TechAudioHeadphonesEarbudsThese audiophile noise-cancelling headphones make even AirPods Max look cheapHi-fi legend Mark Levinson launches high-end wireless headphones with ANC that aim to take the ‘luxe sound on the go’ crownWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechAudioHeadphonesEarbudsThese audiophile noise-cancelling headphones make even AirPods Max look cheapHi-fi legend Mark Levinson launches high-end wireless headphones with ANC that aim to take the ‘luxe sound on the go’ crownWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Hi-fi legend Mark Levinson launches high-end wireless headphones with ANC that aim to take the ‘luxe sound on the go’ crown
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Harman)
(Image credit: Harman)
If you thought splashing out onAirPods Maxwas a bit of a stretch, that’s sofa change compared to the new Mark Levinson active noise cancelling headphones. The luxury brand is famed for its high-end hi-fi hardware, and these headphones are its first venture into mobile music. That means two things: one, they’re going to sound exquisite. And two, they’re far too expensive for me.
The Mark Levinson No 5909 is $999, so you’d expect the quality to be a level beyond what’s in ourbest wireless headphonesguide since most Bluetooth cans are a fraction of the cost: that price is way beyond the likes of theSony WH-1000XM4, our current pick of thebest noise cancelling headphones. In fact, you could buy four sets of the the Sonys for the same price…
But the Sonys are a VW Golf or maybe a Mercedes C Class, and the Mark Levinsons are a Bentley: while they both do the same job, they’re in very different leagues.
You get what you pay for
I don’t think high-end audio kit is necessarily overpriced: to paraphraseBlade Runner, I’ve heard things you wouldn’t believe. I’ve listened to my favourite music on audio equipment costing tens of thousands of pounds, and I absolutely heard things I’d never heard before in songs I thought I knew inside out.
Is it expensive? That’s relative. The Mark Levinson No 5805 amplifier costs $8,500 and the No 5105 turntable costs about $7,000. So in this company, $999 isn’t that much money, and I’m sure it delivers the same audio fidelity that’s made me laugh with joy in hi-fi firms' listening rooms. I might not be able to afford them, but I’d love to listen to them.
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