Customer Reviews

Almost buuuuuuttt...

Opinion not fact: not as impressed as I was expecting. Note*- I got an open-box deal, not brand new so that might explain a technical annoyance. Second, I'm no audiophile, though I'm much more into sound quality than most people I know. So much so, I am willing to shell out decent money for it. I've been stalking (write-ups, reviews, etc.) these headphones for a over year so I realllly wanted them to workout but they didn't. At the highest quality music, FLAC for me and with a Dragonfly DAC, the sound was beautiful and spacious. Non-lossless but still good quality with DAC, still noticeably better than Macbook speakers. Every other mode, bluetooth, wired, with ANC/witout ANC, was marginally better than my AirPod4's (with ANC- though no where as good as the ML's ANC). Then there were some annoying glitches tech-wise (I've been a IT guy all my 25 working-year career) that tipped the scale to return them. I'd put them down off my ear (still on) come back the next day, pick them back up and couldn't turn them on. Long press on the power button did nothing. I had to plug them in to "charge," see the red light then turn them on. When they connected to my MacBook, it showed 100% battery (within minutes of plugging it in to charge). It did not handle the two device bluetooth device connection well. It'll switch to the one I need to use but drop the other and had to reconnect. The fit wasn't good for my average sized head. It was tight and felt like it was going to slide bac

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Amazing sound

OMG - I was wondering why I was spending this kind of money on headphones when I have some hearing loss (70 and have hearing aids). I am amazed at how much more detail I can hear with these. All the headphone buzzwords like full sound and great sound stage apply. I bought this to replace a Stax Spirit 3 (good detail but not very full sound) I own for listening to music and TV when my wife is asleep. I own a Sony WH-1000XM5 (great noise canceling), Momentum 3 (best sounding until now, but I replaced with the Sony's since a little too unstable), and my wife owns top of the line Bose. This is head and shoulders above them and worth every penny. My only complaint is they are a little tight, but I also wear an XXL hat. I have only worn them for an hour, and so far, no problem, just not great. Also, noise cancelling is good, but not quite as good as my Sony's.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

What a nice sound !!

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The 5909s

Great sound well built hardware leather headband adds a nice touch ! However keep head detection in the off position otherwise your music will cutoff

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MUST HAVE: 3.5mm to Lightening (Not Included)

Excellent sound! These need to be "broken in" until the sound really starts to develop a warm richness. Bypass the wireless aspect with a female 3.5 to lightening/usb-c to get some of the lost volume back, and you have a very good choice here with the added benefit of wireless sound when you want it.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Great looking product. The case includes a lot of well accessories for trave. Case also has a very nice leather finish. Initial out of the box listening was a little bright as noted on a few reviews. Kind of took me by surprise but very consistent with online reviews. This appears to have settled with use. I would recommend giving the head phone a lot of burn in time by using radio as a source so you get a balance of talking and music before critical listening. Nosie canceling is not as good as the Sony ANC offerings, but it is there and not over the top. I was still able to hear people talking to me without taking off the headset. I have not tried on an airplane. The ear cups are warmer temperature wise than the Sony. But not uncomfortably warm. They fit nice and don't cause fatigue like the Apple headphones that had a hot spot on the headphone band. The app does need work. It is simple at best and could use improvement. It does do its job but is a step back from the Sony. Sound stage is comparable to other closed back audio headphones that are not ANC.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

I was looking for a pair of audiophile Bluetooth headphones and these topped Crutchfield's list twice. What HiFi also gave them good reviews. They don't have the soundstage Sennheisers are famous for, but I hear a lot of detail that is missing with speakers. Initially, I returned them - I felt like there was something between the music and me, almost as if I was wearing a thick toboggan when I was listening to them. Giving them a second chance I am very pleased. I connect them to my Sony STR AN-1000 with LDAC. I also keep them paired to my iPad (they can be paired to two devices). I had to turn off keyboard sounds on my iPad to keep static from creeping in when I typed. These are the best headphones I have owned compared to the Sennheiser HD558s and HD600 and also an older Bose Quiet Comfort II (all wired headphones).

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Mark Levinson No. 5909/ Pearl Black

For now I will leave this short. Definitely a must buy. However I gave this a 4 star because of the variation in leather grain on the (LEATHER WRAPPED MEMORY FOAM EAR CUSHION). Replaceable - YES, Inconvenience for this price - YES. So far sound is great. ANC doesn't drown out all noise. But I believe you get the best of both worlds with it being wireless. I will revisit this review in a month.

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Just buy them, you'll be glad you did.

Compare these to Audeze, or Meze. Difference. Open ear Audeze are amazing, Meze wood sounds great. Mark Levinson goes way beyond to the next level. Best comparison for me is the sound of tapping a lead crystal glass verses regular glass. Night and day. Form factor is amazing, not too big, not too small. Bluetooth AND corded for higher definition. Everything in one place. Phenomenal. Sonically you will hear all the instruments, no one area blooms over the others. Bass doesn't overwhelm midrange, sopranos don't wipe out the tenors. Headphones that don't sonically fatigue. Sound comes across as true, clean, lively, but not overwhelming. These headphones do have that Mark Levinson character that some might say is dry, but it's a sunny day on the beach, not the Sahara desert. Choral and strings will be the most enjoyable, followed by brass and woodwinds. Synthesizer bass possibly sounds better on another brand, but you'll hear no truer French horn for the price. I bought a used pair. ZERO COMPLAINTS Cons: Head clamp force is a tad much. Not sure if bigger ear cups or less force would help. But a very minor con.

