Mark Levinson № 5909 headphone

[Daniel Johnston]

I would imagine that most customers of this probably use it mostly in wireless. The price in itself probably means that you need to have some what of an active interest in sound quality, and if you do many probably also have other headphones that perhaps are even better, although wired. That's not to say these don't stand up as wired headphones though.

I use them mainly wired with ANC. Compared to the WH1000XM4 I was using before for the same purpose, they have massively better clarity, resolution, dynamics, and non-bloated bass. Compared to the Meze Liric and Focal Stellia, they still hold up very well. I don’t feel as though I’m compromising audio quality for the need of ANC.
I would also disagree that these don’t stand up to wired headphones. They are not “reference tuned”. If you are not a fan of Harman tuning, will you will not like these. There are better, cheaper wired options of course.

 

[angelom]

I will say in an interesting development I won a pair of the new Sony XM5’s At work the other day and I’ve been switching between the two pairs for the last week or so. While the Mark Levinson has let’s say 10% better sound quality roughly, the Sony blows it away in terms of noise canceling and general features so it’s an interesting comparison

Is a fact that Sony models (and apparently more now the xm5), Bose models and Apple's APM having better ANC than the 5909.

But about your comment that the sound quality of the xm5 comparing with 5909 only 10% in favour of the 5909, I'm not agree with you completely. I don't have and never hearing the xm5, but I know xm4 and I own xm3 still. All (or majority) of reviews and graphs saying that xm5 is sounding very, very similar like xm4 (but xm5 having better ANC and better sound for telephone calls than xm4 and xm3), and I know for fact that xm4 is very similar in sound quality like xm3 because I owing xm4 before and comparing directly. So, if xm5 is similar with xm4, for me the difference in sound quality is definitely more big than 10%, maybe 30% or 40% or maybe even more.

 

[BatBoyP]

I would imagine that most customers of this probably use it mostly in wireless. The price in itself probably means that you need to have some what of an active interest in sound quality, and if you do many probably also have other headphones that perhaps are even better, although wired. That's not to say these don't stand up as wired headphones though.

Well, I'm using my one pair of headphones both with my synth wired, as well as wireless for general listening. Because the attachment of the earpiece to the head belt broke, I'm looking for a replacement. Getting 2 headphones is an option, but I find it more practical to have only 1 set.

For making music, wireless introduces too much latency. Also, obviously, the synth doesn't have Bluetooth so I need the wire. Now, I know there are dedicated headsets for that purpose (e.g. DT 700 Pro X) and it's tempting to just get one of those. But I mainly use the headphones as a double-check of the "commercial sound" of what I'm making. I do the production itself on very transparent studio monitors - SuperCubes 5. Using the same headphones as for my music listening as a final check brings my own music into the known territory of the headphones I use for other music as well.

 

[jthomp72]

Is a fact that Sony models (and apparently more now the xm5), Bose models and Apple's APM having better ANC than the 5909.

But about your comment that the sound quality of the xm5 comparing with 5909 only 10% in favour of the 5909, I'm not agree with you completely. I don't have and never hearing the xm5, but I know xm4 and I own xm3 still. All (or majority) of reviews and graphs saying that xm5 is sounding very, very similar like xm4 (but xm5 having better ANC and better sound for telephone calls than xm4 and xm3), and I know for fact that xm4 is very similar in sound quality like xm3 because I owing xm4 before and comparing directly. So, if xm5 is similar with xm4, for me the difference in sound quality is definitely more big than 10%, maybe 30% or 40% or maybe even more.

The graph doesn’t tell the entire story with the XM5. They sound more spacious than the XM4’s and have a good bit more clarity. Check them out for yourself.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Well, I'm using my one pair of headphones both with my synth wired, as well as wireless for general listening. Because the attachment of the earpiece to the head belt broke, I'm looking for a replacement. Getting 2 headphones is an option, but I find it more practical to have only 1 set.

For making music, wireless introduces too much latency. Also, obviously, the synth doesn't have Bluetooth so I need the wire. Now, I know there are dedicated headsets for that purpose (e.g. DT 700 Pro X) and it's tempting to just get one of those. But I mainly use the headphones as a double-check of the "commercial sound" of what I'm making. I do the production itself on very transparent studio monitors - SuperCubes 5. Using the same headphones as for my music listening as a final check brings my own music into the known territory of the headphones I use for other music as well.

Harman tuning is supposed to represent what “a majority of people” prefer. The 5909 do conform to the Harman target fairly well based on others measurements. If this is what you mean by using headphones to check ”commercial sound”.
I would think there are better, cheaper options for you in this aspect. The 5909 will not disappoint, but its a pretty pricey for what it delivers.

