Hi, I'm Brian from World Wide Stereo.
I'm here with Mark Levinson's first-ever headphones, the No. 5909.
♪ [music] ♪
The Mark Levinson 5909s are wireless over-ear headphones with adaptive active noise canceling.
These are high-fidelity headphones crafted from premium materials with a comfort features and performance
to back up the premium price point.
With up to 34 hours of playback, a nice selection of adapters and a hard-shell case,
these make for a great packable travel companion for music lovers on the move
that will appreciate the incredible level of audio reproduction.
Let's start with giving some context of the brand.
Founded in 1972 by its namesake, Mark Levinson, a recording and mastering engineer.
Mark Levinson, the brand, is an established American audio brand based in Stamford, Connecticut.
It has had a position in the top tier of 2-channel audio for decades.
As a side note, in 1990, they became a part of Harman International,
a global leader in audio innovations with brands like JBL, Arcam, Revel, and AKG under their umbrella,
just to name a few.
Well-known for their reference-level 2-channel audio components, their current line-up consists of amps,
preamps, integrated amps, turntables, and streaming CD players.
You will even find their 17-speaker luxury audio systems in Lexus cars.
If you had the opportunity to experience Mark Levinson gear first-hand, it's pretty evident they're committed
to performance and build quality.
The 5909s are Mark Levinson's first-ever portable offering.
The fact that Mark Levinson has introduced headphones to their portfolio, it's pretty freaking cool.
As an elite two-channel leader, Mark Levinson's engineers are devoted to mastering
the reproduction of music in a way that doesn't sound reproduced, but sounds like you're in the room
right there with the artist.
That means uncovering detail, nuances and texture in the music and keeping it pure
and free of distortion and interference.
Think: an artist's breath before a verse, or another layer of harmony you've never noticed before.
The Mark Levinson 5909s are available in three colors: Pearl Black, Ice Pewter, and Radiant Red.
Highlights include Bluetooth 5.1 technology with LDAC, AAC, and aptX codecs,
a four-microphone array with Smart Wind Adaption for crystal clear phone calls,
Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation with three modes for premium sound isolation,
and Ambient Aware for situational awareness in one's surroundings.
These headphones offer impressive playback time, delivering up to 30 hours of reference-quality audio
over Bluetooth with Active Noise Canceling, ANC, enabled or up to 34 hours with ANC off.
Noise Canceling and Awareness modes use the four-microphone array which draws more power.
So, if you want the 5909's batteries to last longer and you're in a quiet environment,
the passive mode will give you more time before needing a recharge.
If you're worried about a charging time, a 15-minute charge will give you 6 hours of use.
I'll show you how to toggle between the modes in a moment.
Let's take a look at what comes in the box.
The 5909s come with a lightweight, textured, hard-shell carrying case, which I found is resistant
to oils of your hands so it doesn't get riddled with fingerprints.
The case has two zipper pulls with a water-proof zipper protector,
which protects your precious cargo while traveling.
And the case has my favorite discrete addition, the case within a case.
Perfect for keeping cables and accessories tidy and organized without getting in the way of the headphones.
There's an assortment of cables and accessories and I'll go over how you can use them
a little later in the video.
There's a 1.25-meter USB-C cable, which is more than just a charging cable; a 1.25-meter USB-C
to 3.5-millimeter stereo cable, which is great for traveling with an analog connection;
and a 4-meter USB-C to 3.5-millimeter stereo cable, which I think is better for at home listening
than traveling, unless you want to use it to stay in shape and jump rope.
One thing I wish Mark Levinson would include would be a cable organizer.
I went ahead and added them myself, as you can see.
As for adapters, you'll have a 3.5-millimeter to 6.3-millimeter adaptor,
more commonly called an eighth-inch to a quarter-inch stereo adapter,
it's used to connect to home stereo components;
a USB-C to USB-A adapter, for older chargers or computer connections;
and to make sure you're not missing anything, an airplane audio adaptor,
a 3.5-millimeter stereo to dual mono 3.5-millimeter connection.
