The world's MOST EXPENSIVE noise-cancelling HEADPHONES (T+A vs. Mark Levinson)

This video is brought to you by Roon:
roon.app/en/
🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan
🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video - and other videos - can be found on PATREON: / johndarko
0:00 Intro & basics
5:15 Advanced codecs & more
9:59 ANC & HQ mode
14:10 It's a wired headphone too!
18:52 What about the Focal Bathys?
T+A Solitaire T
📖 www.ta-hifi.de/en/headphones/...
Mark Levinson No. 5909
🎧 darko.audio/2022/09/mark-levi...
🛒 howl.me/cipbkcbUVKY
Shanling M3 Ultra
🎧 darko.audio/2023/03/podcast-s...
Streaming platform by Roon
🛒 roon.link/affiliate/darko
Cables and power products by AudioQuest
🛒 howl.me/ckbW8ZBoZAg
Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel
🛒 howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi
Room treatment by Vicoustic
📖 vicoustic.com/
Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, which are indicated with a '🛒'.
__________________________________________________________________
📖 PLEASE READ *before commenting*!
1) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome
2) No URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories
3) All comments here are moderated by a third party
__________________________________________________________________
⏰ How our KZbin videos get made:
darko.audio/2021/10/how-our-y...
Darko.Audio FAQ:
darko.audio/faq/
Why are/were comments turned OFF?
darko.audio/2020/10/why-im-sw...
What the bloody hell am I talking about?
• What the bloody hell a...
How is Darko.Audio funded?
darko.audio/funding/
__________________________________________________________________
🎧 Check out the Darko.Audio podcast:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
open.spotify.com/show/1mnKixp...
/ johnhdarko
__________________________________________________________________
Web: Darko.Audio
Instagram: / darkoaudio

[@TheOneInYellow]

I own the white/silver T+A Solitaire T since Dec '22, and it's one of the best all-in-one and consolidation pieces of audio I have ever purchased! Fantastic sonic profile in any mode, but enhancements going from: ANC Bluetooth, Bluetooth HQ, DAC/amp mode, then better resolving power in fully passive single-ended mode, and finally the ultimate mode, passive balanced! I use either Bluetooth modes when I'm commuting, but in the office or at home I listen to the Solitaire T in balanced operation via my FiiO M17 in DC mode (using an external battery). Sonically, I consider these better than either Meze Audio Liric or any version of the Focal Clear series, but added versatility of passive or wireless operation. Win-win!

[@Dimitris_Pappas]

Great album recommendation! I appreciate that you mention the dynamic range of the album. Very informative.

[@kanegforce3974]

great review with really high quality footage/ sound and very informative. Thanks for the Album recommendation - have not heard ABC in thirty years, will be giving it a listen tonight.

[@gpapa31]

My experience with those two headphones couldn’t be any more different, in terms of sound quality/performance. I tried the T+As side by side along with the Focal Bathys and the 5909s for nearly an hour in a shop and the 5909s easily won on clarity, instrument separation and definition. I tested them with orchestral and classical piano recordings (Yuja Wang Rachmaninov Piano Concert 2) and the amount of detail I could pick on the 5909s was astonishing! Also the clarity on really high notes without fatiguing was very impressive. The T+As were great but for some reason they didn’t stand out. Definitely not for €1,300.

[@jonathanoxlade4252]

And on wired setup then 5909s are still the best under £900 headphones then

[@zachstinton]

What a great channel. Sub'd. Along with your quality reviews, your taste in music is also up there!. Bravo!

[@e_Latte]

Great review! Love my pair of Solitaire Ts.

[@sixergixer]

John, I frustratingly cannot tell you anywhere else just how informative your podcast chat with Srajan was regarding the Zu DWX. [Instagram would be the simplest, easiest, and most logical place for that kind of feedback, but comments are nixed.] Anyway, you fellows packed a ton of information in your deep dive and provided many nuggets that were helpful to me. I have pretty much locked onto either the DW6 or the DWX as my next speaker and some of these standout gems of info were: Bass qualities with and without a sub, speaker stand experience (beyond that in your review video), special order finishes (trying to get my wife to like them more in our room), and even how well they do with Classical music! Fantastic podcast and I thank you, even though that has to be on this unrelated video.

