I used the Mark Levinson 5909s with two mobile phones, an iPhone XR (AAC codec) and a HUAWEI-ANE/LX3-P20 (aptX HD/Android codec) phone. For better sound tests, I connected the 5909s to several DAC/amplifiers (like the Monolith Alex Cavalli Liquid Platinum Balanced tube amp, through the Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M). However, I did my attentive listening by pairing it with the iFi xDSD Gryphon Hi-Res DAC/Amp through the balanced 4.4mm input (with an adapter). The bass impact level is wonderfully easy-going and not harsh. This could have easily been another trash pile slam fest on the low end, but the No. 5909 stays elegant throughout. The entire low end is very soft and very easy to listen to. This is a chill headphone on the low end. Even when boosted, the impact levels are still less than moderate. Mids

Strings have good energy and timbre making the No.5909 a great choice for string quartet pieces. Piano notes are delivered with excellent weight, detail, and very realistic timbre and it was rather impressive how well the headphones reproduced one of the most challenging instruments to get right. Mark Levinson has been one of the leading brands in high-end audio for almost 50 years and its transition under the stewardship of Harman International has been rather interesting to watch. Harman is now owned by Samsung and part of a much larger group of companies that includes Harman Kardon, JBL, Lexicon, Infinity, Revel, and AKG. The growth of wireless headphones and the connection to Samsung and AKG is not a coincidence in regard to the Mark Levinson No. 5909 Wireless Headphones. Mark Levinson built a free app to go with the 5909s. There’s a simple equalization of the bass frequency: Neutral, Enhanced, or Attenuated. The change in sound is minimal, and the subtle bass response does its job. When I describe the sound signature of the 5909s you’ll understand why this very small change in sound is important, for now, let me just say it’s a simple straightforward app. Updates are done through the app as well. Comfort: very good to excellent. Slightly heavier than expected but well balanced with comfortable headband and very comfortable pads, which I believe are leather. EDIT: The pads ARE removable. No. 5909 is the name of Mark Levinson’s first ever headphones. As part of Harman Luxury Audio, they have put their name to what must be the most expensive noise-cancelling headphones on the market. And as hi-fi connoisseurs know, Mark Levinson is a brand that both excites and – not least – obligates.The headphones seem to have a small gain in the midrange (1 kHz). Music sounds very clear, but can appear a bit harsh in some cases. But while there might be a little too much energy there, it never becomes cold and distorted. With the Focal Bathys, I found it necessary to attenuate slightly at 4 kHz to make them less nasal. I don’t have that need here. And that’s a good thing, because it’s not possible with the Mark Levinson cups either. Could have been louder ANC works very well and is on par with Sony and Bose for noise reduction and extremely good when it comes to not changing the sonic signature when engaged. Like most models, it works more effectively with lower pitched droning noises and I found that the low or adaptive settings were quite sufficient for most listening environments. As you see, in pass-through analog mode, the headphone went out of control at 114 dBSPL and with digital, it would simply not get that loud. Otherwise, distortion is extremely low. Considering that we don't need to boost anything, this is even better result than it seems. Here is the absolute level distortion: Yes, there is certainly an audible difference between BT mode and wired mode, but at this point, I am not caring too much these days about that when I am not in critical reviewing week.

I then connected them, and this was a game changer for me. My listening experience with the Mark Levinson 5909 headphones was that of high-end wired headphones like the Hifiman Arya or the Focal Clear. Yes, with a different sound signature, but the high-end response and audiophile sound I am accustomed to with very expensive wired headphones was present. What surprised me was the detail and silk-like mids-wired headphones present like the Arya and Focal Clear. The 5909s didn’t beat the Focal Clear soundstage or the Arya’s full and crisp sound, but it doesn’t need to, it has the advantage of being in the same ballpark, plus they’re wireless and noise-cancelling. The Mark Levinson No. 5909 is not an imaging champion, but it doesn’t let me down at all. This entire headphone is hand-tuned and not just random parts put together. They had an idea for how it should sound and they invoked the parts needed to make it that specific way. Disclaimer: our company Madrona Digital is a dealer for Harman products in custom install industry. So while we theoretically could source this headphone, it is not something we remotely sell. Still, if you want to read bias into this review, by all means, do so. Driving for massive staging can sometimes ruin the density factor of the entire headphone and make it sound thin and stretched. The No. 5909 is quite dense and hefty for a dynamic driver.The Mark Levinson No. 5909 is a magnificent choice. In fact, it is one of the best wireless all-rounder headphones I’ve come across lately. The wireless features are just a bonus for me. The additional degree of impact is certainly noticeable but each listener will have a different preference in that regard and it can be turned on/off without any other issues.