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Good but overpriced

Well they are good headphones. They sound pretty good. I could talk about sound stage or other buzz words. The pros are simple they sound good. And have more codec options. Especially ldac witch should make samsung folks happy. The cons well they look cheap. And I truly believe you could get just as good sounding phones for 500.00. As you could tell by the picture i have some pretty decent wireless headphones. I don't think these would crack the top 5. I would put them with Edifier stax 5, or my px7s2e. Not with my dalis or t+a

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Great wireless headsets

I use this headsets connected to my LG OLED TV and they work great. Supports Dolby Atomos and a pletora of other audio codecs. Many hours of usage on one charge. Can be charged with Apple USB-C cable that comes with your iphone. Very good sound, much better than Sony or Airpods Max second generation. Great quality finish materials. Didn't try in wired mode

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

This was my first time testing these guys out and i was not disappointed. They a very comfortable and the sound quality is great. They come with so many different adaptors and cables to be very versatile for anything like a phone, table, laptop, or home theater system. Highly recommend!

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Luxurious leather headband headphones

Expensive, but worth style starting with the real leather on headband. Not many headphones use even fake leather or even leather at all. Thus is was a first. I have never heard of the brand. Looked them up on another retailer and they were sold out. Sound is amazing. Thanks Crutchfield!

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Better than its rivals by a lot

These are the best headphones in the $700-$1,000 range, hands down. I tried both they Focal Bathys and the B&W PX8s and the ML 5909s are truly the best. Pros: 1-Sound is the best - the most crisp, clear, well-balanced. 2-Comfort is top notch. Note that the Focal Bathys I didn't want to have on my head after 30min. That's a bad sign. These feel luxurious. 3-Better cords/adaptors. The fact that it comes with a 12' cord you can plug into your home audio integrated amp is sweet. Cons: 1-Yes there is very low hiss when they go on. But you're getting the best sound out there, so just don't let that bother you. Once the sound is going you can't hear it, so so what. 2-Some occasional static clicking when plugged in - I think this is because there is some exposed metal inthe USB-C adaptor when its plugged in. Overall, forget about the price - if you're looking for the absolute best all around headphones in the $500-1500 range - this is it!!

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

I've always been into upgrading my car audio experience in the 80s to MB Quart. When I got older I was always happy with what Lexus offered in a 2012 GX460 and 2018 LX570 in their Mark Levinson branded audio. So I decided to get the 5909. Boy oh boy I felt like I was in high shoot again listening to all the music I grew up on!

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Mark Levinson Number 5909

These are the best headphones I have ever heard. The Mark Levinson Number 5909 build quality is amazing. Also they're very beautiful to look at.Buying them online was easy no hassle. Salesman was extremely knowledgeable and courteous. I will recommend to my friends. Will gladly use your store for future purchases.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Greetings. Hope all is well. I've purchased headphones from all the major brands and have not been satisfied, as well as tested others. So I decided to try Mark Levinson No. 5909 headphones. After listening for 5-minutes I was completely impressed and asked myself. "why did I wait so long". I wore them at work and my coworkers commented in the high quality of the design. Now some of them are in amazement and have said they were buying Mark Levinson No. 5909 too. This is the best pair of headphones I've ever owned and will have for the rest of my life, unless Mark Levinson comes out with another upgraded pair. I say to Mark Levinson. The price is a nice complement to the quality. Mark Levinson please accept Most Sincere Thanks. William F.

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Didn't work out for me

A little background, I am deeply entrenched in Apple's ecosystem, my daily drivers are a set of Beats Solo Pros which have the Apple H1 chip allowing easier connections and switching between sources. I know their sound isn't considered mind blowing, but they worked for me. However the Active Noise Cancellation tends to eventually fail causing a continuous 'wind' sound in the headphones when in use. This has occurred on 2 separate occasions. I decided to give these a try, grabbing an open box set. Connecting via the Bluetooth menu was simple enough, but then when I tried the companion app that has additional controls, it required me to try and connect them again, which would continuously fail. So I 'forgot' the headphones and tried again, it connected, but sound wasn't coming out of them, so I 'forgot' them again, reconnected through the regular BT menu. Listening to them, they sounded full and I could hear the quality, but the songs I listened to kept stopping, almost as though the on ear detection was malfunctioning. I made sure no other apps open to conflict with my choice of music and still there were issues. Reading the instructions, I noted that the headphones cannot be charged while listening to them, along with no volume changes to the UI voice, I'd had my fill. I never tried wired. They sound good but the struggles I experienced weren't worth the price. Perhaps HiFi isn't for me. A 12 dollar return fee.

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Crutchfield response on 1/26/2024

Nicholas contacted our Customer Support team and set up a return. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

Perfect Headphones for Some of You

Mark Levinson's first foray into the headphone world presents consumers with an incredibly versatile audiophile option. These headphones prioritize audio quality at all costs and will be most appreciated by those wanting to listen critically to music at home or on the go.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

excellent sound quality

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Best audiophile quality Noise Cancelling Headset currently available.

This "expensive" audiophile quality headphone lived up to my expectations. The connection variety exceeds most other "noise cancelling" audiophile headphones out there and the (Harman Curve) sound is spectacular. And look at the specs: 10Hz - 40,000Hz when used wired which is how I do most of my listening. Sorry, Focal. Did my due diligence to compare, but the sound quality doesn't top what this headset can do.