[@EastyyBlogspot]

I do wonder if it would be a sound investment

[@Ineedtotakeabreak]

I see what you did there 😊

[@StarFox_SNES]

Bah dum chh

[@blakkboxx4246]

I see what you 😅

[@goodforwatch]

it would be sound, but not an investment🤭

[@air870]

Very punny

[@VaxtorVax]

Nice review John, very thorough as always

[@DileepaRanawake]

Thank you for championing Dynamic range - it’s so important. Have found myself balking at overly compressed music

[@deodatoreyes3430]

I’va had the privilege to test out the ML 909 for a few weeks and they are an amazing headphone. The imaging, staging and level of clarity is way more than I expected for a bluetooth headphone. Noise cancelling works well too as I used it while travelling.

[@TheFrankverlinden]

I do enjoy every minute with T&A’s take at versatile high-end NC-headphones. Most often used wired to a Mojo2 Dac and S23 Ultra as a source. A blast combo!

[@Dpace111]

Hi John, entertaining and informative video as always! I thought it might be worth mentioning that the fairly cheaper Master and Dynamic MW75 appear to be remarkably similar in construction to the Mark Levinson, I'd love to hear your take on this pair. Thanks again, Daniel

[@user-ef1te5qp6e]

Couldn’t agree more re. The Lexicon Of Love Wilson stereo mix. Stunning. My first ever album I bought - aged 9! - sounds (even more) incredible… Kudos!

[@gabzilla2809]

Got a focal bathys and it sounds amazing.

[@Shaken_AND_Stirred]

For anyone that is interested, the Master & Dynamic MW75 headphones are the same as the Mark Levinson 5909. They are $400 less and they also lack some of the CODEC’s that the ML’s have. The beryllium drivers are identical and the FCC filings for both were done at the same time and show the drivers as the same. In fact, the MW75’s and 5909’s are made in the same plant. The accessories other than a slightly different case are identical. If that isn’t enough, the instructions read verbatim in certain sections for each headphone. The headbands are identical, as are, “for the most part”, the overall design of the headphones. Both headphones will go 100% passive when listening to music using the USB C cable. The problem with a lot of BT headphones that can use a cable as well, require that they still be powered on such as the Focal Bathys. If the battery ever fails, the headphones are useless. However, you can still use the 5909’s and MW75’s should the battery go out. The problem should this happen, is that the battery cannot be replaced as I understand it.

[@seefeel2043]

Correct, they are the same in many aspects. However the issue with MW75 is their noticeably smaller earcups.

[@Shaken_AND_Stirred]

​ ​ ​ @maksimliauchuk6791 You’re absolutely correct about the earcup size on the MW75’s. However, for me personally, my ears are not big and they fit fine. With that said, I understand that you can purchase the ear pads to the MW20’s which fit the same on the outside as the MW75’s, but have a larger ear opening. I gathered this information from the news groups that pointed to the information about the MW75’s and 5909’s being from the same factory and almost identical. Cheers!

[@TheOneInYellow]

Except the T+A Solitaire T, which can be completely run passively in either single-ended or balanced (both cables included). Plus, T+A will replace the battery when necessary. I'm an owner of a pair of the Solitaire T and having the incredible sonics in passive balanced mode be mostly retained in DAC/amp (USB-C) or Bluetooth wireless modes is an engineering feat that many other companies simply do not invest in. By that I mean, most companies who create wireless headphones use DSP to finalise the sonic profile, which is why the electronics must be active all the time. Solitaire T are traditionally engineered, and were created as passive headphones first, then the electronics added, of which the latter were tuned to be as close to the passive sonics mode of the headphones. They stand alone on this, and there are only two non-DSP wireless headphones I'm aware of, both represented in this video!

[@archonblaze]

Just because two speakers use a similar driver does not mean they will sound the same. The crossover, box, voicing etc can make them sound works apart. It’s the same with headphones drivers. You are misinforming people here by claiming the MW75 is the same as the 5909 just on the basis of using a similar driver.

