REVIEW: B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) P5 Headphones

[fella]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif The What Hifi review TV, Blu-ray, home cinema and hi-fi video guides - whathifi.com

Most balanced review I've read, a synthesis of the gushing of the Wireds, Macworlds and Cnets and the bashing of some head-fiers.

 

[Ridleyguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjcha /img/forum/go_quote.gif I disagree with this. The "bed-rig" is exactly how I use most of my headphones - whether they be the Qualia 010, HD650s, JH13 Pros, the half dozen audio-technica I've owned or the K 1000 or Stax. If I had $300 bucks for the bed-rig, I would use (and actually, I do) the ATH-W10VTG over the P5s every day of the week. I'd rather use a HD600 over the P5s out of the iPod (and have) any day of the week. Heck, ATH-ES7s.... much less any of the better setups. Of course, ideally I'd rather listen to my B&W LM1s out of a small Denon mini rig than listen to any headphones while going to sleep in bed.... but that's before the wife situation... Honestly, it's outside the "bed-rig" and maybe in the "work-rig" that the P5s might do well. Comfort, form factor and passive isolation do well for wearing them for like 2-3 hours at a time at work. Best, -Jason

I would be interested in knowing how your wife/girlfriend liked you wearing K1000s to bed.

 

[ThEvil0nE]

After my experience with the P5 through my RSA Protector, thin sounding through single ended and totally weird faint dying sound with echoing faint vocals through balanced... IMHO, the P5 is definitely an overpriced apple accessory with one main goal... cater the iPod/iPhone/iTouch masses who wants something that will sound nice, look nice and "cool look factor" with their device.

 

[Farnsworth]

Here's my take on the P5's. I have had them for about a month now and have no intrest in replacing them.

They definitely do have a unique and colored sound signature, but one that i thoroughly enjoy. They dont do everything right and not all songs sound very good with them (some really sound awful, but very few), but for the majority of the music i listen to the P5's handel them very well.

These are definitely meant to be used un-amped and for this purpose they shine. IMO, the P5's produce some of the best un-amped portable sound i have heard. I hands down prefer them to my d1001's. You can certainly get better portable sound but not without an amp IMO.

As for comfort i find these fantastic. I have no problem wearing them for 5+ hours. They did start out a bit uncomfortable, but as the headband loosened they quickly created the perfect clamping force. For those having trouble with the clamping force i would suggest trying to bend the headband open a bit.

These certainly aren't for everyone, as i have seen from these forums. They seem to resemble grados, NOT in sound (please dont jump all over me for this) but in the fan base. Some people love their sound and some hate it; some think their SO uncomfortable and some think they are top notch comfort.
But for anyone curious about them i would suggest buying them and trying them out. If you dont like them you can take advantage of apples 14 day return policy.

Anyways, just my thoughts.

 

[Shahrose]

Thanks for the honest review Skylab. I was half expecting this just by looking at their design.

 

[MayaTlab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farnsworth /img/forum/go_quote.gif You can certainly get better portable sound but not without an amp.

Although I agree with you on some points, I'm pretty ure you can find plenty of other portable headphones that sound better without amps : ESW9, HD 25, ES10, ESW10. My Shure SRH840 also sound better straight out of a Cowon S9 than the P5 (but I wouldn't call them that portable). And I'd bet that the upcoming Beyer T50p are better too.

Of course to me none of them seem to equal the design (both in aesthetic and practical terms) of the P5 which, in the end, are superbly portable.

 

[gorgonmusic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farnsworth /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here's my take on the P5's. I have had them for about a month now and have no intrest in replacing them. They definitely do have a unique and colored sound signature, but one that i thoroughly enjoy. They dont do everything right and not all songs sound very good with them (some really sound awful, but very few), but for the majority of the music i listen to the P5's handel them very well. These are definitely meant to be used un-amped and for this purpose they shine. IMO, the P5's produce some of the best un-amped portable sound i have heard. I hands down prefer them to my d1001's. You can certainly get better portable sound but not without an amp. As for comfort i find these fantastic. I have no problem wearing them for 5+ hours. They did start out a bit uncomfortable, but as the headband loosened they quickly created the perfect clamping force. For those having trouble with the clamping force i would suggest trying to bend the headband open a bit. These certainly aren't for everyone, as i have seen from these forums. They seem to resemble grados, NOT in sound (please dont jump all over me for this) but in the fan base. Some people love their sound and some hate it; some think their SO uncomfortable and some think they are top notch comfort. But for anyone curious about them i would suggest buying them and trying them out. If you dont like them you can take advantage of apples 14 day return policy. Anyways, just my thoughts.