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They're Ok

I have a pair of Focal Bathys, and having heard so much about the No. 5909 I decided to buy a pair. The build quality is top notch, but they felt heavy to me and the top of my head would start to hurt after only a couple of minutes of wear. Also had to apply quite a bit of equalization to get them to the way I wanted because to me they were light in the low end. Overall, I just wasn't that impressed and didn't like them enough to keep them, so they were returned.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

The sound is very accurate using bluetooth and better still when plugged in. Phones are comfortable and noise cancelling is top notch.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

I bought a Bose ultra comfort returned then a px8 returned that then mark Levinson and keeping that. It has everything that a great headphone has

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JACK OF ALL TRADES

The ML 5909 is absolutely fantastic. I've been able to test them against a number of wireless headphones and overall they take the cake. Do they have the strongest ANC or call quality? They're really good but that belongs to the Sony Wh-1000XM5. The best transparency? Well, that's the Airpods Max. Most comfortable? I'd probably give that to the Focal Bathys but the 5909 are pretty close. Sound quality though? Well that's the 5909 as it just sounds soo good. Wirelessly it picks up more nuances, has clearer treble, and has a cleaner bass than any of the other wireless options I've tried all while still sounding fun. The icing on the cake is that for as good as it sounds wireless it sounds even better wired and depending on the source it's run from the audio only keeps improving. Add all that to its unboxing, the case, the accessories and the build quality, then the $1000 price tag starts to look VERY reasonable. The only other 2 headphones I can say offer it serious competition are the Dali io-12 and T+A Solitaire T... but those two are also $300-$600 more than the 5909 and I'm not so sure that they actually are the better sets. All in all, I love my ML 5909 and I'm pretty sure anyone who hears them will say the same.

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Great with huge BUT!

Loved everything about these headphones, however they were not working with my Xperia Pro I cell phone. I am quite shocked and disappointed by that. In my opinion, " million"dollars headphones should work with a "million"dollars cell phone, seamlessly! I tried two units and help from tech support, however nothing worked. The connection between those two devices would simply not stay on.

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Crutchfield response on 11/14/2023

Cb, we're sorry you're having issues with your headphones. If you purchased this product from Crutchfield, feel free to contact our Tech Support team. They can help you solve the problem or set up a return within 60 days of purchase. Lifetime tech support comes with every Crutchfield purchase.

5909 Cans

These are the best sounding bluetooth headphones I have ever heard and quite possibly the most comfortable bluetooth headphones I've ever experienced. I'm comparing these to: Apple AirPods Max; Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H95; Bose QuietComfort Ultra and NC 700; Bowers and Wilkins PX7 and PX8; Sony WH-1000XM5. OK, these are more than double the price of some of the phones on the list and $300 more than the PX8, but they are the same price as the H95. The H95 were super close to sounding just as good, and I'd have to say super close to being just as comfortable. Sometimes it's worth taking the risk at spending a bunch of money on headphones, and sometimes it is not. I returned these (5909) because as I was sitting down in my chair one evening, I noticed an odd sound in the left ear cup. I was listening to something new, and I thought perhaps the sound was something in the music. Then I moved my head somewhat quickly, and I heard the sound again. Something had come loose. I'm very careful with handling all of my headphones, regardless of how much they cost. I prefer to take care of my stuff! I never threw the 5909 across the room or even dropped them in the few weeks I had them. Something had come loose just from me walking around with them on, I guess. As of this moment, I am quite happy with my Bowers & Wilkins PX8 007 edition cans. They are comfortable and sound really good.

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My first audiophile headphone

My first audiophile headphone. Sounds exceptionally good with Tidal audio app. MQA and FLAC playback. Apple music high res lossless is good as well.

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Wowza

These headphones have some of the best sound quality I've heard from over ear headphones. They are super comfortable and stayed put on my head pretty well! The thing I would comment on is that they are pretty darn heavy which can put a little strain on your neck, but honestly for the sound quality its totally worth it!

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Impressive Bluetooth

I'm normally pretty skeptical of how good Bluetooth headphones can ACTUALLY be, as I'm dedicated to a hardwire connection. These blew my expectations away. Great staging and detail!

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Great Headphones, Sound and Comfort

Amazing sound when hard-wire connected to the DAC. Excellent sound, though noticeably less clarity, when connected via Blue Tooth directly to the Mac. Intermediate clarity when DAC connected to the Mac and headphones connected to the DAC via Blue Tooth. Modern Blue Tooth is simply amazing. I can walk around the entire apartment, upstairs and down, using Blue Tooth. For best sound I use hard wired connections, but for maximum convenience I use Blue Tooth. Noise cancelling is surprisingly good, especially for droning noise like kitchen exhaust fans, but the headset does a great job even with shrill sounds like kitchen timer alarms.

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Best Bluetooth Headphones yet

Upgraded from JBLs and the first thing you notice is the weight and the quality of the material. These are definitely audiophile headphone. It's not overbearing and I spent about 6 hours with them on my first outing. Sound quality is crisp and the app allows for adjustments to fine tune it. The noise cancelling is so good it's almost scary. I had someone sitting next to me tap me on the shoulder because I couldn't hear a word they said.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Perfect sound

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

I love headphones. I currently own three high end units, two from Focal and one from Oppo. Two bad Oppo closed their doors. They made some great components. The Mark Levinson wins hands down in sound quality and I could not believe the range of Bluetooth connections Highly recommended.

