Those digital inputs accept PCM up to DXD level (32/384) and DSD up to 11.4MHz (4xDSD)—the latter via PCM (DOP) or native DSD. PCM processing allows a choice of filters: seven for PCM and four for DSD. For PCM, upsampling is offered to 352.8/384kHz, but it's user-defeatable. Upsampling is available for DSD, too, to 4x. The No.5805 can decode and render Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) encoded audio.

The preamplifier circuit is based on Levinson's proprietary, discrete, direct-coupled, dual-mono architecture. The volume control uses a resistor network coupled to the preamp's single gain stage—not the traditional amplify-then-attenuate volume control. The volume can be adjusted in 0.5dB steps, which is small enough.Mark Levinson is an American audio company that specialise in the design and manufacture of high end hifi equipment with products such as amps, turntables and streaming/CD players. All of Levinson's recorded work as a jazz bassist was in jazz piano trios led by Paul Bley, with Barry Altschul on drums. [8]

The No. 5909 is only 32Ω, so it will mesh with any source for power needs. You don’t really need an amp, but I have found the extra power in some portable amps will drive the wired connection even more smoothly than without. The No. 5909 performs admirably for a Bluetooth model. On wired mode, you can hear the difference in quality across the board, of course. On wireless, you get a bit of a drop-off but that is normal for this type of headphone. Mark Levinson claims up to 34 hours of battery life without using ANC and 30 hours when it’s turned on. From what I can tell, these numbers are almost bang-on and maybe even a tad conservative when your volume is set at 50% or lower. Given the restrictions dictated by the design of over-ear headphones, there’s nothing radical about the feature-set of the No. 5909. As the price demands, though, their features are, at least, the best of their type. The Mark Levinson No. 5909 is not an imaging champion, but it doesn’t let me down at all. This entire headphone is hand-tuned and not just random parts put together. They had an idea for how it should sound and they invoked the parts needed to make it that specific way.The active noise cancelation on this model is excellent. I simply do not have any other headphones that compare, nor have I owned any that can compare. Low is recommended for “less noisy environments,” but a fair amount of noise still came through the mics. I could hear my mom-in-law’s speakerphone calls from one room over, as well as the tumbling noises from the laundry room. Adaptive was supposed to adjust ANC to my environment automatically, but it performed similarly to Low. Given what I had experienced so far, I wasn’t expecting the No. 5909 to offer significantly better call quality than the Master & Dynamic MW75 — which are good but not great — but I was pleasantly surprised. The No. 5909 are fantastic for calls in any environment.