Introducing the P5 - B&W's new Headphones
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And computer speakers:
B&W Blog entry about the Headphones:
A round-up of all our latest blog posts. From A-Z, updates on our brand, music and tech happenings, how-to guides and handy hints, and the latest product stories.
What HIFI article about both:
No pricing listed, but I saw the article when it first went up and I can swear that it initially gave a price for the speakers at £379.
Jeff- Bottom
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Man.. that's kinda disappointing. They really are going for mass media now. Evening the wording of the description. Basically... if they're going for that price that you mentioned, they better beat the Sennheiser 600/650s.
PC speakers... but doesn't the new Zeppelin have a USB DAC as well?B&W 804S/Velodyne SPL-1000R/Anthem MRX720- Bottom
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Originally posted by audioquesoMan.. that's kinda disappointing. They really are going for mass media now. Evening the wording of the description. Basically... if they're going for that price that you mentioned, they better beat the Sennheiser 600/650s.
PC speakers... but doesn't the new Zeppelin have a USB DAC as well?- Bottom
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For PC Gamers like myself, this is fantastic news. My only two nitpicks are the USB connection (USB DACs are very hit-and-miss, even for audiophile companies) and the lack of expandability (IE, 5.1 or 4.0 setups).
As for the P5's, I'm glad B&W is getting into the Headphone business, but a bit concerned as well. How will the metal back affect bass response? What about that cheap, flimsy-looking wire that's bound to get tangled and knotted up? I kind of expected more attention to detail than what I'm seeing in the initial release; even a simple nylon braid over the wire like the Zune Earbuds would protect the wires better and prevent tangling.
I'll be grabbing a pair of the PC speakers as soon as they're available more than likely, though I'm on the fence with the P5's. I need something for day-to-day portable usage, and the Grado's just aren't built for that sort of rough treatment; the P5's were supposedly built for iPods/iPhones, so maybe they're more rugged.- Bottom
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They're not noise cancelling. It's just sealed headphones (which really has me interested) since most manufacturers that go for audiophile nirvana use open-cir. design. I would definitely make the chance to listen to them once they come out in Japan.B&W 804S/Velodyne SPL-1000R/Anthem MRX720- Bottom
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Originally posted by PavelLNew Bose anyone?! noise-cancelling earphones, cubes for your PC...- Bottom
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Originally posted by MM1-MZ1-P7Wasn't the the ipod docking station market pretty crowded?, seem to have done pretty well with thier first attempt. :W
There are quite a few companies currently making audiophile grade headphones: it remains to be seen how competitive the B&W offering is with these products. It's possible that they've come up with a design that will stomp the competition, but that would surprise me given the maturity of this market.
But, we'll see.- Bottom
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Originally posted by mjbI think they're cheapening the B&W brand name with this stuff, and thats a shame.
In the new reality where iPods, portable audio and computer audio gain more and more interest by consumers, no company can really afford to ignore this market. They don't all have to go this same route, but they can't turn a deaf ear to it either. To me, B&W is pushing ever further outward to widen their catalog offerings. Could they get overextended? Sure, but this particular market segment is absolutely worth pushing into.
Jeff- Bottom
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Originally posted by mjbI think they're cheapening the B&W brand name with this stuff, and thats a shame.
By selling docks, headphones and the like they may also be providing a "gateway" for users to get exposed to high end audio. I don't think that selling these "low end" products in any way depreciates the prestige of the company.
And I bet they are ahead of the curve: it wouldn't surprise me at all to see some other "high end" manufactures jumping into this market space, especially in these difficult economic times.- Bottom
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Originally posted by wgrielAbsolutely, but the Zeppelin was heads and shoulders better than any of the iPod docks out there.
There are quite a few companies currently making audiophile grade headphones: it remains to be seen how competitive the B&W offering is with these products. It's possible that they've come up with a design that will stomp the competition, but that would surprise me given the maturity of this market.
But, we'll see.
Jeff- Bottom
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Originally posted by mjbI think they're cheapening the B&W brand name with this stuff, and thats a shame.
Eric- Bottom
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Originally posted by mjbI think they're cheapening the B&W brand name with this stuff, and thats a shame.