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Horrible headphones and even poor customer service

Horrible 5909 headphone. I purchased one and they auto shutoff. Poor Mark Levinson customer service, spent 3 calls troubleshooting, dragging heels to replace.

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Crutchfield response on 5/24/2023

Sudhir contacted our Customer Support team and set up a return. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

Mark Levinson No. 5909

Great sound, build quality, look, and connectivity. App is relatively limited in terms of functionality. Great passive sound isolation and comfortable.

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Best Bluetooth Headset

Best Bluetooth headphone to date. Very pleased with sound quality using Ldac and AptX hd. Sounds as my iem's with dac. Very disappointed the app is not compatible with my Galaxy tab s8 tablet. Other than the lack of app I give these headphones a 10 rating.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Comfortable and sound great pricey but worth the price.

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Not that impressed as expected

A little bit disappointed due to the fact that you can not use mic for headset mode while the headphones are in passive mode, i.e. this unit can be used as a headset only in the blue tooth mode, otherwise this is a set of headphones, not a headset. It is nit good for gaming, the sound quality of BT connection with my high end PC is practically unacceptable (because of the PC), I have verified that 5909 sounded good being connected to my iPhone. Not sure if any PC motherboard with good BT audio even exists. Overall, the sound quality of 5909 even in passive mode is not that impressive as I expected, on par with my Audiotechnica ATH-M50x headphones. Such as I have 2 relatively good portable headsets, most probably will return the item, nothing in it worth $1k+ in my humble opinion.

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Not worth Open Box savings. But from Manufacturer!

I really wanted to love these. I know I saved a couple of hundred buying "used" or "Open Box," but still to have them be complete failures, and then, Crutchfield charging me to return them? Not cool, Crutchfield, not cool. Besides spending over this much for a set of headphones, to be nick-picked and charged $12 to return defective headphones is just not right. At first, they sounded good, but no control over anything. Having to press the on-off button took too many times to turn it on, it should have been a flag right then. After downloading app, I got some adjustments. Then it started cutting off, or rather pausing, all music/sound to the headphones (HP). I deleted app, repaired the HP to the iPhone, but still, paused for no reason, sometimes loosing connection. No wonder they were open box. Someone else returned the defective HP! I know it?s only $12, on top of the purchase price, but they failed, and I get charged? I don?t think I?ll be using Crutchfield again. Also, they would not stay on my head. Yes, I may not have any, or much, hair left, but still. Any subtle movement sent the headphones moving back and forth off my gorgeous dome. The Bowers & Wilkens new ones, my Bose 45s, they don?t move around on my one brain cell protective cover, at all. These, they MOVE TO THEIR OWN BEAT! The packaging is what I expect on a "premium" product. One lost customer....

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Crutchfield response on 3/13/2023

Once we saw this review, our Customer Support specialist, Yvonne, reached out to G to apologize for the confusion and let him know we had not charged him $12 for the return of this defective item. If you encounter a problem with anything you purchase from Crutchfield, it's important to contact our Customer Support or Tech Support teams right away. They can help you solve the problem or set up a return within 60 days of purchase.

Mark Levinson No. 5909

A little heavy.

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Good, but...

I have mixed feelings. I like the sound, depending on the song. I have a wide taste in music and these showed their quality and flaws. They are pretty well balanced in the low, and mids, but the top end, in the like 10kHz area, is brutal. I was listening to some pop, Rihanna / Beyonce, then Goldfinger / Diamonds are Forever by Chaka and Eric Clapton unplugged. The sibilance is tiring and you quickly realize that you are tired of listening to these no matter how comfortable they are. If you are not sensitive to the top end then these will be good for you. I prefer the balanced more warm sounds of the Focal Bathys - if only the ANC didn't suck on those (I take a bus to work and the bumps of the ANC trying to cope were brutal) - Focal give me an OFF MODE, please - I will buy these again. I promise. The headphones sound great for podcasts which I listen to often as the additional brightness often allowed me to lower the listening volume. One, well 2 last things. There is an incessant hissing when the headphones are about to do something. Its not insanely loud but you can hear it. It doesn't go away for quiet songs or podcasts. Lastly, the ANC, on this pair when engaged, sounds like you have transparent mode on and you're dragging the mic against your clothes. This only happens when you turn left or right for me. When connected to 2 devices songs would randomly stop playing, no idea why. I would have to pick up my ipad / phone and put it back to sleep for it to stop doing t

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Headphones were defective

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Crutchfield response on 2/1/2023

Warren contacted our Customer Support team and set up a return. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

Mark Levinson No. 5909

A wireless headphone have put my Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro into shame (Even with the Dragonfly Cobalt). Do I need to say more?

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5909's

Amazing product. Sound is amazing and so is the build quality. A bit expensive, but it pays off!

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Very nice headphones I bought my husband, an audiophile, for Christmas. He is happy with the sound, comfort, the noise canceling and the Bluetooth.

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If you're looking for more from bluetooth headphones...

