Customer Reviews and Ratings

4.0 out of 5 stars

Based on 183 reviews

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    The best!

    • Written by from Vasa

    1 of 1 people found this useful

    I rarely find earphones that fit my ears good and I wanted earphones that really were top notch.
    And these are just perfect!
    The sound quality is just amazing, and the fit is great. They actually do keep in place, I had some doubts. These earphones are amazing and I recommend them to all!

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Get these earphones!!!

    • Written by from Edmonton

    3 of 4 people found this useful

    What can I say... these will BLOW your mind!! I'm hearing things in the music I love like I've never heard before. I'm actually enjoying listening to my collection all over again! LIke it's NEW music. The sound is that good! I blast it way up and the sound is just rich, rich, rich. I think it rivals cans (headphones), for me the same sound as my Bose noise canceling headphones. It's much better than the Apple in-ear $80 earphones, and the loops hold in your ear!

    So happy with these earphones I was literally going around the house with them plugged into my iPhone with my music library blasting.

    The increased Bit-rate Albums available when you register your device are great too. Bit tricky because the songs end up being 170mb vs 10mb at the Apple 256kbs sample-rate. But you could pick a favorite song and keep a few. iTunes quality is nothing to sneeze at!

    And I was schooled that it's know as B&W not Bowers & Wilkins by audiophiles--- of which I'm soon becoming!!!!

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Dynamic, rich sound in a tiny package

    • Written by from Atlanta

    After reading the reviews of these earbuds, I was both excited and cautious about trying them out. Now that I've had them for about a month, my excitement hasn't ended and my caution is gone. Really impressive especially considering the cost. Many are commenting on the innovative, but quirky loop system. It takes awhile to get used to, but it works really well. It's nice to be able to adjust fit on the fly. The sound is solid B&W. Excellent combination of flat response with dynamic sound. You aren't going to get more out of pop music or rap with these bad boys, but jazz, orchestral, older r&b and some rock shine as if you're listening to over-the-ear phones.

    Was this useful? Dynamic, rich sound in a tiny package

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great SQ + Bass

    • Written by from Los Angeles

    3 of 3 people found this useful

    These B&W C5s have exceeded every expectation I've had from high end earphones. Build quality is nice, sound quality is excellent (mids and highs are crisp and accurate) and there's plenty of bass to be had. That's right. BASS. We're not talking about the type of inaccurate, low frequency garbage you get from Beats headphones but rather just enough to accentuate higher frequency tones without muddling the SQ.

    They are extremely comfortable - they may look a bit weird but believe me, they conform to your ears very quickly.

    Only drawback is the storage pouch that comes with 'em. Way too small. The zipper doesn't function properly.

    Sure, these are pricey but if you care about SQ, then the C5s are well worth the money!

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    One of the BEST...

    • Written by from ANCHORAGE

    1 of 1 people found this useful

    Bought these to replace my Klpshc & they sound WAYYYYY better then any OTHER head set i've owned

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Almost perfect! Still worth 5 stars with minor flaws.

    • Written by from ACWORTH

    I bought the C5 from an Apple store after reading positive reviews. I am a classically trained musician/composer with very critical listening skills and am naturally very critical about sonic fidelity. B&W has always been a favorite brand due to its consistent quality and design philosophy-being true to the sound with min. coloration. The C5 lives up to the reputation. Clear, dynamic, with no excessive bass enhancement. My favorite lossless recordings are faithfully reproduced with spacious sound within iTunes. Great product for the price. Since I just got them, I couldn't say much about the durability at this point. Other very positive features are the Apple product integration: mic and iPod function controls work very well. The ear loop is a very innovative design that allows the earbuds to securely position with min. fuzz.

    The only minor flaws: poor soft carrying case design and the cord is bit short.

    Highly recommended for the pure sonic quality and innovative fitment.

    Was this useful? Almost perfect! Still worth 5 stars with minor flaws.