[@fluffylambut]

Appreciate the review.

[@craftmatthew]

Great stuff John. Bought my headphones based on your review a couple of years ago. Always appreciate your opinion on tech.

[@carlosalvarez7445]

I don't know about everyone else, but appreciating and enjoying the subtle audiophile nuances requires a level of attention and calm that cannot be reached in the street or the office while drafting reports, much less with the infernal background noise in the tube or an airplane. So... I think my Sennheiser Bluetooth with ANC for US $300 do just fine, thank you very much. 😊

[@user-dy8fn7on5n]

Great review, thank you! One comment: I find the app of the Solitaire T quite essential because only there you can pick the right NC mode (there are 3 to choose from) for the situation you are in.

[@goldenears9748]

I bought the Blu-ray based on your vid. Wow it kicks ass. Not comparing to an old version but I’m happy !

[@brandonburr4900]

I wore my heavy large audeze lcd x 2021 on walks just to see if many noticed. Some looks but mostly folks don't care. I'm so over what I think others may think as I wear a pair of headphones in public. With all the reduluous pairs I see being worn outdoors you no longer as strange. Plus the quidelx 5x even using Bluetooth doesn't suck. And once you eq the lcd x to yoir liking it sounds terrific! No need for active noise cancellations here!

[@ThomasSiekmann]

I am loving the option of connecting multiple BT devices, allowing me to switch between iPad, iPhone of my M10 in the night, for me it’s a killer feature.

[@guillermobrito4987]

Great freakishly out of my budget review....loving the recomended album seg. Greatings from Colombia.

[@user-mr9lk6tz7q]

I bought Sennheiser Momentum 4 and I'm very happy. Thanks for videos :)

[@dexon555]

I’m excited to see reviews on the new high end N/C headphones from DALI. I love the sound signature of their speakers.

[@asan1050]

Mr. Darko, Thank you very much!

[@aminafkham1265]

Great comparison. Thanks

[@masterblockwarrior]

The atmosphere in your videos is unmatched.

[@raphaelmeillat8527]

Would love to hear your take on Dali's latest IO-12 headphones...

[@PhatPhil77]

Another great video! Any plans to review the recently announced Shure AON 50 GEN 2? (early October release)

[@monacobeachclub]

Hi John. Have you tried the DALI IO4? I think it's a price-performance winner. It can also be used passively and, with its 50 mm drivers, sounds excellent enough for listening to music outside the home. From an aesthetic point of view, it is also pleasantly calm.

[@denismcgreevy5608]

You getting those Audio Technica in John? Lovin your work 🙏

[@otaimerzgaming]

I'm never miss your video love it

[@rotaks1]

Thanks for the album recommendation!

[@moiglaza]

Thank U for a great review! Are there any plans to review Monitor Audio silver 500?

[@keesv8000]

I appreciate you feeling self-conscious about how you might look while wearing monster cans. Personally, I don't care about much what other people think of my appearance. What I DO care about while wearing cans or IEMs, is someone sneaking up from behind and ripping these devices from my ears. I only wear these in areas where I feel safe. Perhaps you don't have this issue in Berlin and your Portugal location? Thanks for your report!

[@stevenhoward3358]

Gotta agree with you about the ABC album, Steven Wilson did a great job, there is so much detail in there. Brilliant!

[@joshjeffery3464]

Good video. Thanks I would like a bit more detail on how the sound improves (or doesn’t) when these headphones are used in wired form as I suspect a lot of people may use these on the go with a separate Dac or headphone amp as this is probably the best way to get the best out of them. Appreciate these are Bluetooth headphones but as an audiophile I’m always looking to squeeze better performance out of my gear. All the best.

[@jkl0ps]

Why not just get a pair of wired headphones so you aren't paying for on board battery/DAC/amplification/etc? Getting wireless headphones and using them with an external DAC, cords, adapters, etc is missing the point, the point being convenience. I recently got Senn Momentum 4's and sold all my other (more expensive) headphone gear within a week. It's just so easy to throw them on, go for a walk, do chores, exercise, toss em in a bag for work, take phone calls, etc. My wired headphones w/ streamer, DAC, and amp were objectively better in every way, but the difference wasn't enough to convince me to keep it all.