 

[angelom]

The graph doesn’t tell the entire story with the XM5. They sound more spacious than the XM4’s and have a good bit more clarity. Check them out for yourself.

Is not only the graphs but the comments from the people comparing directly the xm5 and xm4 describing the sound and they saying that the sound is really very, very similar. I can buying and returning the xm5 for free but the xm5 isn't interesting for me, one big reason is that like xm3 and xm4 the ear cups of xm5 aren't leather (like the real leather in the 5909, pw7, h95, h9 or h8 that don't making my ears hot and sweating soon) and this is very bad for me.

 

[improwise]

I use them mainly wired with ANC. Compared to the WH1000XM4 I was using before for the same purpose, they have massively better clarity, resolution, dynamics, and non-bloated bass. Compared to the Meze Liric and Focal Stellia, they still hold up very well. I don’t feel as though I’m compromising audio quality for the need of ANC.
I would also disagree that these don’t stand up to wired headphones. They are not “reference tuned”. If you are not a fan of Harman tuning, will you will not like these. There are better, cheaper wired options of course.

You really think that sound quality is the same as the Stellia, a headphone about three times more expensive (without the digital stuff in the 5909s that probably makes up a big chunk of the price, ie less left for "drivers")? Mostly asking as I am pondering getting the Stellias but mostly a bit worried about if they are fragile and requires maintenance with the leather and everything. That might happen once in my case but then never again

 

[jthomp72]

Is not only the graphs but the comments from the people comparing directly the xm5 and xm4 describing the sound and they saying that the sound is really very, very similar. I can buying and returning the xm5 for free but the xm5 isn't interesting for me, one big reason is that like xm3 and xm4 the ear cups of xm5 aren't leather (like the real leather in the 5909, pw7, h95, h9 or h8 that don't making my ears hot and sweating soon) and this is very bad for me.

Yeah so I got them for free for hitting some stupid work metric so I’m not going to complain but I will say they have a few advantages that I didn’t think of before being gifted them. The lightness does make it easier to listen for long periods of time, can’t deny that. Also, the cups have more memory foam in them, I like the feel. 5909 is def nicer. Can’t deny it. Also, RE sound, i can eq the sony’s to hell and back But, at 399 v 999…it’s not a cut and dried comparison

 

[jthomp72]

You really think that sound quality is the same as the Stellia, a headphone about three times more expensive (without the digital stuff in the 5909s that probably makes up a big chunk of the price, ie less left for "drivers")? Mostly asking as I am pondering getting the Stellias but mostly a bit worried about if they are fragile and requires maintenance with the leather and everything. That might happen once in my case but then never again

Just auditioned the Stella’s a few months ago. 5909’s aren’t as good, no. But, what….80% maybe? With all the convenience? Sign me up.

This entire discussion on sound quality and all really does hinge on having the utmost quality of source material so…keep that in mind.

 

[improwise]

Just auditioned the Stella’s a few months ago. 5909’s aren’t as good, no. But, what….80% maybe? With all the convenience? Sign me up.

This entire discussion on sound quality and all really does hinge on having the utmost quality of source material so…keep that in mind.

In this case though I would imagine that the source is the same (or at least could be) if the same person owns both. But then of course the matter of sound quality is highly personal and with diminishing returns as you start moving up the price ladder. Of course, different headphones respond differently with to same source, amps etc. but with the array of hardware that @Daniel Johnston seem to have, I would imagine that source quality can be expected to be quite high

 

[jthomp72]

In this case though I would imagine that the source is the same (or at least could be) if the same person owns both. But then of course the matter of sound quality is highly personal and with diminishing returns as you start moving up the price ladder. Of course, different headphones respond differently with to same source, amps etc. but with the array of hardware that @Daniel Johnston seem to have, I would imagine that source quality can be expected to be quite high

That’s the funny thing about this hobby…ask 10 people what sounds best and you’ll get 10 answers.

 

[improwise]

That’s the funny thing about this hobby…ask 10 people what sounds best and you’ll get 10 answers.

Probably more than 10 answers I would guess depending on how often you ask

 

[jthomp72]

Probably more than 10 answers I would guess depending on how often you ask

God you’re so right. Side note I will be in Las Vegas in two weeks and they have an extremely high end showroom with…a looootttt of high end cans. I wanna go, but I’m scared they’ll take my entire life’s savings in one day.

 

[improwise]

God you’re so right. Side note I will be in Las Vegas in two weeks and they have an extremely high end showroom with…a looootttt of high end cans. I wanna go, but I’m scared they’ll take my entire life’s savings in one day.

As if Las Vegas didn't offer enough of temptations without a high end audiophile showroom

 

[jthomp72]

As if Las Vegas didn't offer enough of temptations without a high end audiophile showroom

If I don’t come back alive one of y’all can have my 5909’s