Bowers & Wilkins P7 - over the ear headphones
Jul 20, 2015 at 11:36 PM Post #1,381 of 1,506
I am finding that I like my P7's okay.  Not the best but what do you expect for the price.  What seems to bother me the most is the isolation isn't the greatest especially for my left ear, but not much I can do about that.  
 
I used the box trick to lessen the tension.  I also found that the sound improved greatly after the burn in period.
 
I was looking to improve the overall sound quality, and I've read that these scale up pretty well.  So, I'm considering the Fiio E12 or Cayin C5.  Thoughts one way or the other? 
 
Also has anyone upgraded the cables? I've only been able to find these:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Plated-upgrade-Wilkins-Headphone/dp/B00MPQAM7I/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1437449318&sr=8-12&keywords=bowers+%26+wilkins+p7
 
Does anyone have any experience with this cable?
 
Jul 20, 2015 at 11:54 PM Post #1,382 of 1,506
  I am finding that I like my P7's okay.  Not the best but what do you expect for the price.  What seems to bother me the most is the isolation isn't the greatest especially for my left ear, but not much I can do about that.  
 
I used the box trick to lessen the tension.  I also found that the sound improved greatly after the burn in period.
 
I was looking to improve the overall sound quality, and I've read that these scale up pretty well.  So, I'm considering the Fiio E12 or Cayin C5.  Thoughts one way or the other? 
 
Also has anyone upgraded the cables? I've only been able to find these:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Plated-upgrade-Wilkins-Headphone/dp/B00MPQAM7I/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1437449318&sr=8-12&keywords=bowers+%26+wilkins+p7
 
Does anyone have any experience with this cable?

 
I haven't tried that cable with the P7's, but I can tell you that they sound wonderful with the FiiO E12A. The E12 is a great amp for the money and for harder to drive phones like Planar's, yet the E12A works great with IEM's and most full-size headphones. It also has a quieter background than the E12 when used with more sensitive IEM's/headphone's, and in my opinion it simply sounds better. It has sweeter highs, is more spacious sounding and has more presence in the midrange all with a blacker background.
 
If you do plan to use Planar headphones or simply less efficient ones you can't go wrong with the original E12.  
 
The P7's do scale very well, they sound great with the FiiO X5 II or X5II & E12A (IMO) yet better still when hooked up to the Schiit Audio Gungnir and Asgard 2, though I too found that truly breaking them in (while not listening to them) made a difference for the better. The drivers for the P7's have rubber surrounds like a regular speaker and I assume that the surround does indeed break in with use.
 
What are you using as your source component? The P7's aren't noise cancellation headphones so they only block out noise via physically covering your ears...yet not as well in your left ear? Do they fit you less well on the left side?
 
Good luck, I hope you find the setup that works best for you! 
 
Jul 29, 2015 at 7:55 AM Post #1,384 of 1,506
Compared to other cans, what are your impressions on the timbre/tuning of the p7?

I'm now into tambourines/tablas/percussions being vs a singer that hissing up my face.
the timbre off of the Nad viso50 better?
 
Jul 31, 2015 at 9:26 PM Post #1,385 of 1,506
Has anyone listened to both the P7 and the ZMF vibro?  The P7 sounded ok before it was sent back to the factory but that was just using it with apple lossless files on a 4th gen iPod touch.  I have an iPod 7th gen classic and a cayin c5 coming next week.  Should I keep it and try out the combo? or sell it before opening the box and put the money towards one of Zach's zmf vibro seconds.  I wouldn't have to add much more than $120 if my math is correct.
 
Jul 31, 2015 at 11:26 PM Post #1,386 of 1,506
It's been my experience that the P7's will sound better with better gear. They're one of the least expensive headphones I own yet they get the most use...there has to be something to that. I'd try them with your new amp and see if you enjoy them more or if you can try them with another DAP or DAC/amp combo. I'm repeating myself, but they sound great with the FiiO X5 II or the X5 & E12A, yet better still with the Schiit Audio Gungnir and Asgard 2. The P7's scale very well as you use better gear. Good luck! 
 