great review dude! I will be keeping my p5s too the do have the best non amped sound

 

[gorgonmusic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MayaTlab /img/forum/go_quote.gif Although I agree with you on some points, I'm pretty ure you can find plenty of other portable headphones that sound better without amps : ESW9, HD 25, ES10, ESW10. My Shure SRH840 also sound better straight out of a Cowon S9 than the P5 (but I wouldn't call them that portable). And I'd bet that the upcoming Beyer T50p are better too. Of course to me none of them seem to equal the design (both in aesthetic and practical terms) of the P5 which, in the end, are superbly portable.

those are some great phones but none of them sound bettervthan th p5 they sound different but not better... and yeh the p5 design and build is unrivaled

 

[Farnsworth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MayaTlab /img/forum/go_quote.gif Although I agree with you on some points, I'm pretty ure you can find plenty of other portable headphones that sound better without amps : ESW9, HD 25, ES10, ESW10. My Shure SRH840 also sound better straight out of a Cowon S9 than the P5 (but I wouldn't call them that portable). And I'd bet that the upcoming Beyer T50p are better too. Of course to me none of them seem to equal the design (both in aesthetic and practical terms) of the P5 which, in the end, are superbly portable.

I havent heard the HD-25's but i preferred the P5's over the ESW9's. I also believe you when you say that the ES10's/ESW10's sound better that the P5's but they are also significantly more expensive.
So in this price range i would argue that the P5's output comparable sound quality, albeit a different type of sound, but still at the same quality un-amped.

And i too am really looking forward to the T50p's. I have a feeling they will replace my P5's.

 

[Mysta Rave]

Tried these out in the Apple store the other day. Build quality, 2 thumbs up. Sound quality.. 2 thumbs WAYYYY down (for the price, obviously).

 

[fella]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThEvil0nE /img/forum/go_quote.gif After my experience with the P5 through my RSA Protector, thin sounding through single ended and totally weird faint dying sound with echoing faint vocals through balanced... IMHO, the P5 is definitely an overpriced apple accessory with one main goal... cater the iPod/iPhone/iTouch masses who wants something that will sound nice, look nice and "cool look factor" with their device.

as opposed to what.... sound nice and look nice seem like pretty reasonable requests. Nothing wrong with cool look factor either.

 

[2rooi123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorgonmusic /img/forum/go_quote.gif those are some great phones but none of them sound bettervthan th p5 they sound different but not better

My cousin just came from america and i did a side-by-side comparison to both and the p5 doesnt come close. ES10 had less a fatiguing sound, more bass quality and quantity, and better highs. The bowers are a bit better in build quality and comfort but id stick with my es10's anytime anywhere. P5's are just like bose but a bit better

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorgonmusic /img/forum/go_quote.gif those are some great phones but none of them sound bettervthan th p5 they sound different but not better... and yeh the p5 design and build is unrivaled

I agree that the build quality of the P5 is very good, but I do not think that "unrivaled" is accurate.

 

[ThEvil0nE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fella /img/forum/go_quote.gif as opposed to what.... sound nice and look nice seem like pretty reasonable requests. Nothing wrong with cool look factor either.

Nothing wrong really if used as intended. I almost got sold to it even. Looks and build quality are very good. If these would have worked with the Protector... I just might have gotten one. I love retro looks... I love retro rocker knobs and aluminum and the P5 in itself is one sweet looking retro

 

[jessel]

I have a stock HD25-1 II with steel cable and heard P5 from an Apple store. The truth is, stock HD25 dominates P5 in every sound related aspects without an amp, regardless of the design and aesthetics. HD25-1 II is a pair of headphones that simply can provide you impressive sound even without an amp. But they also give you great improvement with an amp. SO I really don't think P5 can stand on the same league with HD25....