Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) P5 Headphones Review

In recent years, Bowers & Wilkins (B & W), one of the most legendary names in British Hi-Fi efforts to a wide audience of roots was for audiophiles. It has a number of unique style and Zeppelin iPod speaker systems and is now connecting PC speakers and headphones for P5 MM1 in this review.
In line with the direction of the company in a unique design that distinguish the final kick P5S $ 299 stylish and successful and at the same time. The construction seems very solid and padded leather strap pads provide a good sense of luxury, providing easily comparable with the Bose QuietComfort headphones, which works in almost the same price.
In contrast to anti-noise headphones from Bose offers P5S passive, not active noise cancellation. What does this mean? Well, as the Bose QuietComfort 3 / 2 are in-ear headphones that sit flush - and adapted quite well - the ear.
They are very comfortable and block outside noise, even when we went through the streets of the bustling city of New York. They are not as efficient as the Bose acoustic panels, but we decided to have a good job for the passive noise canceling headphones - and do not leak sound, whatever, so that people do not want to hear your music.
However, a drawback of the design in the ear, we had a little problem with his glasses (he had the helmet sits on the ear to take up arms to adjust the lenses do not dig the side of the head), and if under the time spent, we have our ears in a damp, especially after walking briskly for several minutes.
The P5S have some unique characteristics. First, the atria are square-ish and removable magnetic mount (if they are interchangeable, is B & W does not seem to find an easy way to get new shoes offer). After removal of the left atrium, you will notice that the power of 48 "actually had a headphone jack 2.5 mm and is removable and interchangeable. This cable has an integrated microphone and a volume control, which is near the top of the cable does not realize it, because control of the mic / volume is not more often than cable. microphone and remote areas are particularly compatible with the iPhone 3G and latest iPod models. Using with an iPhone, the music stops when you receive a call when you are done with the (o), the music automatically starts to ignore.
For those that do not contain a compatible iPhone / iPod, a second cable shorter than for any standard 3.5 mm to work. It is also interesting to note that B & W in a two-way adapter for air flow. The case is nice, but can be a little 'of Burberry-style taste of some people. For traveling, the headphones fold flat into the frame and top hat to his chest when placed on the neck.
The headphones P5S are generally sound very good. Some owners have found the P5 headphones need a little break at the right time their best, so we gave him a few days before the letter to hear our audit. You may find that you can adapt the earphones to the position of the sound to change something, you should play with placement to optimize performance.
In our tests, the first thing is that P5S account that are not too aggressive and reject the hottest part of a dynamic and well balanced, full of bass and good clarity.
Steve Guttenberg, home theater speakers and headphones for CNET Reviews, Sun P5S loved how it sounded, however, said P5S when Peter Gabriel album "scratch my back, after a slash" / point of view about their sound fresh (and now discontinued) were the Sennheiser HD 580 is that it is reopened. "Part of this difference can be attributed to P5S" the best tonal balance, "Guttenberg said," and Gabriel's voice and string orchestra seemed to directly affect P5S. "He also noted that the headphones are P5S significantly better in the rock (the bass is stronger and more dynamic than the life of the contrabass HD 580). Treble is very - not too bright or soft.
Guttenberg, many upper class, prefer an open design headset with a back because the music is not in the head and airy. But his loss of open headphones back and not do a good job shutting down the noise.
This criticism has devoted much time certain "compared to Bose QuietComfort P5S 3S, sold for $ 50 more, a design similar to the ear and are designed for a client that B & W, probably will be used: the travelers' business and have nothing, but must pay $ 300 for headphones.
In terms of comfort, we have given the green light for the Bose, but the B & W feel better in general (ie higher). The P5S did a little "under strict and clearer, stronger. We note, however, that P5S more volume for the driver, who was also the case when we put the Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones disadvantages P5S Studio. Editor Justin Yu has a pair and said: "I prefer the monsters of pop music, hip-hop and other genres that rely on electronic instruments, flying low, and the heavy mixture. However, the B & better with Jazz and more "Natural Melody."
Finally we went to this B & W headphones flavor. They offer great sound and comfort, a good seal that blocks noise from outside and much to avoid loss of sound. The inclusion of an inline microphone and volume control is a nice bonus for iPhone users and found P5S great for phone calls. The caller said he could hear very well and we get along very well because the hull, as mentioned, do a good job to drown out the noise.
Besides the high price of $ 300, the B & W P5S is "the greatest disadvantage, simply, that if they do not compact the largest by ear headphones, like the jokes - and you know, so stupid that takes you on the streets - these guys really the heat of the ears. This may be a good thing in winter in the colder regions of the world, but the hottest days are quite uncomfortable quickly. If you can live with - and plan their "internal use - we have no problem recommending them.