[@DarkoAudio]

Hi JoshJeffery3464. I hear ya. I wanted to include more in this video but with so much to cover we had to cut some of the more audiophile-centric wired stuff. However, I am trying to organise some follow-up coverage from Darko.Audio's US correspondent John Grandberg, which I hope will answer some of your questions. Fingers crossed it pans out as planned.

[@joshjeffery3464]

@@DarkoAudio look forward to it. Thanks for reply

[@jomoanderson5596]

Love the production value of your reviews,& who makes the headphone stand that the AirPod Max’s hang on?

[@NilTarasov]

satechi

[@BunnyslippersEUC]

I came here not for the Bluetooth headphones. I came here for the story.

[@Merkava76]

Just bought both the B&W Px7s2 & Bathys. To me the focals win hands down and was surprised by the Dac mode.

[@vancybergoth]

As an Abyss PHI TC and Audeze LCD-XC owner, I laughed a lot at the mention of the Cyberman effect. 😂 Outside I use AirPods Pro, I find the T+A Solitaire T very interesting.

[@allansax2129]

Good day, have you reviewed the latest Dali IO 12 headphone? Hope to see some reviews on these..I am considering whether to get Mark Levinson 5909 or Dali IO 12..

[@wollaminfaetter]

I owned 5909 for a while but sold them again. I am not blind to their qualities, but perhaps deaf. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 is more than I need, and then I don't have to worry so much every time it starts to drizzle.

[@ProdigalGil]

Just found you channel and being watching all your headphones 🎧video. Great job. Any chance of reviewing the DaliIO12 will be amazing!

[@joecampos66]

How do these two ANC headphones compare to the Bowers and Wilkins P8 which you reviewed previously and, if I recall correctly, absolutely loved and probably had on hand at time of your review??

[@chungang7037]

THe thing is,if you live in a not so noisy environment you should look at non ANC options. I love my Celestee for walks to work. But for going into the inner city, only the ANC from bose qc45s and the like can handle that level of traffic and city noise, so I skipped all of these high end ANC headphones. Maybe the next gen versions will have better ANC.

[@aceofspades6667]

I love the focal bathys look. I use Celestee + ifi go blu for my train commute and office use

[@jakopete1]

Thanks for your great videos! If design matters, definitely it's the Beoplay H-95 that looks får better than any of the mentioned headphones. Since it's up there in price, it would be interesting to have your opinion on it.

[@ras_al_ghul_x2055]

I think the h95 is overpriced, I had these

[@jasty2371]

I have got the ML 5909 and I am noticing some kind of white noise or hiss when they are powered on. It is specially noticeable when the music is not playing or pauses for 4 seconds, then they go complete silent. Did someone experience the same problem? I would like to know If that is to be expected or whether is a possible defect with my unit. Great video by the way!

[@Adam_StefaniakSaltea_Moonspell]

There is some detailed post on one of the Hi-fi Forums referring to this particular model which convinced me to go for Master & Dynamics MW75 which contains identical drivers for a less. By the I've been on MW75 for over a year now, and they are worth the price. The components quality is superb - the only downside is the ANC not as good as the Sonys but on the other hand the Sonys are made of cheap flimsy plastic so unless I have loud kids or fly a lot I really dont care that much.

[@julienpa3]

Will there be a review of the KEF R3 Meta we’ve been seeing in the background? 😊

[@Chronospherics]

I like them and mostly agree with you but I actually prefer the Bathy's. I think there tonally a bit more to my taste, wider soundstage and generally gives a better sense that I'm listening to a full sized headphone, except its bluetooth and I'm listening to them in the middle of a supermarket. The T&A are technically capable but sound very 'in your head'. Tonally they have some unusual and unpleasant sub-bass elevation which sounds fun some of the time but it's a little too much in others, and the upper high end is a bit dull. I think if you want a headphone with a Harman curve, the Bathy's are better at half the price.