Aug 2, 2015 at 12:03 PM Post #1,387 of 1,506
You all have convinced me to give the p7 another try. I really prefer the iPod over the x3 or x5 for various reasons but in your experiences do you prefer the Fiio e12a over the cayin c5 for the p7? I may pick one up to compare if you think it might be a better combo.
 
Aug 2, 2015 at 12:25 PM Post #1,389 of 1,506
You all have convinced me to give the p7 another try. I really prefer the iPod over the x3 or x5 for various reasons but in your experiences do you prefer the Fiio e12a over the cayin c5 for the p7? I may pick one up to compare if you think it might be a better combo.


Have had the E12, but not the Cayin C5. I ended up with the JDS Labs C5...very pleased with the sound coming from my P7's with the JDS amp.  I definitely prefer it over the E12.
 
Haven't upgraded my cable...but have "upgraded" cables on other headphones and found the "improvement" minimal or non-existent...guess I am one of the many skeptics on this front.
 
Aug 2, 2015 at 6:24 PM Post #1,391 of 1,506
  Is there a balanced 2.5mm TRRS cable out there for the P7?


Interesting.  Is it possible to have a balanced cable with a common ground for L and R...only three contact points on the plugs?
 
Aug 3, 2015 at 3:37 AM Post #1,392 of 1,506
It is possible to rewire the headphone's female jack,plug removing the common ground, then soldering that single ground to the new cable. I am thinking about doing this mod to my p7.
Some soldering skills, and a appropriate update cable, and plug will be needed. The other problem will be it will need an adapter to go back to single ended.
Not sure if it's worth the hassle.
 
Sep 11, 2015 at 12:23 AM Post #1,394 of 1,506
I brought my P-7s on a trip to the east coast this week.  It's a bit of a splurge (storage space-wise) because they're not uber-portable.  So they take up some room in the bag, but faced with 11 hours in a plane in 2 days, I'm gonna want some firepower with me.  
 
I'd been using them as a work pair of headphones -- I wear them when I want a break from my custom in-ears.  But the customs (UERMs) don't dig very deep.  So I decided here's an opportunity for a super intense listening session under less-than-ideal listening circumstances. 
 
For this trip, I've opted for my 2009 iPod Classic, 160GB, paired with a Pico Slim and the P-7.  What a remarkable pairing.  No, it's not exactly an Astell/Kerns AK220, but the Pico adds so much to the iPod output, when paired with the P-7, it's really an exciting setup.  The bass has tons of impact with the Slim.  There's a definite V shape to the sound, but on a plane, with all that ambient noise, these are a great option.  The soundstage is not the widest (they don't exactly under impress, either), but there is sensational stereo separation.
 
While comfortable for everyday use, I admit there is some ear fatigue with the P-7.  They start to annoy around hour 3, and I need a break from them.  My ears physically get tired.  They are generally cozy headphones.  
 
I'm glad I brought these along-- Duke Ellington tracks and Michelle Shocked are more pleasing than, say, Amy Winehouse.  I still believe these are the 2nd best headphone at the $400 dollar price point (the HE-400 is insane at that price).  They are the best closed headphone I've heard which cost $400 or less, and a great match for the Slim Pico.  
 
Sep 11, 2015 at 3:41 PM Post #1,395 of 1,506
 
Have had the E12, but not the Cayin C5. I ended up with the JDS Labs C5...very pleased with the sound coming from my P7's with the JDS amp.  I definitely prefer it over the E12.
 
Haven't upgraded my cable...but have "upgraded" cables on other headphones and found the "improvement" minimal or non-existent...guess I am one of the many skeptics on this front.

 
I definitely prefer the Cayin C5 and JDS C5 over the Fiio E12.
And if I had to pick between the two C5's :), I'd go with the Cayin.
Tons of power, very smooth, warm, detailed.
 
If looking to save some $$ and if form factor doesn't matter,
I'd go with the JDS O2.
 

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