Bowers & Wilkins have conquered the Hi-Fi speaker market with their range of floor-standers, bookshelf and home cinema speakers. With many fans from both professional and consumer backgrounds, it is easy to see why they’re a firm favourite. Also, being the world’s largest speaker manufacturer, the manufacturer of choice at Abbey Road Studios and the manufacturer exclusively used by Jaguar cars could be something to do with their thriving success.

B&W's P3 Headphones in Black and Silver Finishes

As the world has adapted to use digital media instead of traditional analogue, B&W realised that they could extend their niche with products that are designated for the sector of headphones and ear buds. But, after the release of the high-end P5 headphone, B&W announced that they have decided to create a headphone set that allows conventionality, practicality and superb performance in a portable and affordable price. The acronym of ‘Hi-Fi’ is now truly valid in the phrase ‘Portable Hi-Fi’ – and it’s all thanks to the P3…

Face Value:

Open the box and you are greeted with the sense that B&W take pride in their manufacturing, regardless of their end price on the products that they design and build. Sure enough, the product itself is something that looks and feels substantial, without feeling heavy or clumsy to both wear and transport. If anything, these headphones are ideal for commuters, of whom, require quality that lies in the product and the overall performance.

Coming in a unique and durable carry case, the P3s are protected from the harshest environments, making them ideal travel-mates for those who travel regularly on trains, planes and those on foot. In fact, these are ideal for almost any surrounding.

In comparison to the P5, the leather ear pads are exchanged for cleaner and more versatile cloth alternatives which promote both improved comfort and sound transparency (the sound will travel with more ease, as opposed to being slightly reduced when travelling through the leather pads). To top it all off, the connector cable included feels like it’s built to last – something that the P3’s counterparts have overlooked.

 

Performance:

 

We decided to find our own opinion of these beauties, even though What Hi-Fi’s magazine covers questions if they are ‘The best headphones in the world’. With this in mind, we found that they’re opinion is valid and true. To describe them in one word they are ‘superb’!

As we all have a broad range and individual tastes of music we all felt catered for when using the P3’s on iPods, Smartphones and even on Hi-Fi components. From rock to metal, pop to classical, all of the genre’s qualities were truly pronounced and presented without revealing flaws, or sounding false, across the field of sound frequencies. Even on compressed music the P3’s feel that they’re able to deliver and produce presence and accurate imagery that’s connected with warm, yet defined tone.

Verdict:

If you are looking for something that makes your music sound fresh and vibrant, even at low volume, these are ideal. Coupled with the ability to isolate external sound confidently, and the ability to look beautiful with the added bonus of durability, the B&W P3 headphone set are just the true bridge between functionality and affordability.

In conclusion, if B&W were an Olympic team, their collection of medals would be enough to show their winning streak of design, price and performance.