The Bowers & Wilkins headphone company manufactures some of the best sounding audio equipment you will find, and of course they charge a pretty penny for it. Yet, following trends in the personal audio market, headphones are becoming less expensive from the company. While some manufacturers ask for a pound of flesh for the good stuff, you are still able to get a good quality for a better price. When the P5’s were released it was quite clear that they were made for private enclosed spaces as opposed to the plane or the train. Te sharp sound imprint just would not hold up well against a backdrop of hustle and bustle in the streets. This could be the one of the reasons that the company decided to come out with the P3.
If there ever were headphones made for commuting the P3 is that device. Though it shares a lot of design characteristics with the P5, there are some slight differences. The P3 features new equipment practically across the board with new speakers, and the way tht it can be folded and put away easily. The wires come equipped with a mic for using with a smartphone and can be easily replaced. The material that covers the ears apparently helps the audio signal. That may or may not be the case but at any rate it breathes and is quite comfortable. There is a redesigned airflow mechanism for the drivers though those closest to you cannot hear the sweet ballads blasting in your ears.
The build quality is excellent and surpasses what you would expect from this price range. The trim and accessories have an understated design aspect and the headphones are generally trying to lay low. At the same time, they have a way with expressing their quality. As they are made for the commute, there is a plastic box that is included to stow them away when not in use.
There is a common practice when listening to audiophile headphones that they need a particular burn-in before the sound is optimal. The brilliance of these units is that they are made for commuting, and the bigest buffer of outside noise is bass. So even though there is a slightly warm sound to these if you are in a quiet environment, they sound wonderful when listening to them out in the world. The bass muffles the sound of everything around you, but it doesn’t overwhelm you and cause headaches.
Listening to classic rock on these babies is quite nice, as the deciding factor is how much bass is in the song. If it is a bass-heavy tune, it can get overly dramatic however with these it is measured just right. Popular songs with heavy compression give these headphone a hard time cutting through the dressing of distortion, but that might be the case for any pair in this price class.
Bowers & Wilkins have found a nice place for these headphones and it seems as though they are on to something here. They aren’t so delicate that they can’t stand the heat, and at the same time they make a nice alternative for those who dont want to have in-ear pieces. While these are great for commuting, the bass makes them more suited for noisy environments and less so for private listening.
