Reviews for Bowers & Wilkins C5 In-Ear Headphones

Okay, sure, these are expensive, but, hey, look up the page a bit and see what others are demanding for a catchy name and a bit of flash. These are audiophile in-ear units and in my personal case, about the only ones that really work and really sound wonderful. Very good stereo separation, very clean bass (especially for jazz and classical, which is what I listen to), all the while having a sort of retro look, with that typical brit charm. They are heavy, yes, and the remote clicker is a pain- cannot be used with gloved hands. The mic works very well, and darned if I can find it- must be behind the straight groove in the remote casing somewhere. These are available for less from other vendors, so if expense is a concern, check around. The thick cable is a plus.

7 of 7 people found this useful

I had a set of Bang & Olufsen A8s that finally died on me after 4 years. I was going to replace them with another set of B&Os but saw the C5s on sale for $120 at Apple's Black Friday Sale and took the plunge.

First off, the C5s WILL be uncomfortable for the first week or so of use. They are a very unique design and the Ear Loop takes some getting used to. Once you get it to work, however, the fit is absolutely spectacular; I hate in-ear monitors because they don't fit well in my ears, but the C5s fit snugly and don't move at all once you get them in here.

Secondly, these headphones sound really, really fantastic. Not quite as good as Etymotic or B&O in the high range, but they do offer a near-flat frequency response, which means highs and lows will be pronounced while retaining a "fat" sounding middle. Bass is full and rich without being overpowering like in the Monster iBeats. And the Bose iE2s have nothing on these. I like Bose products (own a pair of QC3s) but the C5s completely verify the "No Highs, No Lows, Must be Bose" adage.

The one problem I've had with the headphones is that the carrying case is literally impossible to use. But absolutely no problems with the headphones themselves.

If you're looking for something different, I encourage you to give these a try. These headphones truly are as good as advertised. And they look pretty sweet too :)

7 of 7 people found this useful

I've had these for a month. I wanted to try all the tips to make sure I had the best size for bass response before I rated them. Proper fit is the key and when I found the right ones...WOW! These are the best in-ear headphones I've ever owned. Some others I've had sounded OK when you held them in place by hand but these are the only ones that have stayed in proper alignment hands free! I've read some other reviews about the trouble getting the ear tips on and off...they're right. They're a pain in the buns but please be patient. It will pay off with tight accurate sound with bass to spare. Happy listening!!!

7 of 7 people found this useful

I tested and reviewed several high end headphones after settling on these. I bought the Shure 435's which are the industry standard for professionals, which cost roughly $300. The Shure's sounded great and were very crisp, but mid-level bass was lacking and they became uncomfortable after 30 mins of usage. I also tried the Klipsich in-ears which cost roughly $100. The bass was overwhelming in these, and you missed a lot of the lows. I previously owned a pair of the iBeats and those are by far the worst and most overpriced headphones. The bass drowned out everything and have poor build quality which caused me to replace them 3 times in 6 months.

I settled on the B&W's because they have the best sound out of all. You will hear things in your favorite music that you didn't even know where there. The bass is great, but not overwhelming where it drowns the low. Top it off, they stay in my ear at the gym, snowboarding, hiking, and even regular usage at the work place. I have not had them fall out once. To make them even better, pick up the Comply foam tips for about $15 bucks for 3 sets and you will never need another pair of headphones.

Also, B&W gives you a 2 year manufacturer warranty so you know you have a solid pair of headphones for at least 2 years.

8 of 9 people found this useful

... but comparing it to my other earphones, this one bags the 5 stars for its sound accuracy and subdued baselines, which i thought at 1st wasn't really what i was hoping for, but after 4 days of use, i really noticed how this was superior in this niche.

8 of 9 people found this useful

I've had my fair share of headphones and the C5 tops the list. It has great clarity, strong and punchy bass, and works with nearly ever genre of music. Highly recommended.

I loved them enough, that I bought a pair of their CM5 bookshelf speakers.

7 of 7 people found this useful

I find the fit very uncomfortable. Also, the 3 button mic is not very easy to use. Though sound is very good, I would not buy again.

12 of 17 people found this useful

I bought two of it !
I first bought in France, sold with plane & stereo adapter included, and a second one in USA, without accessories.
But in both cases the sound and maintain are incredible.
I love its design and the way it fits to my ears.

10 of 13 people found this useful

I listen to audiobooks all day every day at a full time job that can be loud and dirty and rough. I also listen to all kinds of music at home. I am a maintenance man at a couple of apt. complexes, and I have to pause my audiobooks frequently to talk to tenants or coworkers or bosses, and it's already become an inside joke that it takes WAY TOO LONG for me to find and press the pause button on this thing! I've owned iPhone headsets (prolly around ten at least) from every price point, from $20 (Sony) to $300 (Beats), and these ($190) are the WORST I've ever used! Why is that?! Bowers and Wilkins supplies the monitor speakers for Abbey Road studios. The Beatles are my #1 favorite band, so I thought I'd be buying a quality product because of their connection to my favorite music. I could not have been more wrong about that assumption. *******The remote is round when it should be angular or flat. You can't find the pause/play button fast-enough in this fast-paced world.*******

That's just the remote.

The bass is there but fake (not as bad as Bose or Beats Studio, though).

The mids and highs are gone, and it is way too forward with caustic, ear-piercing loudness, devoid of tonal quality, though it's not lacking in muffled, muddled gobbledegook. It seems to amplify the worst parts of audio while rendering the front parts way back in the mix.

The adjustable ring comes out of the earpiece. It also bends almost beyond repair (even after being stored in its protective case).

I gave it two stars, because they don't sound as bad as Bose (no bass) or Beats (too much bass). Otherwise, I would have given them a one star rating.

Learn about headphones from HeadRoom (look them up [their in-house product reviews help]) and then go to an Apple Store for your purchase. That's my strategy. Amazon (read product reviews there, though) is just a little too risky for me. I like to see products in person before I buy them.

I am going to return these and maybe get the upper echelon Klipsch from the Apple Store.

14 of 22 people found this useful

these headphones are very well made, but you have to adjust the earpieces to your ear so they fit snuggly! at first, i was like my bose{ie2's} are better than this, but then after multiple fits and adjustments. the b &w is way better in every way, the sound is awesome, the fit is snug and the clarity is very clear! this is a pair of advanced headphones, so if you expect put them on and experiene great sound right away, you will be dissapointed, and like every person , no two ear canals are the same, so be patient, then be amazed by the sound!

6 of 6 people found this useful