If you're questioning whether to spend on these.... don't, just purchase. Spent quite a while debating, checking out reviews and so on trying to determine whether or not to purchase. While 'brick & mortar' stores are becoming fewer and fewer - its become more difficult to simply go and listen to something without traveling a distance to find something where 1st hand demonstration can be had. The more you listen to them, the more you are drawn in. As you begin to put some hours on them - the sound flourishes. As expected, the better the source - the better the sound. These have become my defacto favorite for on-the-go listening. As some have mentioned, the price without the ability to listen prior to purchase is a bit off putting. Only long term concern is noted in the "cons". While these are at the top for bluetooth headphones by price - the resultant sound (IMHO) justifies the price. Using a quality headphone amplifier (my preference is tube-based) with lossless source really showcases the capabilities of these headphones. Kudos to Mark Levinson for a well executed design. Sound over bluetooth from Apple devices is still quite nice, albeit despite Apple's limitations. Did try using a Dragonfly Cobalt (Lightening to USB) and they did sound notably better, but adds bulk/cabling/etc. Using a dedicated DAP is certainly worthwhile.

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Amazing, though pricey, headphones

Very impressive headset. Easy to use and truly amazing sound out of the box. Perhaps too good as the headphones, like other high-end equipment, reveal the limitations of the source material. Positives: Snug fit, easy to adjust, simple controls, nice to have an app to adjust bass and other items. Tried them out with a variety of different kinds of music and all sounded excellent. Opportunities for improvements to the next models: The iPhone did not recognize the headset using a direct connection (USB-C to lightning). It would only recognize it when using the adapter (3.5mm jack to lightning, USB-C to 3.5mm). Maybe a minor inconvenience, but disappointing because lossless only works with a wired connection, not bluetooth, and needing yet another adapter is a bit annoying, especially since the kit came with a variety of cables to use. For the price I paid I don't want to add an external DAC/amp. Note that on the MacBook Pro wired connection the sound was amazing.

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ML 5909's set themselves apart from the pack.

These headphones are very unique experience within the ANC Bluetooth headphone space. I'm of the mindset that beryllium can be heard when it is used as a component within drivers, be it speakers or in this case the headphone drivers, and that sound is one that is particularly detailed that elevates/pulls out vocal detail and has a crispness and clarity that you will not find anywhere else. I feel that this will be most enjoyable for people who enjoy classical, acoustic, or orchestral music (as opposed to rock or electronic). Furthermore the 5909's the bass control is impressive. You definitely will find more bass presence and impact in the PX8's for example, but the overall speed, control and detail of low frequency sound of the 5909 is without comparison. It's just a tighter more managed bass, not overflowing or rotund. The sound field depth of the 5909 is somewhat controversial in that it's hyper detailed sound makes so much of the music forward and present that the depth front to back may seem slightly lacking compared to other headphones which muddy low frequencies making sounds more distant while having mid and high frequency sounds up front. Overall the 5909's have a sound signature that is very enjoyable and detailed, one that no other ANC headphone replicates. I can definitely say given their price point they do separate themselves from the competition and provide a quality product that has numerous distinctions that you will only find in owning the 59

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

I was looking for a wireless headphone with a good feature set (e.g. ANC, comfort) but with better sound quality than the leading contenders (e.g Sony and Apple). On research these seem to fit my requirements the best. I also like the fact they can be connected without power, combine that with an external dac and sound is awesome. Sound is also very good in wireless mode (significantly better than the mid tier offerings). AnC is just average at best (no where as good as Sony XM5). Comfort is great. The APP is disappointing in that it has no equalizer other than a bass enhancer. For the price this should be addressed. I do not like the fact that ANC goes into awareness mode only (can't be changed) during phone calls. I had some quality issues with this purchase (not from Crutchfield as the support is great) though with defective units out of the box (note I did update to latest firmware). First unit had a badly attenuated left speaker in powered mode (worked OK wireless). I received a replacement and this unit had questionable ANC (barely working I thought and periodically makes a strange noise when you move your head). The unit even more significantly kept dropping my phone calls (note I had head removal sensor off as I hear that was buggy and it still did it). I tried 2 other headphones I had and they did not drop the calls so I know it was the headphone. I received a third pair yesterday and I have none of the issues I identified on the other 2 pair so far.

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Amazing sound, quality. Noise Cancelling good, but not great.

Quality is extremely high. You know you have bought some real good headphones. The style is a little dated. They looked like they are from the 80 or 90s. The Sound is high quality what an audiophile might expect. The Bluetooth is excellent, it connects immediately to anything, like they have glue or something. It is spectacular. Comfort is really bad for big heads like mine. The clamping pressure is high, I guess that is to improve the Noise cancelling. They are too small, they look like a toy or those early computer headphones from Logitech. That is very disappointing. I guess that is way they choose to save some cost to compensate the amazing built quality and sound. I returned the Focal Bathys for the same reason, too small. The head band gives me most of the problems being to small. They are extended at the maximum, but I feel the pressure at the top of my ears. The cups do not cover all my ears, because they sit a little high. The uneven pressure they exert make me nauseous and too much pressure that I keep fidgeting with them until I remove them. Sound is better than the Bathys. I am still sitting on the fence if return them or not. Remember the comfort is only bad for big heads.

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Worth the money

Generally very pleased with these headphones in spite of the price. The only downside is the controls. Hard to actually figure what is turned on/off (noise cancelling mode, bluetooth connection and so on). Sound is pretty terrific. I'm hearing instruments I didn't previously hear in recordings I have been listening to for many years. Nice that they include an assortment of connection cables, adapters and plugs. Removes the need to go hunting around for the right adapter or cable.