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Wow! amazing sound, quality and great classy finish

    • Written by from Courtice

    2 of 2 people found this useful

    I am not one to write a review, However, these headphones deserve some recommendation. i tried monster Dr.Dre in ear and returned them (cheesy\cheap) tried Klipsch S4i and the controller was half way down the what seemed like a six foot cord. not practical to use iPhone controls especially when the cord is inside your zipped up jacket. Tried Bose Mie2i and the controls were great. Sound however was sad. no bass, harsh treble and the stay hear tips were brutal. Zero noise cancelling and have to crank them to hear which distorts sound. As for the C5's, wow!!!!! As soon as the box is open you notice great looking fit and finish and attention to detail. Cord is stiff and strong feeling. Ear inserts were tricky but once I figured it out they fit nice, secure and comfortably. The sound so far is amazing. Clear and perfect balance of low's, mid's and high's. Instruments really clear and the voice is great. the controls are up high and on the left ear. A little tricky and mostly rounded except for a little notch for the call/pause button. It will taking getting use to. I see people with gloves having a hard time and if youre driving to answer a call may take a few more seconds which could be good or bad depending on whose calling LOL.

    Overall. good looking box and accessories including pouch. Fit and finish modern, contemporary and kinda industrial because you can see the wire (which i like) The sound is better than the ones i mentioned incase youre considering the above mentioned headphones. Cord is not long so for those tall ladies and gents take that into consideration. For the althetic types the ear inserts are really secure and normal jogging should not dislodge these at all. They feel more secure than other mentioned headphones.

    Was this useful? Wow! amazing sound, quality and great classy finish

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Works perfect

    • Written by from Phoenix

    83 of 83 people found this useful

    Audio is perfect and they stay in the ear!

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Better set aside a few hours

    • Written by from Mercer Island

    89 of 90 people found this useful

    Because after you pick up a pair of these you are going to want to listen to all your favorite albums again at high bitrate. The sound is just astonishing. They fit like an old pair of jeans and stick like an ear worm. Worth every penny.

    Was this useful? Better set aside a few hours

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Top tier quality without the top tier price.

    • Written by from Livonia

    48 of 49 people found this useful

    The first thing that catches your eye about these earphones are their unique ear loop design. I thought at first it was a gimmick but they really do stay in your ears no matter what physical activity you engage in. The reason for this is because the buds are gently weighted at the ends as they sit in your ears. You can literally skip rope and the C5's won't budge. While the sound isolation isn't up to par with my old Sure E5's, the C5's sound comparable without the $500 dollar E5 price tag.

    Was this useful? Top tier quality without the top tier price.

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Perfect in-ear headphones

    • Written by from Brooklyn

    29 of 31 people found this useful

    The sound is pristine. They stay in your ears very well. You can run with these, I ran a half marathon with them. They fit in the outer ear so well that they block out sound (not "cancel" but essentially block all sound. Put these on in a crowded coffee shop and you can easily escape and concentrate on the book/lecture/task at hand. I love them.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Sublime

    • Written by from FOSTER CITY

    27 of 27 people found this useful

    Truly a magnificent set of headphones that transcended all my expectations of sound reproduction by a pair of headphones.

    The sound is warm, pure, undistorted. I know others have said that it has high bass, but honestly to me it sounds just right. The sounds reverberates with the kind of quality that I expect from high end speakers. I am able to discern new subtleties in familiar tracks, and I am better able to discern words in songs.

    The long-term comfort with the ear loops is a potential issue. The first day I wore them, my ears got sore from the loops. But I've been wearing them for quite an extended period of time today and they seem to be OK - perhaps I had pushed the ear loops too hard against my ear the first day.

    Overall very pleased with this purchase.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    matchless

    • Written by from richmond

    29 of 30 people found this useful

    natural sounding, very good sound quality, the loop locks on to your ears no matter what your activities are, the wires are strong and stable and built to last. Audiophile quality. Had this for two years now, never had a problem and never bought anything else, very very satisfied.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great headphones

    • Written by from Dallas

    34 of 35 people found this useful

    Great headphones. I used these on a 13 hour flight and they were great for noise cancelation and did not hurt my ears when they were in the right place. Best sound quality and good for everyday use also. I definitely recommend.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    The British Have Sent The Danes Running!