[@davidibarra6730]

Great review,pretty good details. For us mortals who can dispense that type of cash. Maybe you could do a video like this for some of the TWS out there : Devialet, Sony, Final Audio,B&W, M&D. Cyberman award would go to the Final Audio ZX800 😂

[@orangedan5424]

I really think these high end cans should at least support all the available codecs out there, since we are paying premium for it.

[@EazyRed]

I own the focal bathys and custom tuned them to my own hearing and theyre perfect for now... thisll make me want to buy even pricier ones lol

[@robmaxwell3678]

Can the ANC be turned off in Bluetooth mode? The pressure from the NC hurts the inner ears for me on other models like the Sonys.

[@naturerumba]

Thanks! This is interesting. Any thoughts on Dali io-12?

[@MarceloPaciorek]

I wish John can make a comparison between the T+A and the new Dali!

[@sammassam100]

IEMs are exquisite , i would love to spend a couple of Ks' if both these brands pack their tech & skills in IEM size

[@matthewhilty4209]

The non user replaceable batteries and no LDAC is the show stopper for me with these headphones. If I am going to spend that much on a headphone I want to keep them for years and be able to take advantage of future lossless compatibility.

[@mobteknik]

I think the batter can be swapped. At least on the 5909.

[@techtt6213]

Also John, you haaaavveee to try Edifier S3000Pro's. They're a completely different animal compared to the other Edifier stuff. I for one think its one of the best options under 1200. And that's coming from someone who has extensive experience with Kroma, Kef, Wilson, Devialet etc

[@kesm66]

I have them for demo (30 day return). I wish the playback was louder…& the ear cup extension was longer. I would prefer tactile buttons and do away with the gesture commands. The black colorway model should be all black…I don’t get why they chose silver to contrast against black. I have no complaints on the sound quality and tuning. The build quality is great but unremarkable especially at its price point. For example…are leather materials used or not? At this price point it should be obvious to use all premium materials.

[@jsm4479]

Lemme digress. The haircut and spectacles. 👌

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

Touch controls.... What is the hang-up so many manufacturers seem to have with touch controls? I find them so, so so annoying. So many times they're so fiddly because my swipes are in slightly the wrong direction. Or just the wrong place. Or whatever. Sometimes they don't seem to register at all. Or they accidentally activate when I rest the headphones down somewhere. Real buttons can usually be told apart by feel before they're accidentally activated.

[@IsavaIsava]

When will you do the Dali IO-12?

[@angi733]

Prescient. I was just looking at ordering the ML’s today :)

[@punkstudios9955]

Hey Man! Ive been looking into buying one of these but I cannot decide which ones. I primarily listen to a lot of death metal and other hard hitting forms of extreme music. Which do you think would sound best for metal in general? Thanks!

[@bobhanuman65]

Sony MX 1000 5 for Metal

[@johnlager584]

Got the momentum 4 and feel less worried outside with these than a 1300 option

[@NilTarasov]

thanks for videos. what about B&O h95?

[@mattlm64]

I wonder if the small ear-cups would be annoying if they press against the ears and act more as on-ear headphones? Perhaps I'm worrying too much as most people seem to think they are comfortable despite the small size.

[@Mogyipapazuglo]

wirelessly with AAC, is the max volume satisfactory?

[@stephenwest673]

John, please review the IO 12 from Dali..i have them and love them 😃

[@adam.dzwoniarek72]

Just ordered Dali iO 12 today. Still keeping the Focal Bathys to compare them against the iO 12

[@towertone]

Glad to see the analog offered, one of the few drawbacks to the AirPods Max, but for the price I can enjoy the Max for what they excel in and my Beyerdynamics or HifiMan when wanting true analog or at least from a much better DAC....

[@markcollier9279]

What are the best if Sound Quality is the only thing that matters? Of all the BT headphones.

[@MrBazsi888]

black T+A Solitaire T is more elegant cos black goes better with silver than white.

[@calvinchann1996]

Question. Not exactly linked to this video but if I want to use Bluetooth headphone to watch to, is there something that can take a line out from my to to broadcast a Bluetooth audio signal to my Bluetooth headphones? If so, any particular devices I should look at?