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Most enjoyable

I just want to say that I almost never give any five star reviews. Five star to me means perfect. Not much is perfect. I find that my enjoyment of these headphones surpasses any other headphones I have owned. Grado, Focal, Sennheiser, all sitting in my drawer. The ability to have such excellent bluetooth sound is extremely satisfying. When I am sitting around listening, I will often plug them in to my dac/amp and again have excellent music. They are like having two pair of headphones. I highly recommend!

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Amazing for what they are. Best of both worlds. Mobile and wireless with the option to wire them up through a dragonfly or other DAC. Was amazed with the sound both ways. I also own Sennheiser 820s, multiple sets of the momentum's over the years( don't last), Focal Elegia and my favorites the Focal Stellia. Most def worth the price.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Excellent hi-fi sound.

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Best Bluetooth wireless ANC Headphones

These headphones are amazing. The sound are at a whole different level. The ANC could be better but what it lacks in ANC, it makes up in the quality of sound. These are comfortable, i had them on for 5 hours with no problem. Just dont use with glasses, to me it was not great i had to take them off.

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Next Level Audiophile Sound

If you are asking the question "are these that much better than the Sony or Bose options?", my answer is absolutely a resounding yes. I use headphones almost exclusively for music and these are far and away better than the extremely good $350 ish options. Build quality is superb. They are heavy but weight is distributed well. There's a lot of tech in there. I think Sony's ANC is unbeatable and these don't quite hit that class leader to my ears. But ANC is very good. Sound quality is just on another level. Fullest Sound stage I've heard. They are just remarkable. I'd love to compare the Bathy's but my extensive research led me here. Extremely glad. If you are an audiophile you'll really like the Sony and Bose. You will simply be blown away by the Mark Levisinsons. Glad I bit the bullet and spent the money.

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ML5909 Superb headphones

Amazing pair of headphones. Comfortable and the best in terms of music. If you are thinking about it, done hesitate, just buy it. You will not regret.

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Excellent High End Wireless Headphones

I approached purchasing these headphones with a bit of trepidation. They are, after all, $999, roughly 3x my most expensive pair of wireless headphones (Sony WH-1000XM3) and 2x+ my most expensive pair of wired (Massdrop x Fostex TR-X00). That being said, I have long loved the product produced by Mark Levinson (own a No. 535 Integrated and used to sell their products in the early 90s), so I dove in. I needn't have worried at all. The fit and finish is what one would expect and the sound is incredible. Great detail and speed with high quality sources running APT-X and LDAC from my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Very flat response unless you use the ML app to boost your bass response (necessary on some "thin sounding" songs. The Battery life is outstanding. Have only charged once (when received) and still over 60% battery available with over 10 hours of active listening with ANC on. IF you're in the market for a great set of wireless headphones AND you are dabbling in the high end here, purchase with confidence. The only real detractor I have is the "On Head" detection is not good. Just don't use it and you're good to go.

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ML 5909 Amazing!

My quest to find the best wireless headphones for me just stopped with my purchase of the ML 5909 from Crutchfield. Backstory first---I own the Focal Stellias which are in a league of their own thus I have a decent basis to work from when it comes to sound. Journey--tried the Focal Bathys--bright is my impression--compare to a Qled tv vs Oled--Qled is vivid and bright--Oled vivid but with more depth--the 5909 are like the Oled. Next--B&W P8 Bond edition --sounds great--probably in the middle of Bathys and 5909. I have used the 5909 bluetooth which sounded amazing. I have also used them wired using the new Chord Mojo2 connected via a silver dragon Usb-c cable from moon audio--this is connected to my Ipad to the Mojo 2--sound is unbelievable. Reference audio used was Danish National Orchestra via Youtube and Tidal music--their rendition of Good, Bad & Ugly along with numerous other Eastwood movies along with James Bond soundtracks will give the listener a great idea of how the headphones actually perform via multiple instruments. Synopsis--For me these are the best wireless headphones I have ever used!!! Packaging is first rate and everything to get started is included. In the future my hope is Apple will get rid of the Lightening port and replace with Usb-c thereby getting rid of the worthless doggles! Working with Crutchfield--fantastic experience and I would highly recommend working with them if you are in the market. Hope this helps someone who is trying to make a decision.

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Wonderful if pricey headphones

After trying the PX8 and the Bathys, I ultimately picked these for a few key reasons. 1) Audio quality - Truth be told the Bathys and ML5909 were very close in terms of audio quality. I can imagine many people preferring the Bathys for its more mature sound that manages to handle hazier tracks with mid - high bleed and reign them in. I prefer the ML5909 for their more full and at times appropriately aggressive mid and high representation that really lets rock and female vocalists take center stage. The PX8 are great but a level below the two in my opinion. 2) True Passive Mode - Neither the PX8 or Bathys can be used power off while the ML can, which is a nice feature that I enjoy esp pairing them with my DAP (Hiby RS6) 3) Comfort - This is highly subjective but I found the ML to be the most gentle on ear feeling and didnt have unwanted jaw pressure that I experienced with the Bathys. The PX8 were solid but not as good as the ML 4) On-ear detection; While not perfect since the update it has been pretty reliable (it will stop after a short delay when headphones are removed, and resume quickly - unless they are off for two long and then they wont resume). PX8 are very very buggy currently. Bathys dont have this feature. 5) Respectable ANC; ML 5909 are slightly better than PX8, both are much better than the Bathys (tested using my speaker systems playing an engine rumble track). They also have the best passive isolation of all 3 on my head

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If you love music, STOP here

