Mark Levinson No. 5909 headphone: More than luxurious

The luxury brand wows with its first headphone, but its price tag isn't for the faint of heart.

- THEO NICOLAKIS

Mark Levinson is to audio what Lamborghini, Porsche, and Ferrari are to automobiles. The high-end brand, named after its legendary founder, has left an indelible mark with audio products priced in the four and five figures.

The Mark Levinson team is looking to add a new and admittedly atypical product to that legacy: the $999 No. 5909 wireless noise-cancelling headphone. This is the first headphone model Mark Levinson has ever produced, and it's designed for the busy professional or passionate listener.

What makes this headphone special isn't necessarily its pedigree, premium materials, onboard tech, or noise-cancelling performance (though it has all of those, too). Rather, what's notable is the No. 5909's voicing to the so-called Harman target curve for headphones. The result? A gorgeous headphone worthy of the Levinson heritage that will exceed the sonic expectations of even the most demanding music lover.

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

The unboxing experience, followed by the first time you pick up the No. 5909, seductively whispers luxury audio. The headphones come in three color options: Pearl black, ice pewter, and radiant red, the latter of which was the color of my review sample. Levinson fans will note that the color combinations are a direct nod to the classic Levinson color motifs. Mark Levinson audio gear is distinguished by its black and gray industrial design with red accents.

The No. 5909's headband is wrapped in premium leather. The headband's leather top side is rugged while the leather underside is incredibly soft and supple. While the padding doesn't seem generous, I never felt that the headband exerted any unusual or uncomfortable pressure even after long listening sessions.

The matte-black anodized aluminum arms extend smoothly-there's no cheap click-stop here. Best of all, the arms stay firmly in place.