The case also has some room for other accessories you may want to use.
I've already added USB DAC and a Lightning to USB-A adapter.
There's a microfiber polishing cloth to keep your investment looking good.
And if you like to read instructions, there's a quick start guide and a safety and warning booklet.
Also included in the box is a three-month subscription to Qobuz, a Hi-Res music streaming service
so you can get the most out of the Hi-Res features and you can check out the playlist I created
to evaluate these headphones.
A link will be available in the description below.
Before I go into how they sound, let's talk about the design and build.
As expected with any pair of premium headphones, Mark Levinson did not skimp on materials or design
with a serious focus on comfort.
The 40-millimeter Beryllium coated drivers are tuned to what is called the Harman Curve.
a target frequency response that is the optimal sound signature for headphones.
These headphones are durable.
The 5909s are constructed with core aluminum components.
The earcups are coated with automotive-grade paint and the band and the connector are anodized aluminum.
The subtle red stitching on the headband and the red aluminum accents that surround the laser-etched
Mark Levinson logo are two really nice details that remind you these are a luxury piece.
The soft, black leather headband and leather earcups feel luxe and are comfortable
in all the right places and the earcups provide plenty of room for your ears to breathe and stay cool.
The headband yoke slides up and down to adjust to your head size and ensures pressure is distributed properly,
which helps to prevent discomfort and fatigue from extended wear.
I've worn them all day long without getting irritated, which again makes them a wonderful choice for travel.
The earcup pads are replaceable, which if you've owned and loved a pair of headphones for years,
the earcups will eventually start to show signs of wear, and it's a great way to keep up
with your investment.
The 5909s are a fold-flat design with swiveling earcups so the cups will sit flat on a surface
and in the carrying case.
The controls on the left cup have your Power button/Bluetooth connector which you press and hold
to activate and an Active Noise Canceling button to toggle between Passive, Noise Canceling,
and Awareness modes.
The controls on the right side are your volume up and down
and the center is your play/pause button.
They're all physical buttons which make it easy to know which button to press without having to look.
How do they sound?
We're not there yet.
Let's talk about what you will not hear and a little about Active Noise Canceling or ANC.
The 5909s have an array of four microphones to allow for Adaptive Active Noise Canceling.
There are three different settings of Active Noise Cancellation depending on the level of noise
in your environment.
And an Ambient Aware mode lets you easily talk to those around you without having to remove your headphones.
Out of the box, these headphones come with the ANC High by default, and it's pretty perfect
for noisy environments.
I was impressed the first time I put them on with just how much background noise disappeared.
You could say I was even excited.
I was at my desk listening to music at an office appropriate level, because I'm not a monster,
and everything in the background vanished.
The noise from my computer fan was gone.
It felt like I had walked into an acoustically treated room and everything that gets in the way of good
sound had vanished.
In addition to ANC High, you have two additional settings: Adaptive and Low.
To be able to change between these three ANC settings, you have to go into the app.
In the middle is the Adaptive setting.
Adaptive adjusts the level of noise canceling based on the noise levels picked up by the microphones
from your environment.
If the microphones pick up too much noise, they will adjust the settings to better compensate
for the environment.
If you're in a quieter environment, they will reduce how the Active Noise Canceling compensates.
Finally, there's a Low mode.
Low uses the least amount of correction and it's good for environments that are not too noisy.
And the Awareness mode allows the outside world to pass into your headphones.
The opposite of noise canceling, but it's good if you need to have conversations
without having to take your headphones off.
The Awareness mode has two settings.
Voice Pass focuses on allowing conversations to pass through more easily.
And the Awareness setting allows the entire environment to pass through.
Of course there's an app, but Mark Levinson kept it simple.
They didn't go overboard with needless adjustments and the user interface is intuitive and straightforward.
Everything is pretty much ready to go once you connect the 5909s to Bluetooth.
