B&W P3
Headphones

Bowers & Wilkins P3 Headphones Review

B&W P3

Before I get into the gritty detail of this review, I'll admit, right up front, that I like Bowers & Wilkins. When I built my very first proper, separates, Hi-Fi system, I pumped everything out to a pair of B&W DM560 speakers, and I absolutely loved them. From that point on, I have always found myself swaying towards Bowers & Wilkins when seeking out new Hi-Fi or home cinema equipment.

Then a few years ago, Bowers & Wilkins took the iPod generation by storm, releasing the universally praised Zeppelin iPod dock. The Zeppelin proved that you didn't have to compromise on sound quality, just because you wanted to take advantage of the simplicity and capacity of an iPod.

Eventually Bowers & Wilkins put its decades of loudspeaker experience into headphones, producing the superb P5s, which were as comfortable as they were beautiful, with sound quality to match. And recently Bowers & Wilkins invited a group of journalists to the World famous Abbey Road Studios, where the company debuted its latest set of headphones, the P3s.

Although it's easy to think of the P3s as simply a more compact incarnation of the P5s, that couldn't be further from the truth. Bowers & Wilkins has designed the P3s from the ground up, with everything from the drivers to the housing, and even the material used for the ear pads being completely new.

There's no denying that the P3s look superb, finished in aluminium, chrome and rubber. The ear pads and head cushion are made from a bespoke fabric, manufactured by the same company that makes B&W's speaker grilles. Put simply, the P3s are a triumph of industrial design that will complement the iPhone 4S that the majority of buyers will undoubtedly plug them into.

To cater for those iPhone users, the P3s ship with a cable that comes equipped with remote controls for play/pause and volume, along with a microphone for hands free calling duties. Don't worry if you don't have an iPhone, because the P3s ship with two cables - one for Apple phones and players, and the other for any other devices.

Although having two cables in the box is a nice touch, I do find the cable slightly short, and would have appreciated an extension. That said, I only struggle with the cable length because I tend to carry my iPhone in a cargo pocket on my trousers, so it really depends on your personal carrying habits.

Like the P5s before them, the P3s are unbelievably comfortable to wear, even for extended periods. You can't avoid warm ears when using over-the-ear headphones, but the P3s manage to maintain a comfortably close fit without causing any unpleasant sweatiness.