I do n’t normally like on - ear earpiece . It ’s mostly a comfort thing — that and the lone hand desire to close up myself off from the outside world . But when I heard thatthe dear Bowers & Wilkins P5 on - ear headphoneswere going radio , I had to sample them , and there ’s plenty to like .
I did not , however , love them . This opinion does n’t halt from my on - ear prejudice . On the contrary , I found the B&W P5 wireless to be one of the most well-off headsets I ’ve ever wear out — but with some inauspicious hiccups also included .
What Is It?
These are the same better-looking , luxurious headphones as the B&W P5 Series 2 , minus a wire and plus $ 100 on the toll tag .
Who’s It For?
Diehard B&W fan that do n’t like wires , rich people who do like on - pinna headphones , chrome junky .
Design
The P5s are undeniably beautiful . With a supple padded lambskin leather headband and penetrate lambskin leather capitulum pads that hug your head like an erstwhile booster wearing a leather jacket crown , they ’re astonishingly comfortable . The headphones are surprisingly light , but the build timbre is special and timeless with a shiny aluminum chassis and chrome contingent on either side . The uniquely flat ear cup are also sequester to the headset with magnets so they can be replaced or , if need be , stop up in with an included conducting wire . aspect are in spades not the problem .
Using It
I frankly ca n’t conceive how much I liked wear these silly things . As someone who prefers to wear down sound - draw a blank earmuff , the on - ear experience was surprisingly comfy and inescapably gratifying . The headphones are engineered to match the performance of the original P5s . This mean 40 - millimetre driver with suspended diaphragms , that put out gorgeous high fidelity audio .
Bowers and Wilkins notes that the headphones are design to work like full - size hi - fi speakers , with more precise movement and more exacting strait . The grille form on the inside of the spike cup also leave tune to flow through more well . All of this total to a singular degree of item in sound coming out of super compact cans .
So far we ’re at a 10 out of 10 , and then you realize a few Bluetooth shortcomings .

Connectivity issue is n’t supposed to be an issue . The P5 wireless cans arrive with Bluetooth aptX which promises “ CD - similar lineament ” over the air . And as advertised , the sound timbre is smashing . But I found myself consistently annoyed by how quickly the headphones disconnect after a few idle minutes . peradventure this is a shelling - saving thaumaturgy ( the impressive 17 - hour battery life is commodious ) , but I just hated going into my Bluetooth context several time a day — especially since the P5s would n’t automatically connect like so many other wireless phone .
Like
Beautiful excogitation . Terrific sound timbre . toppingly well-to-do . End of story .
No Like
I felt like I was forever re - connecting the headset . While the headphones sounded great without a wire , spending more clock time in my Bluetooth options really bummed me out .
Should I Buy It?
Did I mention that the P5 wireless phone cost $ 400 ? At that price you couldget a duad of Parrot Ziks or four pairs of Jabra Moves , so you should really love these if you ’re believe the leverage . That said , if you do have the money to spend , do n’t take care the constant Bluetooth connection terpsichore , and want the best sounding on - ear wireless earphone out there , the Bowers & Wilkins are a enceinte choice . But at $ 400 a pair , this is one gadget that should n’t require fixing .
photo by Michael Hession .
audioHeadphonesWireless Headphones

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