Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) who recently moved the distribution over their highly popular Zeppelin iPod player back to Convoy, is set to enter the headphone market with a new P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphone that comes with two attach cables designed specifically for iPods and high end Hi Fi systems.
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) who recently moved the distribution over their highly popular Zeppelin iPod player back to Convoy, is set to enter the headphone market with a new P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphone that comes with two attach cables designed specifically for iPods and high end Hi Fi systems.
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The supra-aural design sits flush against the outer ear will go up against offerings from Sennheiser and other high end headphone manufacturers.
Two cables are offered with the new headphone: a Made For iPod approved cable, which allows for speech and device control; and a standard audio cable with gold-plated plugs. Switching between the two is facilitated by the magnetically attached ear pads, which simply pop off allowing access to the cable.
B&W claims to have drawn on 45 years of audio experience in designing the P5, which they say is voiced for accurate sound, in common with everything they make, from the 800 Series speakers used in EMI’s Abbey Road Studio to the premium Zeppelin iPod speaker.
Technical features include “specially developed ultra-linear” neodymium magnets, and “highly optimized” Mylar diaphragms.
The P5 offer passive noise blocking in lieu of active circuitry, through a combination of the closed-back design that includes a rigid metal faceplate, and the sealed-leather ear pads said to be made of New Zealand sheep’s leather.
The headband is also leather-clad, and although B&W doesn’t hint at the projected cost, all this finery and the profile of the British firm augurs for an asking price nearer the top than the bottom of the headphones market.
