MacBooks play a substantial role in our live coverage, mostly thanks to the Mac-only dongle we use for on-the-fly video encoding. That said, we'll see how I feel once Sennheiser releases its HD-25 based Amperior in the coming months.
2012 SPECK MACBOOK CASE DRIVERS
These complaints aside, the P5 headphones have been my daily drivers for over nine months, and I'd recommend them to anyone looking for an awesome set of portable cans.
Interestingly, the company's C5 in-ears use an improved mic that better focuses on vocals, so hopefully it'll eventually make its way to the P5.
Although it feels great for controlling playlists, the onboard microphone picks up loads of ambient noise - so much so that I generally have to pull the mic up to my mouth. The other fault lies in the iPhone remote / mic. Thankfully, B&W covered my breaks under warranty as a one-time only deal, so I can at least attest to a pleasant customer service experience. A switch to a right-angle plug would greatly improve their durability. I managed to snap the jacks on both cables through routine snags, so it's good that the cables detach easily from under the left earpad (the pads attach magnetically). You might think it's their thinness (I'm a fan, as there's nary a trace of cable noise), but it's actually the straight-angle jacks - a nightmare when your PMP is in your pocket. For one, the included cables need improving. Of course, if you prefer gobs of treble above the mix, look elsewhere. That's not to say they're bass-heavy more that the sound is exceptionally warm. The audio is quite good for the size, and it's comfortably voiced for long listening - a thick, dark sound with relaxed highs and an acceptably sized soundstage. Notably, their closed-back design offers such good passive noise isolation that they've rivaled every active noise-cancelling headset I've used. Plus, whenever I need a break, the earcups can twist flat and rest on my collarbone. Of course, it does help that these headphones are ridiculously flexible, and also lightweight, at just under seven ounces. And unlike many headphones using the stuff, it actually comes close to that Tempur-Pedic sort of feel. The sheepskin leather is incredibly smooth - not to mention, padded with memory foam. I'm picky when it comes to fit, but B&W has struck the best balance of portability and comfort I've experienced yet. Furthermore, the included pouch brings the experience a measure of luxury usually reserved for fine jewelry. Off the bat, they just ooze class, thanks to the brushed metal accents - you could wear them with a suit and still look dapper, as far as I'm concerned. At $300, they fall into the wallet-thinner category, and while some might balk at the thought of spending that much for iDevice-optimized 'phones, they've proven to be worth nearly every penny.
2012 SPECK MACBOOK CASE FULL
Strangely, though, I've never actually given my full opinion of these leather-clad cans. Time and time again, I find myself referencing Bowers & Wilkins P5 headphones in reviews. So is James actually still using that N800? What's Joe's obsession with B&W? And why would anyone spend $50 on a notebook prophylactic? Read on to find out.
2012 SPECK MACBOOK CASE SKIN
And the object of Mat's affection - a laptop skin - slipped under our radar when it came out over a year ago. Joe, our resident audio guru, explains why he tosses a reference to Bowers & Wilkins' P5 into almost every one of his headphone reviews. For starters, James still get the warm-and-fuzzies holding his Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, despite its crawling page load times. For the purposes of this column, though, all three are waxing on about something very old, at least by early adopter standards.
Of this week's IRL contributors, two have already tried out that replacement for iChat.
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