Bowers & Wilkins P3

Bowers & Wilkins, the hi-fi and pro-audio manufacturer responsible for multi-thousand dollar monitoring systems in recording studios across the world, is now several products into its far more affordable?but still quite expensive?consumer audio line. The P3 is its latest offering, a pair of headphones designed for mobile use. At $199.99 (direct), it fits somewhere in between the C5 In-Ear Headphones ($179.95, 4.5 stars) and the P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones ($299.95, 4.5 stars)?the former of which is an in-canal earphone pair. The P3, which comes with built-in iPhone controls, provides a pleasantly resonant low frequency response that is more subtle than the C5. It also has less emphasis on high frequencies than either of the previous B&W models, resulting in a slightly less crisp response. Regardless, it sounds excellent and is a standout in this price range.

Design
Taking design cues from its older (and more expensive) sibling, the P3 has rounded rectangular ear-cups similar to those on the P5. The primary difference here is the use of cloth instead of leather for the earpads and the headband cushion. The top of the band and outside of the cups are a black, rubberized material?but the headphones are also available in white.

Bowers & Wilkins describes the cloth used as "bespoke acoustic fabric" ideal for acoustic transparency, while underneath there is a layer of heat-sensitive memory foam that slowly molds itself to the shape of your ear for better sealing and comfort. Indeed, the P3 can be worn for hours without much fatigue, despite snug pressure on the ear (which actually helps block a small amount of ambient noise from the outside world). As for the sealing, this may improve the listener experience, but the P3, due to its supra-aural (on-ear) design, leaks quite a bit of sound. If you monitor at moderate-to-high volumes, anyone near you can likely hear a bit?or a lot?of whatever you're listening to.

iPhone controls and a microphone are built into the cable, which has a narrow 3.5mm jack that easily fits most iPhone cases. The mic works just fine, and the remote's buttons allow for playback and volume control. There are no accessories for the headphones however, except for a black, hard shell protective case that the P3 folds down flat into.

Performance
The best way to describe the P3's response in comparison to previous B&W offerings: subtle. There is ample bass response, but it's more refined than intense. The extremes?deep lows and higher frequencies?are dialed back a bit in comparison to both the C5 and P5. The end result is a sound signature that feels weighted towards the middle frequencies?something kind of rare in the era of booming bass and tweaked treble to match it. This focus on mids sounds best on classical and instrumental tracks, like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances" or Bernard Herrmann's Psycho film score, allowing middle-register strings to take centerstage without ignoring lower frequency percussive hits.

Deep bass tracks like The Knife's "Silent Shout" sound powerful withut feeling overly boosted, and there's never any distortion, even at maximum volume?but hopefully, you're not listening that loud, regardless. Bill Callahan's unique baritone vocals on his latest record, Apocalypse, lack the bite that a more tweaked treble would provide, instead sounding a bit more smoothed around the edges, more deep than crisp. It's a great sound, but some listeners may feel that there's a bit of definition missing on certain genres.

It comes down to personal preference?no one is going to listen to the P3 and think these headphones sound bad, but particularly fans of rock or vocal-heavy music may want a bit more treble presence. Even though the deep bass is not a booming presence, either, the low-mids are an area of emphasis that makes low register strings, basses, and deeper vocals seem particularly resonant, even at modest volumes.

If crisp, brighter audio is your preference, it might be worth considering a pair of in-canal earphones from Etymotic instead?the Etymotic ER-4PT ($299, 4.5 stars) is an industry standard for flat response, but its lack of booming bass naturally lends itself to a crisper overall sound. If you're determined to stick with headphones, but still want a bit more high frequency presence and less low-end, the more affordable Shure SRH550DJ ($125, 3.5 stars) is a solid option. Of course, for the low frequency fiends out there, the P3's smooth low-end may not be enough, but the Denon AH-D1100 ($199.99, 4.5 stars) will deliver in this regard, without going into gratuitous bass territory. If you have a bit more money to spend, both the aforementioned P5, and the even pricier Shure SRH1440 ($399.99, 4 stars) are highly recommended?the Shure model, in particular, finds a beautiful balance between lows and highs, and is ideal for professional or critical listening. Bowers & Wilkins, however, continues to deliver in the headphone and earphone market?the P3 is the least sculpted sound signature of its three models, and is fairly priced when you consider performance, power, and features.

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