With its enviable reputation for creating speakers that push the technological envelope, you might expect a company like B&W to burst on to the headphone market with an all-out effort that aims to rewrite the rulebook. But rather than aiming for the top with a high-end, high-tech model that few could afford, B&W has instead chosen to create a traditional headphone with deluxe packaging that's aimed at the executive travel market.
Because the P5 is intended for portable use, B&W chose to go with a closed-back on-the-ear design instead of the open-back around-the-ear approach usually seen on headphones designed for home use. This makes the folding, compact P5 relatively easy to pack in its classy quilted travel bag, while the closed-back drivers mean that you'll be less likely to disturb your fellow travelers. Portable music players and laptop computers don't normally have an especially powerful amplifier, so B&W endowed the P5 with a low impedance and high sensitivity so these devices could easily drive it.
Two cables are included: a standard one terminated with a 3.5mm stereo mini connector; and an Apple-compliant one with a built-in remote and microphone for use with recent-model iPhones and iPods. I tried the second cable with my BlackBerry, and while it did allow me to switch tracks during music playback, I couldn't get the phone part to work properly. Switching between the included cables involves removing the P5's magnetically attached left ear pad, where the cable attaches via a hidden connector. A [1/4]-in adapter is also included for use with standard audio components.
shopped pretty much everything high end in head phones and at the end of the day I went home with B&W P-5. Best sound with an excellent company to back up there product. No way would B&W put out sub quality on the market. They are the household name with to much to lose. By far blew Boses out of the water sound comfort quality dont get me wrong I do own Boses products again an exchasted search for my ears and head.. And the winner is!!!!
Bill M.
I've owned my P-5's for over a year now. In the winter I move to a condo with units both over and under ours so buying a pair of good speakers was out of the question for me as I listen mostly late at night. The P-5's are the answer for me. I plug them in to my receiver and crank up the sound to whatever level i wish.
The sound quality is wonderful and the headphones are well designed and comfortable. While these are not "sound cancelling" headphones per se, they do a great job of isolating the listener in the world of whatever music you may be listening to. After an hour or so i sometimes remove them for a moment or so to let my ears recalibrate to normal room ambiance, but these headpnones are never uncomfortable and my ears never get hot or sweaty.
To me, the P-5's are worth every cent I paid for them and the only thing better is when I return back to my summer residence and can listen to my B&W 804S speakers. Pure musical bliss.