4 GHz
- IO: USB-C, 3.5mm
Sound Signature
Sonic Overview:
The MG20 has a deep V-shaped sound signature with bright, pointed treble and a somewhat weighty lower register. The MG20’s lower midrange blends nicely into its bass with a gentle roll-off into the sub-bass around 50Hz.
Do note, however, that Master and Dynamic does have an app for Android and IOS that gives you access to an EQ that you can use to adjust the sound signature via post-processing. I did not use this feature for my review.
Sonic Breakdown:
Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands, Satisfy, Little One, Show Me How To Live (Live at the Quart Festival)
The MG20’s treble is pushed forward pretty noticeably. It never reaches levels of sibilance, but teeters right on the edge in sibilance-prone tracks such as Satisfy.
However, in spite of its emphasis, the MG20’s treble manages to deliver a competent and engaging presentation of the lonely spanning synthworld of Midnight City.
In One Ear’s high hats slam and decay naturally, though they sound a little flitty and thin — likely a small concession made while tuning for gaming performance.
Master & Dynamic did a good job ensuring the MG20’s treble resolution remained strong. Fine details are often caught and shown to the listener, though a few do slip through the cracks and can occasionally be blurry in busy songs with active midranges.
Midrange: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Dreams, Too Close, Little Black Submarines
Jacked Up’s soft mastering is a perfect match for the MG20’s uptight midrange, even in spite of the MG20’s mid valley. Weezer’s vocal presence remains strong and lively, with plenty of room to articulate the subtleties of Rivers Cuomo’s performance.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the MG20 delivers admirable staging for a lonely Chris Cornell in I Am The Highway. The MG20 does, however, thin out Chris’s vocals a little for my tastes, even against the backdrop of articulate and textured guitar strumming.
In spite of my nitpicking, I still quite enjoy the MG20’s midrange — for a pair of headphones that were designed to explicitly appeal to gamers, the MG20 is remarkably good for critical listening — its quick attacks and decays combined with a well-controlled lower-midrange mean that it never devolves into a sloppy mess, even when resolving busy and heavily distorted choruses like those of Little Black Submarines.
Bass: Songs used: Moth, Gold Dust, In For The Kill (Skream Remix), War Pigs (Celldweller Remix)
The MG20 is no bass cannon, but it does posses the ability do deliver some tightly-controlled punch and rumble. The respectful bass output of the MG20’s lower-end allows it to participate heartily in wet drops like that of Gold Dust.
La Roux’s In For The Kill (Skream Remix) tests the MG20’s willingness and ability to delve deep into sub-bass territory. Turning up the volume allows the MG20 to really deliver an articulate undulating bass line. I would, however, have appreciated a little bit more thunder and rumble from the MG20. Improving this aspect would also make explosions in games feel a little more visceral rather than clinical.
Gaming Performance
Unlike most of the products I review, this one is dual-purpose: intended to be used as a general listener and as a gaming headset. As such, lets talk about performance in-game.
I’ve probably played 25+ games using the MG20, so I’ll try and cover some strengths I’ve noticed across the spectrum.
Some people might play Call of Duty with TV or music playing in the background, but as of 2012, I do not. Being able to hear and interpret audio information in a competitive FPS like CoD is what separates an average player from a good one. As such, I take sound seriously. I never use PC speakers or earbuds, instead opting for headphones with maximal soundstaging. The MG20 doesn’t have the widest soundstage I’ve ever heard in Call of Duty, but its definitely sufficient from a competitive standpoint. It more than makes up for that minor flaw with excellent footstep clarity and a high degree of gun-shot intelligibility (how clearly can you tell the difference between the sounds different guns make). I’ve used the mic for communicating in-game and via groups in Discord without issue, and my voice comes across clearly to my squad. My teammates also sound clear, and I can often turn their volumes down and still understand them perfectly.
For racing games such as Need For Speed Heat/Unbound, the MG20 delivers an immersive and rich stream of car audio, drowning my real-world responsibilities in the sounds of tire-screeching and a V-12 turbo going flat-out.
I really like using the MG20 when playing Remnant II and Wuthering Waves: two games that took sound design seriously and who’s combat relies heavily on somewhat subtle sound queues. Remnant II in particular is a game that I can play with a degree of confidence while wearing the MG20 that I don’t have with just speakers.
Packaging / Unboxing
The MG20’s packaging is made from a reasonably tough and weighty cardboard. Ultimately, the MG20’s packaging does what all Master and Dynamic packaging does: keeps the product safe and looks reasonably good while doing so.
Build
Construction Quality
The MG20 is designed with long periods of usage in mind, particularly while gaming. As such, M&D went with lighter construction materials and a more breathable headband design.
The MG20’s driver shells are built from multi-finished plastic. They feel sturdy and high-quality in the hand, with very little flex or bend. They’re attached to the headband via a clever angled hinge that feels equally sturdy.
Moving on to the earcups: they are made from a fine lambskin leather and are among the best-feeling I’ve used. They are absurdly comfortable and strike a fantastic balance between softness and support.
The headband’s outwards face is covered in a high-quality canvas cloth, while the underside is cushioned with Alcantara. An adjustability mechanism is cleverly concealed within the headband.
On the left side of the MG20 is the USB-C port and the jack for the boom mic. You can find the power/connectivity buttons on the left as well.
The MG20 has good battery life. It charges quickly and rarely complains about being low on power even when not rigorously kept charging. I’ve rarely had to pause while working or gaming to find a charging cable. Oh, and the MG20 still works flawless while charging — not something you should need to worry about in 2024, but still worth mentioning.
The boom mic provides excellent sound pickup. It is bendable too, meaning you can get it positioned perfectly to pick up your voice with ease.
Comfort
I often used the MG20 for long gaming sessions. Even in a warm loft, I rarely found my ears overheating or my head becoming sore. The MG20 strikes a good balance between being weighty-enough to feel premium without creating unnecessary strain on its users’ heads.
Accessories
Provided in the box with the MG20 you will find:
- 1x Detachable Boom Mic
- 1x Low-Latency USB Adapter
- 1x USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable
- 1x USB-C to 3.5mm Input Cable
- Headphone Pouch
Summary
The MG20 is an excellent all-arounder. It’s a capable daily driver for those who listen to music for extended periods, a great gaming companion, and a competent work headset. The MG20’s tasteful construction means you can wear it in public or at work without being embarrassed (ahem, Razer). The included boom mic is excellent, and the tuning, while not totally ideal from a purely audiophile perspective, makes the MG20 a strong performer in competitive games like Call of Duty.
The MG20 has been my daily driver for multiple years, and at this point, it is staying that way until it breaks.
As always, happy listening!