Originally posted by MM1-MZ1-P7Wasn't the the ipod docking station market pretty crowded?, seem to have done pretty well with thier first attempt. :WB&W 804S/Velodyne SPL-1000R/Anthem MRX720- Bottom
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I don't know. I have a G1 zeppelin and love it. I'll audition these headphones and consider replacing my current headphones with them. I think it is about time. I sort of wish they had a good-better-best product offering. the senheisers can be pretty expensive. wonder where they will fall. anyone see a price?I'm just sittin here watchin the wheels go round and round...- Bottom
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Knowing B&W, the headphones will probably be over £200... but that's just speculating. And if it's that price, they better offer something superior to the Sennheiser HD650s. I still would love to audition them though.B&W 804S/Velodyne SPL-1000R/Anthem MRX720- Bottom
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Originally posted by audioquesoKnowing B&W, the headphones will probably be over £200... but that's just speculating. And if it's that price, they better offer something superior to the Sennheiser HD650s. I still would love to audition them though.
BTW, wasn't there a P5 speaker years ago?-Joe- Bottom
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Originally posted by audioquesoYeah, but according to who?? To audiophile masses, yes. To iPod masses... not really. But I'm curious who B&W's target is. B&W markets to audiophile masses... but iPod is not. Just trying to hit both, I guess. Though if I had a desktop, I'd buy the new Zeppelin. :B I'm always interested in hearing new products from B&W though... whether I'd want to buy it or not. I'm a B&W fan (keychain and all. lol)
In the Apple Stores, the Zeppelin absolutely does stand out, as it should given the form factor and price. Prior to the Bose Sounddock 10, it was their most expensive speaker dock by a good margin. So, I think it creates a scenario where those customers come in and view it as the high end even if they know nothing about B&W. Some will buy while others just lust after. I will say though, that my local dealer tells me that the B&W tells him that the Zeppelin does much better outside the US than in the US. I can see that. We're usually not as space conscious as our international brethren, so spending $600 on a unit to save space or retain that one box look and feel may seem less attractive on this side of the pond. In that way, the Mini should help given its much lower price point.
I think B&W could go too far by pushing below $400. You very quickly then start to lose that "high end" feeling (for the mass market iPod crowd) and would have to sacrifice some design elements so as to not encroach on the existing line. Purely from a personal subjective view, the Zeppelin sounds significantly better than the Mini, as it should for 50% more price and much bigger footprint. I wouldn't want to see them sacrifice any more than what they have on the Mini. As for the MM-1 computer speakers, they will land in between the 2, with the added benefit of true stereo separation.
BTW, the P5 will be $299.
Jeff- Bottom
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Originally posted by joetamaOriginally posted by audioquesoKnowing B&W, the headphones will probably be over £200... but that's just speculating. And if it's that price, they better offer something superior to the Sennheiser HD650s. I still would love to audition them though.
BTW, wasn't there a P5 speaker years ago?
Jeff- Bottom
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Originally posted by ray5HOme use. movies and music. Range at least 20ft. Budget is open.
Thanks,
Ray
Below are some surround options worth checking out:
Upcoming product (mid-November) - Sennheiser RS 170 - $270
- Uses Kleer tech and offers a virtual surround mode. Note that input is analog 2-channel only. Range of 80m. Step up model RS 180 has 100m range and is an open design (RS 170 is closed) but does not offer the surround mode. Senn will tell you that the RS 180 is their audiophile grade design - price is $349.
Sony MDR-DS3000 - $229 ($159 on Amazon)
- IR with range of 10m. Has an analog as well as a digital input (optical). Transmitter decodes DD and DTS for movies.
Pioneer SE-DIR800C - $399 ($249 on Amazon)
- Similar to Sony design. 8m range. I have them and have enjoyed using them, though I do find the noise on the headband as it moves with your head distracting. The newer model doesn't suffer from this, but is an import product.
The US market doesn't offer as many options as there are internationally. If you are willing to import, you can buy from a company like Audiocubes. I've done business with them more than once and had great customer service. There selection of wireless surround headphones are here:
AudioCubes is Internet's premier website for Japan's audiophile hifi equipment since 2001. Shipping directly from Osaka Japan to the US and the world.
