Review: Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless Headphones

Bowers & Wilkins has built a reputation for excellence. They craft some of the most renowned audio equipment in the business. Their latest is the P5 Wireless, a Bluetooth-equipped pair of on-ear headphones updated from the P5 Series 2 released last year. Having been blown away by the P7 back in December, we were excited to get our hands (or rather ears) on this new model.

The P5 Wireless ships in a clean and subtle box. Inside you'll find a very nice black, diamond quilted bag with a magnetic seal for its cover flap. It's just big enough to store the headphones laid flat, and there's even a pouch to hide the provided paperwork or cables. The latter set includes one microUSB charging cable and one 3.5mm analog cable to power the headphones passively.

The design of the P5 Wireless is best described as elegant. Bowers & Wilkins carries its styling throughout their product lineup, and it's not hard to argue why. Aluminum strands flow organically from the headband to the earcups, following the curves of the braided audio wiring. The rectangular earcups, in addition to the headband, are covered in black leather. Their backs house raised oval platforms of dark metal rimmed with silver. The company's name is embossed in equal tone atop the hard, brushed surfaces. It's a sophisticated look and one that - despite the self consciousness of male-pattern baldness - made feel like I could be pictured with them on the pages of a magazine.

As with the other models, the magnetically-held ear cushions are easily removable and replaceable. The 3.5mm input is placed underneath the left cushion. The analog cable connects here with an L-shaped head, making it virtually impossible to accidentally oust it from its port. Moving to the right earcup we find the media controls, divided into a standard set of three buttons, all within easy reach. At the bottom rests the microUSB input and the power switch that doubles as the Bluetooth pairing button. Dual microphones are hidden within the ear cups, too, allowing the P5 Wireless to transform into a mobile headset.

Elegance counts for little if fit is found lacking. And in the past I haven't been kind to supra-aural cans. Their applied pressure, particularly against the flaps of the ears, can be taxing to downright painful. But Bowers & Wilkins proved to me I've just been wearing the wrong headphones.

The thick cushions did a wonderful job of alleviating those concerns. More noteworthy is the position of the earcups. They're slanted in such a way as to parrot the angle of your ears. That relieves a lot of the pressure associated with other on-ear headphones. You won't as easily forget you're wearing them compared to a circumaural pair, and I did need to find the right position to get relaxed, but it doesn't want for comfort. They can be worn for hours with nary a complaint. 

A defining feature of the P5 Wireless is intimated by its very name:  the freedom from the bondage of wires. I can't express enough how great it feels not to be physically tethered to a device. In fact, I found myself moving about more, excited to go on lengthier walks or to cycle without worrying about distracting, obtrusive cabling. Up to eight devices - one primary and seven secondary - can be paired with the P5 via Bluetooth, and it's as easy as holding in the power button for a few seconds. The company also claims a 17-hour charge for its lithium battery.

Bluetooth headphones and headsets aren't new innovations, of course, but few if any may rival the P5 Wireless's audio performance. Detail reproduction is impeccable. Sarah Brightman's emotional delivery is lush and pronounced, free of any harsh sibilance, in the original cast recording of The Phantom of the Opera. Moving between the electronic pop of Empire of the Sun or the journeyful Iron Maiden, the bass hits fast and tight. Every component - note, drum beat, or lyric - sings with incredible balance. Furthermore, the solid noise isolation kept my eyes shut and mind transported. The absence of any audible hiss when powered by its own battery - an issue that plagues lesser headphones - certainly helped, as well.

As we noted in the review of Bowers & Wilkins' P7, high-end headphones aren't designed for gaming, and yet they often end up being its best performers. Those branded explicitly for this medium, even expensive pairs, often get away with using lesser quality parts. And that's a shame, because as gamers we expect just as much from our audio. The difference between a good and a bad headset can mean hearing the footsteps behind us or taking a bullet to the dome. 

The P5 Wireless rendered each bullet and blast from Battlefield 4 to Destiny in sharp precision. The thwack of sniper fire and grinding tank treads could be felt right in the gut thanks to its punchy bass. These are on-ear and close-backed headphones, however, so the sound stage isn't as wide as its opposites. But the rich, perfect detail coming out of its 40mm drivers meant no sound was ever lost in the cacophony of battle. It's easily driven, too. It has no problem running passively off a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One controller. 

That does bring me to a few of the quirks associated with Bluetooth.  These are issues you're likely to run into regardless of make or model, but there are easy workarounds. The first has to do with how Bluetooth separates audio in channels. If headset mode is enabled and you're using it for more than voice calls over Skype, for example, audio quality will drop dramatically. The solution is to set a different microphone as your primary recording device. 

The second and final issue involves connecting an unsupported device to the PlayStation 4. The system simply said no profile was found for the P5 Wireless and refused pairing when I attempted to do so. You can use the supplied 3.5mm analog cable to connect it to the controller, but that won't enable or transmit audio from the twin microphones. The solution here is to buy an audio cable with remote from the company's own store. The one for the P5 Series 2 worked for me. That will set you back an additional $23. 

Bowers & Wilkins' P5 Wireless is the most fun I've ever had with a pair of headphones. If your primary focus is music and other multimedia, especially on mobile platforms, then I can recommend nothing better for those that demand perfection. The kick of its bass and razor balanced sound serve it for games, as well. If your wants are skewed toward gaming but you still need the best for everything else, then the P7 is worth strong consideration. It costs the same at $400, but it has a wider sound stage and comes with an in-line microphone already in the box. No matter the choice, both provide an experience that is nothing short of aural bliss.

Disclosure: We were provided with a unit by Bowers & Wilkins for the purpose of this review. You can buy it here.