So right out of the gate something to note. The ear detection is buggy. I returned my first pair of these as the music kept pausing regardless of the listening source, so I thought it had to be the headphones. Crutchfield as always was simply perfect with the return! Got the new pair and exact same issue. No way was this normal I thought! I decided to call Harmon Kardon (Parent company) directly as indicated on the Mark Levinson website. Not expecting much in the way of a solution I was super impressed when they told me to turn off the auto detect function and Voila...issue resolved!! I say all this to save you the effort and frustration, because in actual fact these headphones are nothing short of amazing. I am Crutchfield's perfect customer.. I am always buying headphones and earphones. I'm the moth to the light. I own Apple Air pods pro 1&2, Bose 700, B&W Pi7, Sony XM4s, B7W PX7s and many others . I also have several Hi Res sources to play from and this is what really separates the headphones. In wired and Bluetooth formats, these headphones are stellar. The nuanced sounds are absolutely incredible and easily match their wired non noise-cancelling luxury counterparts. These are the best of both worlds.In the airplane with noise, they sound fantastic, in a quiet environment, they are simply stunning. Detail across the sound spectrums is the sample all others are hoping for. Should head detection work better? Sure..but the sound is so good you won't miss it!.

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The best-sounding Bluetooth headphone in the world

I've been spoiled for years by my audiophile-grade home headphone setup: The Fostex TH900 connected to a dedicated headphone amp. I love the rich, detailed sound of the TH900. The only problem with it is that it's bulky, with huge earcups and heavy-gauge wires, making it totally impractical for wearing on the go. So, I tried all of the high-end wireless headphones available in 2022, chasing that audiophile-grade sound. And the Mark Levinson No. 5909 is by far the best. Even over Bluetooth, it comes within inches of delivering the same level of listening pleasure that I get from pairing the TH900 with a dedicated amp. In particular, the tight bass is unlike any other wireless headphone I've heard. So why isn't this review 5 stars? Because as much as I love the No. 5909's sound, it's not a perfect headphone. There's audible hiss when no sound is playing, even with ANC disabled. A loud voice announces "Noise canceling off!" when you toggle the ANC. The carrying case is absurdly bulky. Last but not least, the ANC creates an uncomfortable feeling of pressure in my ears, which is an issue I had with early ANC headphones but haven't experienced with any other recent model. All of those flaws make me a little wary of endorsing this headphone for travelers, even for those who aren't deterred by the eye-watering price. (Try the Focal Bathys instead.) However, if you're looking for wireless headphones to wear at home or in an office, these are truly exceptional.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Outstanding sound quality; however, the noise cancelling is not quite what I expected.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

I'm running it in with tidal and Qboz

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Works very well with mobile devices and external DACs. Sound is very good both wired and wireless (over Bluetooth). Sound is audiophile in wired mode. Bluetooth range is quite extended from other devices I have used. Comfortable in wearing over extended periods as well. Build quality is impressive and excellent.

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The Gold Standard of Wireless Headphones

I have owned several wired and wireless headphones over the years, but NONE compare to the audio refinement and fit-and-finish of these Mark Levinson No. 5909's. The build quality is superlative and I find them very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The Active Noise Cancellation is exceptional, creating the perfect listening environment for enjoying my favorite music selections. If you make the decision to purchase, they will likely be the last headphones you will ever own!

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Exceptional!

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

As Jeff mentioned in his video the ML 5909 has the Harmon frequency response. They sound very natural. it is almost like you are not wearing headphones. The other day I was watching a video on my computer. The sound was through a cobalt dragon fly DAC. I could feel the rain hitting the band on my headphones and my head. I have only used the ML 5909 in the wired configuration. I have not tried blue tooth or noise cancelling modes. I just wish Mark Levinson had supplied a balanced cable for the 5909.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

High quality build high quality sound is exactly what I expected from Mark Levinson and the 5909 didn't disappoint. Couldn't be more pleased with my choice.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Great set of portable headphones. I bought the B&O H95's at the same time and these were superior sound quality for sure! I'm excited to have these as well for passive listening with my Chord Mojo2 DAC. The pair works great for higher quality NC'ed listening.

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wonderful headphones

Excellent set of headphones. The sound is excellent in both wired and wireless mode

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Wonderful soundstage without an external DAC.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909 Luxury Headphones

These headphones by Mark a Levinson are exceptional. Attention to detail and craftsmanship are evident at first glance. The sound is like you are actually there, well balanced, and virtually no distortion. A true luxury sound experience.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

Awesome design and sound. So high quality. I really really recommend this one. I think No5909 is the best one on the world

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

buying at crutchfield was an utmost pleasure. pro and efficient. arrived to my hotel (yeah, i wasnt home and i really wanted to use it on my flight back home) the product itself it a masterpiece. both sound and build. highly recommended.

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Quality worth every penny

I see in many reviews online a concern on the cost of these amazing headphones.ignore the price. Save up. Think of this.if you use it everyday, you should enjoy your headphones every time you pick them up. You should enjoy the look, feel, texture, comfort and get chills from the incredible sound quality.everyday, life is short. The price is a one time thing for something you will use and enjoy every day. It is so worth it. All aspects of these headphones are great. Solid, beautiful, expressive design, comfy, phone calls are perfect and the sound is the very best. The quality of the soundstage and imaging is unbelievable for Bluetooth. If quality sound and quality craft is your interest then these are your headphones. If your interest lies in big stupid looking aluminum ear muffs with the dumbest case on earth or, if your interest is in the "joy" of plasticky passionless touch tech then the 5909s are not for you. Run away, you are not ready for the quality of the no. 5909s.