After they're connected, it'll reach out to the Mark Levinson's servers and detect
if the 5909s on the most recent firmware version.
If a new version is available, you'll be prompted to download.
Once it's confirmed you're running the most recent version, the settings page has five options:
ANC, Awareness, Bass Contour, Auto-Off Timer, and On-Head Detection.
For the ANC settings, ANC High, it's perfect for noisy environments like airplanes or crowded places;
Adaptive automatically adjust ANC to your usage and environment, perfect for on-the-go;
and ANC Low, it's recommended for less noisy environments.
For the Awareness setting, we have Voice Pass which provides improved awareness
of conversations around you; and Awareness, which provides improved awareness of your surroundings.
For the Bass Contouring, there's Neutral and there's also Enhanced,
and it's about a +3dB increase at 20 hertz and then slopes down to match the neutral curve at 100 hertz;
and Attenuated, about a -3dB decrease at 20 hertz and then slopes up to match the neutral curve
at 100 Hertz.
The Auto-Off Timer has 30 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, or Never.
On-Head Detection, it's pretty straightforward, and the name is what it is, On-Head Detection.
This uses a sensor to determine if you're wearing headphones and will pause audio
when it senses you've taken them off.
It will resume the audio when the headphones are back on your head.
So, you have the option to turn this feature on or off.
I prefer off because I want to control when I stop playing something.
If you find you're taking your headphones on and off a lot, you may want to turn the feature on
to help preserve battery life.
Let's talk about how they sound and how I tested them out.
The sound is, as Mark Levinson advertises, reference quality.
To meet the standards of Hi-Res Audio certification, these headphones include LDAC audio codec
digital circuitry compatible at 24 bit/96 kilohertz processing and acoustic response out to 40 hertz.
Listening to the 5909s, there's an incredible amount of detail.
They are tuned very neutral so there isn't too much bass and nothing is overwhelming.
If you do want more or less bass, the app will allow you to contour the low end to meet your desired levels.
You'll hear the most in small portions of songs that would normally pass by unnoticed,
but shine with the 5909s like they would in any good 2-channel system.
You'll hear all the tricks and nuances that are mixed into music to give it that special feeling
that you're being entranced by the sound.
Do yourself a favor and listen to Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" 10-minute version
and listen for the subtle sounds as the song begins.
You'll hear someone picking up an instrument, the soft strumming of a guitar before it really
kicks into the song, the details of fingers sliding across the strings as it changes notes,
a slight tickle of piano keys like you can feel that someone is getting ready to play
as it slowly builds to the beginning of the song.
It's 30 seconds before you hear a voice and 45 until the song kicks in,
but it's creating that anticipation of the song.
As the song plays, there are whispers of chimes playing for only moments that will slip by
if you're not paying attention, only to be played with more veracity only seconds later.
If you've never heard something that puts these little nuances to the forefront,
you're really missing out on hearing the layers that put a song together.
With enhancements from the 5909's Active Noise Canceling, you're enveloped by the sound.
If music is something you're passionate about, the 5909s will not disappoint.
They have incredible separation of vocals and instruments and have a real presence.
Because they can highlight every little detail and tune out the outside world,
you're really getting lost in what you're listening to.
From another song on my playlist that has a wonderful three-part harmony, the 5909s presented their voices
where you could distinguish between all three vocalists where in other headphones, they would meld together.
And this was over a Bluetooth connection, so not even the highest resolution connection.
I was using songs that were at minimum CD quality, 16 bit/44.1 kilohertz,
and at maximum 24 bit/192 kilohertz, but the majority were 24 bit/96 kilohertz.
If you watch my other videos here on World Wide Stereo's YouTube channel, you know that I use Qobuz
as my source material.
I think it's by far the best-sounding and best-selection HD library out there
and as my preferred go-to among the four streaming services I use.
For evaluating the 5909s, I use my Roon as my audio controller,
so I could have the visual confirmation of the audio quality I was getting in my different test setups.
