Premium Mark Levinson Headphone
Mark Levinson is one of those legendary audio brands that immediately evokes beautiful memories for every enthusiast. I immediately think of the colossal No 333, which I hoisted up the steep stairs in Amsterdam-famous Betondorp, with a big smile at the risk of my own life. The pride that followed after the first sounds steaming into the 35m2 upstairs apartment with brute force made an unforgettable impression. A real Levinson. In all fairness, we were quite surprised to learn that Mark Levinson was working on a luxury headphone. A Levinson that you can lift with 2 fingers and carry on your head? With some skepticism we pulled the first model out of the transport packaging. A super sexy outer box with the same image smiled towards us. OK. The matte black inner box with stamped Mark Levinson logo looks very chic. It is clear that some serious attention to detail has been paid to this. We flip open the magnetic cover to encounter the the metallic gray version of Mark Levinson’s new headphones in real life for the first time. A similar feeling arises unexpectedly. The red stitching in the leather headband. The sleek, aluminum ear cups with Mark Levinson logo. The quality of the braces and the fine details. Yep. This is a Mark Levinson. A Mark Levinson headphone. The Mark Levinson No 5909.
Mark Levinson No 5909 Sound
With this year’s 50th anniversary the American brand is a huge pillar in High-End Audio where sound and form are just as important as function, and vice versa. As part of the great Harman, Mark Levinson indirectly has a significant connection to the headphone market with sister companies JBL and Harman Kardon. Of course, those brands aim for a different price and quality level, but the knowledge and technology is all ‘in-house’. That knowledge, unique measurement procedures and Harman’s own EQ Curve in DSP, combined with uncompromising use of materials make the Mark Levinson No 5909 something very special. They are very beautiful and luxuriously designed headphones and therefore true to the Mark Levinson philosophy. As with its High End audio products, this Mark Levinson is not only beautiful on the outside. Behind the soft ear cushions the technology is – as we expect from Mark Levinson – just as beautiful. 40mm Berrylium coated drivers massage the eardrum from a specially shaped, aluminum housing that fits comfortably and closes well. An important foundation for good sound. Mark Levinson’s Digital Signal Processing, which can be slightly adjusted through the dedicated No 5909 App, convinces with a full and crisp sound that seems to float remarkably spatially ‘around’ the head.
Mark Levinson No 5909 Function
The No 5909 has really been developed for the connoisseur of freedom. Wireless but with maximum quality. Inside in silence, but also outside thanks to the phenomenal Adaptive Noise Canceling that you can adjust to your taste. The internal DAC is compatible with 24-bit/96kHz data suitable for High Res Audio. Of course in all honesty you still need a wire to fully utilize it. It is therefore neatly included, proudly carrying the Mark Levinson Logo and with various adapters. Still, thanks to Bluetooth 5.1 compatibility with aptX, AAC and LDAC support, it’s amazing what the No 5909 manages to create from the wireless thread. When you take the No 5909 into the city, you will know exactly when you have to dodge for hectic traffic thanks to the Ambient Aware mode. And with the four built-in microphones and smart wind noise suppression, even a telephone conversation on a windy street is crystal-clear. If you switch on the Noise Canceling, you can enjoy music for about 30 hours, without a charging break. With Noise Canceling turned off, the No 5909 can last about six more hours and with a 15-minute quick charge it will be back in action again for roughly six hours.
It is the combination of the luxurious appearance, Harman’s sound optimizing signal processing, which is particularly impressive given the wireless use, and the versatile noise canceling functionality that make this No 5909 a real Mark Levinson wannehave. Fortunately, that is possible because they are now available from stock in three colors: Deep Black Pearl Black, Radient Red and the metallic gray Ice Pewter.
