Reviews for Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Headphones

I've been an avid user of B&W products for over a dozen years and currently own a pair of sig 805 and 802D driven by classe Delta series electronics. When I found out the P5 was in the making, I was anxious to get my hands (and ears) on a pair. Well, I got them and here's the low down...

built: as expected, it is second to none in this price range. I know that many have reservation about the thin cord. I actually like it as it doesn't get in the way when I'm on the go. Thick cords are bothersome and unwieldy. Because it is easily replaced, I don't care if it doesn't last a decade. Aside from this, everything else about the unit is top notch...hard to believe they can sell it for just $300.

comfort: They are light and hugs the head very tightly. You can jog with these. Not as comfortable as bose qc15 because it sits over the ears instead of around. I think it's fine if you wear it for a couple of hours at a time. My ears are a little sore after just an hour.

sound: I own a pair of bose qc15 and I have to admit, these blow them away in every respect. The highs are much clearer. Voices are more opened. Bass is punchy and smoother. Of course, they are not as good at noise cancellation/isolation as the bose, but they are adequate for most settings. Just remember to tweak how they sit on your head. This affects the bass if they are not air tight over the ears. So how do they compare with their audiophile products? Perhaps a little unfair to compare them with a system costing as much as a car, but here goes...as good as they sound for headphones, you can still tell they are...closed ear headphones. There is a distinct coloration that sounds like drivers mounted in a "tube." This is very pronounced in the mid range. There isn't the stage presence and air that I'm used to. The bottom line is, I'm happy with them, but don't expect them to be more then what they are and they are mass consumer grade product just like the zep.