    • Written by from Carlisle

    31 of 33 people found this useful

    I am a Bowers & Wilkins person. I don't just own their consumer electronics, but their professional audio equipment as well. Since I purchased their headphones about a year ago, I've been in search of earphones to mach the quality and performance produced by B&W. But now that I have a pair of their C5 earphones, I can say the search has come to a close.

    The bass is rich and full but also strong; it doesn't become distorted at high volumes or in bass-heavy songs. The highs and the mid tones are just as impressive, if not more pronounced then the headphones (the Bowers & Wilkins P5). If you do choose to pick up a pair, I would recommend breaking in the drivers for about eight to ten hours. The only downside I can find about these earphones is the cable; it's rather irritating at first but over time, it looses its stiffness and rigidity. All and all, a great pair of earphones to match the headphones.

    Was this useful? The British Have Sent The Danes Running!

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great service

    • Written by from ATLANTA

    27 of 29 people found this useful

    These are wonderful sounding earphones - and my favorite so far (have had Bose's, Klipsch, and multiple others). Had to get some replacement buds for these, and I have to attest that Bowers' customer service was TREMENDOUS. They have a customer for life given how well they treat you after you buy. Most places nowadays cast you off and it takes forever to get a response - not Bowers. Love em. Buy some - you will not regret it (I promise I don't work for them!!).

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Best for flying

    • Written by from NEW YORK

    30 of 30 people found this useful

    I have been through several Bose haedphones but the B W ones are the most comfortable. They are also great at noise canceling particularly on planes. Sound quality is excellent. If you stuff headphones into you pockets these are ideal. Unlike Bose, these earpieces don't come off every time you take them out of a pocket.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Absolutely SUBLIME

    • Written by from Woodbridge

    47 of 47 people found this useful

    I'm very particular with my headphones. Like most people, all i want is clarity, clear acoustic, depth, and obviously great quality. The second i put these on, i knew it was something different. After only 10 seconds into the song I knew i was in for an experience. The clarity, and just overall quality is unparalled to anything in the market in my opinion. I've heard instruments and sounds in songs that i've listened to a million times that i never even knew were in the song. I don't just listen to the music anymore, i literally experience it now. It just feels so real. The acoustics are just absoutely amazing. For the people who claim theyre really uncomfortable, you're just wearing them wrong, and clearly you dont realize that R stands for Right and L for Left. In my opinion, if you can shell out the money for these, its TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!! From hip hop, classical, opera, dance, etc,etc....i listen to everything, and nothing has come close to the sheer experience you get out of these headphones. Im hooked for life.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Truly Excellent, Amazing sound

    • Written by from Noblesville

    19 of 19 people found this useful

    I am so impressed with these headphones. I never have heard so many subtle sound tones as with these headphones. This is coming from a 45 year old with borderline hearing. I just assumed I was unable to hear this range of tones.

    I prefer the iPhone music setting to EQ Bass Booster for rock and pop music. The default music settings are great for Classical music. I have been so impressed with these headphones that I am going to also buy the P5 headphones as well.

    Quality is top notch. Cool modern design.

    Comfort is acceptable. They were a bit uncomfortable at first. This has improved with use.

    Price is acceptable.

    Very portable in included small case.

    Good background outside noise isolation, especially on an airplane.

    No noise distortion at high volume.

    Very happy.

    Was this useful? Truly Excellent, Amazing sound

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great Headphones!

    • Written by from Glendale

    17 of 19 people found this useful

    Was debating between these of the P5s, both seemed like great choices - B&W has a great reputation. Anyways, I went with these for a few reasons. Namely they were more portable, less flashy, and at the better price point. I can always get the P5s for half-price anyways through credit card rewards.

    Many people have said that they hurt their ears, this is true - BUT only because your USING THEM WRONG. They were hurting my ears, the metal part kept gouging into my ear, and I felt like I had to push the headphones in deep to get strong bass. Turns out I was using the wrong tips. Changed out the tips for a different pair, and it solved all my problems. Now they stay in, have great bass, and DON'T hurt my ears!