I used Bluetooth to my iPhone 11, the 1.25-meter USB-C to 3.5-millimeter to an iPad
for analog connection and to an AudioQuest Dragonfly Red for a DAC connection,
a USB-C to USB-C to my MacBook Pro for direct digital connection, a USB-C to USB-A with an adapter to
my Windows 10 PC, and the 4-meter USB-C to 3.5-millimeter with the 6.3-millimeter adapter
to the Headphone output of my MAC6700.
I have some screenshots that we've included so I can show my work, but you'll have to trust me too.
I tried almost every connection I could think of so I could really put the 5909 through its paces.
I won't go through each one at length, but I'll talk about the four core uses
I believe people will try.
So, Bluetooth, it's easiest to use.
It's untethered, so you're free to move around.
With all the options, it's the lowest quality with a 4:1 compression ratio,
but it utilizes a 24 bit/96 kilohertz DAC of the 5909s to improve the sound quality.
If you listen to higher-quality sources, you'll still see the benefit.
Because it's Bluetooth, you'll also be able to use this for phone calls and virtual meeting.
I'll put them on real quick so you can hear the Bluetooth quality for yourself.
Because it's Bluetooth, you'll be able to use these for your phone calls and virtual meetings.
You'll have the clearest sound in the Zoom call.
And the 5909s have Smart Wind Adaption.
So if you're walking down the street, it will adjust the microphone so you don't have to mute your call
because you're interrupting the meeting or your phone call.
A USB-C cable.
It's still portable and will give you an HD cable connection at 24 bit/96 kilohertz.
It's a good connection for new computers and the included adapter will help you also connect
to older style USB as well.
It did not lip sync with the video I watched.
And I'm not surprised.
Hopefully, there's a future firmware update to correct this.
But for right now, if you're watching video, switch to Bluetooth.
The USB-C to 3.5-millimeter 1.25-meter cable, it's the connection for standard headphone jacks
on your devices or USB DACs.
I use this the majority of the time when I'm traveling with my headphones because I love the sound
that my AudioQuest Dragonfly Red enhances, but it's bulky and cumbersome
and drains your battery quicker than normal.
And it's not ideal for everyone traveling.
It is definitely good for a stationary space where all the extra pieces won't feel like too much.
With the USB-C to 3.5-millimeter 4-meter cable, it's not portable at all.
It's mostly used for dedicated space and a home listening area.
So, this setup let me connect to my 2-channel setup so I could listen to 24 bit/192 kilohertz files
and see the depth that the 5909s could offer.
The cable was actually long enough that I could stay connected to my HiFi system and cook dinner
at the same time.
This also let me listen to records as well without monopolizing my house.
It is a great setup, for sure.
Definitely not a normal connection, but I think it's awesome.
I've seen a few other reviews out there that label the Mark Levinson 5909s as Travel Bluetooth Headphones,
which yes, they are great for travel, no doubt.
But there's so much more than that.
These are outstanding hybrid headphones that do a lot of things and do them all really, really well.
It's something I've not seen a lot of in the market.
They are great Bluetooth headphones for high-quality on-the-go listening
with reference quality sound reproduction.
But they are also a great pair of headphones for listening to a dedicated headphone DAC
or directly to your computer with the USB-C cable and utilizing the internal 24 bit/96 kilohertz DAC
in the 5909s.
If I have learned anything about the 5909s during my evaluation is they are versatile
and will adapt to any scenario you throw at them while reproducing reference quality sound.
Thank you for joining me for a review of the Mark Levinson No. 5909 premium wireless headphones.
You can learn more about these online at worldwidestereo.com or if you're in the area,
you can stop by our showrooms in Ardmore or Montgomeryville, PA.
We offer 60-day returns, free shipping on all orders,
and we're authorized dealers for everything we sell.
If you have any feedback or questions, leave them in the comment section below
or you can call or email us at any time.
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on our latest videos.
This is Brian from World Wide Stereo.
I'll see you next time.