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fantastic fit & build

Mark & his team have created the finest headphones that I have used in recent memory. I love the fit & build, and the perfectly balanced sound is music to my ears. Way to go, highly recommended!

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Great sound, helpful tech support

Sound quality is excellent. A step up from my B&O H8s. These are not $3,000 wired headphones, but for travel I'm not aware of anything better in the wireless over-ear category with ANC. I had some initial problems pairing with my Astell&Kern portable media player. That was resolved by doing a factory reset on the 5909s - with the help of the very responsive tech support at Harman Int'l: Donald B. Jacobs Field Support Engineer Harman Luxury Audio Group, Lifestyle Division csupport@harman.com All in all, very pleased with this purchase.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

I'm interested in products designed to last while also providing quality sound, and so far these headphones fit the bill. The build quality of the headphones is high. Aluminum and soft leather make up most of the external material selection, with the only plastic I can detect being the control buttons and the housing around them. I have a probably average head size, and the headphones fit snugly around my head at their tightest, so they could be a little tighter. In comparison to my 1st gen Sennheiser Momentum over-ear wired headphones, the cups for the ears are larger and provide actual over-ear wear compared to the Sennheiser's on-ear sizing. The case and all cables feel like quality as well. Sound quality rivals that of my wired Sennheisers in the wireless setting. It took my iPhone X a few tries to connect but since the initial pairing I've had no issues. I noticed a clarity in these headphones that is absent in my Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2s. Because of their impressive soundstage, there were multiple times I got the impression my music was playing from an external source when it wasn't. In public settings the wired sound quality is moderately improved, but honestly either connection provides music that sounds as good or better than any other heaphone I've used. The active noise canceling works well and there's a noticeable difference in modes. I had questions about the cost of these, but given what I wanted these headphones to do I will

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Very Pleased!! Highly Recommend

Very pleased. Sound is amazing. I've had multiple pairs of Bose noise cancelling, Sony and Air Pod Max. These blow them away. The comfort is incredible and they are easy to use, but the sound is the best part.

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Crutchfield response on

Great quality and sound but...

The product is built well. Not too much plastic parts, good leather and stitching where it counts. The quality of the product is not in question. When making phone calls, I have had many people say that they can hear me SO Much better than any other time I use other in ear headphones. So far they only downside I have seen (for my taste) is that when I wear them during my walks around town, with every step I hear a thump (not a loud one, mind you but it seems like a thump sound with every step). It feels like I can hear my own footsteps and that is distracting while trying to do a walk about the park or around town. But stilling still and listening to it or on the plane, the sound is fantastic and the keeps the plane noice out better (or just as good as my BOSE headphones). Used it on 3 different flights and it's my go to for flights now or just sitting in the backyard and enjoying my book on tape while I eat or chill out.

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Luxury ANC BT Headphones

The ML5909 headphones are exceedingly fine with luxurious fit and finish. I am a classically trained musician who does recording. If this perspective interests you, read on. On first listening (prior to burn in) my first reaction was that the sound was startlingly clear. Details hidden using most other earphones were suddenly audible. I would characterize the ML5909 sound signature as slightly emphasizing the treble. Prior to burn in, I heard a slightly tizzy treble with some undesirable resonance around the open E string of the violin as well as in vocals at similar pitches. Burn in improved this but it is still subtly present. The app allows some tweaking of the bass but no other frequency ranges. UltraHD tracks from Amazon Music were noticeably better compared to standard CD level. The best sound quality is with the supplied cable and USB-C/A adapter into my PC. My single disappointment is that I've experiened random and sometimes frequent (sometimes every few seconds!) music stoppages for no apparent reason. This occurs even when my iPhone is on the desk directly in front of me 1 ft away, playing tracks physically stored on my iPhone so the wi-fi connection should not be an issue. Unfortunately, Mark Levinson customer service couldn't help because they had no hands on experience yet (!) This music interruption problem will be a deal breaker, but if it can be solved, I would otherwise highly recommend the ML5909 as the Audiophile pick among BT ANC headphones. Update: I commend the support team at both Crutchfield as well as Mark Levinson in working with me to determine that there was a malfunction of the On-Head Detection system that seemed to cause the frequent music stoppages. A replacement 5909 now works as it should. I would add also that as I gain more listening time with the No. 5909, I remain enthusiastic about the remarkable clarity of the sound. That said I would characterize the sound signature as a little on the lean side, even with the Bass Contour enhanced. I find myself turning up the volume, sometimes >70% in order to gain the fullness of sound that I've grown to expect from recordings I'm familiar with. This need for higher volume setting is mainly with BT connections; wired connections seem to have a significantly higher volume, in line with amps I use, only requiring volume settings in the 40-50% range. Also, as pristine as the sound is over BT, the sound using the USB-C/A cable to my PC is substantially better - I would call it truly audiophile quality. And listening with the USB-C cable and with 1/4" adapter into a Sennheiser HDV-820 headphone amp, the sound is superb. Overall, the No. 5909 performance and features are phenomenal and I highly recommend it. I'm also highly appreciative of the well known customer service at Crutchfield as well as Mark Levinson, both of which definitely live up to their reputation.

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Mark Levinson No. 5909

The most incredible clear sound i have ever heard

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