[@MrFreeagent505]

I own the xm5 and the focal bathys. The noise cancelation on the xm5 functions a lot better. I have a window ac unit in my bedroom, with the xm5 I can't even tell the unit is on with the bathys I still hear a very muted rumble.

[@HenriKBSF]

I'd like your review of the Master & Dynamic MW75 compared to the Mark Levinson 5909 as they're built by the same OEM, same driver specs of 40mm berrylium, even the same app but definitely different tuning and codecs supported. MW75 is $600 and ML5909 is $1000

[@antoniovaquero1397]

With the door open at T+A , perhaps some component reviews are on the radar ?

[@OledBurnInKing]

John, the dyson zone headphones with the air purifier looks like something bane would wear for a pair of headphones haha lol.

[@watchhunter]

Why are there so few open back bluetooth over ear headphones? At home I don´t need noice canceling and closed back headphones put too much sound pressure on my ear.

[@Kesevar]

I chose PX8 over Solitaire T: B&W are more comfortable (slightly bigger cups), built better (real leather vs fake one), soundstage is wider, and after reducing the bass i'm really happy with the sound quality as well. And passive mode is of no importance to me in ANC BT headphones.

[@CapnJack100]

You have often referred to the Apple max headphones but have given no review. Will that ever happen? Thank you

[@willplaister9743]

Silly question...but is a higher or lower DR better? I thought I'd give DROffline a trial to analyse some of my hi-res albums and the results have been mixed...

[@stephenhossack4390]

What about the Dali IO-12?

[@kofiekube]

What streaming service do you use to listen to your high quality music on your phone?

[@user-bm7gd1dd7e]

Will you be reviewing the Dali Io 12?

[@heudevil]

Yea Dali 12 please

[@pawebazylewicz1310]

Kangding Ray.... 😍 Raster Records rules !

[@falcodarkzz]

The Cyberman part is totally true. I saw a man in London waiting for a train with the Bathys on and he looked like a 1960s science fiction character.

[@mathieutherezien1397]

I'd never heard of them but, since they look amazing (to me), I went on their site for more details. The synthetic leather material kills them for me. That kind of material never last very long in my experience, sadly.

[@G-FunkDeluxe]

That ABC album is bloody magic. Pop masterpiece.

[@tonipinto228]

Shenneheiser momentum 4 . Buen sonido y buen anc

[@Bill_kill030]

does anyone have some advice? a friend of mine bought an t+a ha200 amp at a storage sale and he would sell it to me for around 2500$, the problem is that we have nothing but the packaging from that amp should I take the risk and just buy it? does any one know how expensive a repair would be IF something was broken? (if it would be even worth to repair considering the price of a new one ) it looks and sounds good, only the buttons lost a bit of their colour

[@aeromaniac13]

God you're tall 😂😂. Keep the good stuff coming! ❤

[@kingofkings4778]

Dali io-12 is the new king?

[@susieroberts8175]

Absolutely brilliant breakdown of the options. You just cost me about £1000.

[@wineattorneys]

I own a pair of Mark Levinsons so perhaps I am biased but do you really think that the bright white headphones from T+A make you look less like a cyberman than dark (my MLs are pewter) MLs?!? The white headphones are much more noticeable and stick out like a sore thumb in my opinion. I wear my MLs on a daily basis and have never given it a second thought; the color makes them blend in far better than the bright white T+A. On the other hand, if you are right then perhaps the town where I live just considers me a weird looking cybermand (I'm 6'4) and I've been too clueless to notice. Regardless, really enjoyed the video and much appreciate your coverage of high end head phones.

[@ewmcdade]

They would both look ridiculous in any setting other than the terminal/cabin of an airplane or in your home.

[@danielhifi3147]

They also come in black...

[@hearmeout0909]

I too feel this video is more biased to the T+As where in many other reviewes, I've seen people saying the MLs are the best in the segment

[@annenominous7220]

wow, you get it man, LOOKS MATTER so much! I would sacrifice a LOT of sound quality for amazing good looks. In my brain, they will actually sound better than the better measuring ugly gear.

[@lukeatkins9137]

I’d love to be able to AB test these with the Focal Bathys, anyone ever done this?