Hope this helps.
Jeff- Bottom
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Originally posted by rgbyhkr...my local dealer tells me that the B&W tells him that the Zeppelin does much better outside the US than in the US. I can see that. We're usually not as space conscious as our international brethren
Originally posted by rgbyhkrPurely from a personal subjective view, the Zeppelin sounds significantly better than the Mini, as it should for 50% more price and much bigger footprint. I wouldn't want to see them sacrifice any more than what they have on the Mini.
Originally posted by rgbyhkrBTW, the P5 will be $299.
Originally posted by rgbyhkr...I will say that they have one thing I like out of the gate - they are reasonably portable because the earpads can fold flat. I own Senn 650s and a variety of full size cans. While I love them all for different reasons, they are just too bulky so they always wind up staying home.B&W 804S/Velodyne SPL-1000R/Anthem MRX720- Bottom
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Originally posted by rgbyhkrThere are a few options. You can go wireless using RF or using IR. In my previous experience, IR tends to be more stable as long as you have line of sight from transmitter to the headphones. RF can be good depending on the amount of nearby RF interference but it's not uncommon to get signal pops or general noise. Newer technologies in RF are supposed to improve that though. Kleer (http://www.kleer.com) is a company that uses a technology in RF to try and offer CD quality with greater signal stability. Sennheiser has started using it in the wireless headphones including their existing portable MX W1.
Below are some surround options worth checking out:
Upcoming product (mid-November) - Sennheiser RS 170 - $270
- Uses Kleer tech and offers a virtual surround mode. Note that input is analog 2-channel only. Range of 80m. Step up model RS 180 has 100m range and is an open design (RS 170 is closed) but does not offer the surround mode. Senn will tell you that the RS 180 is their audiophile grade design - price is $349.
Sony MDR-DS3000 - $229 ($159 on Amazon)
- IR with range of 10m. Has an analog as well as a digital input (optical). Transmitter decodes DD and DTS for movies.
Pioneer SE-DIR800C - $399 ($249 on Amazon)
- Similar to Sony design. 8m range. I have them and have enjoyed using them, though I do find the noise on the headband as it moves with your head distracting. The newer model doesn't suffer from this, but is an import product.
The US market doesn't offer as many options as there are internationally. If you are willing to import, you can buy from a company like Audiocubes. I've done business with them more than once and had great customer service. There selection of wireless surround headphones are here:
AudioCubes is Internet's premier website for Japan's audiophile hifi equipment since 2001. Shipping directly from Osaka Japan to the US and the world.
Hope this helps.
Jeff
Ray- Bottom
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Originally posted by audioquesoJapan! Man, absolutely everything sold is space conscious here... even pets. lol
Originally posted by audioquesoInteresting. I didn't know it was that much smaller than the Zeppelin. I found the USB DAC feature most interesting about the new Zeppelin (though I had no intentions of purchasing one)
Originally posted by audioquesoReally? Where did you find that out? That's not a bad price at all.
Originally posted by audioqueso+1. My favorite cans are also my largest in size, Audio-Technica A900's. Those things are massive. But I've stuck to the reliable Sennheiser PX200 for outside use throughout the past decade. I love those cans for travelling. But that is a very big plus that B&W is making them somewhat portable. :T
Jeff- Bottom
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The thing I like about my Sennheiser's is that they don't make contact with the ears, and that they are an open design.
Closed designs are better at blocking noise in both directions, for DJ/Soundbooth type recording/playback environments; but not for Hi-Fi transparency IMO.
I like the use of metal and leather here, but the pin holes must be quite restrictive compared to the more open design of Sennheiser's (for example).- Bottom
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Originally posted by ray5WHat is a open design and closed design headphone?
Ray- Bottom
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The B&W P5 headphones look like a quality product. A lot of megabuck headphones are not good choices for portable devices but, looks like B&W designed the P5's to work with iphones and ipods. Headphones to me, sound like a good market for B&W to get in.- Bottom
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I have to credit the B&W folks for including 2 cables with the P5, especially one that has iPhone friendly in-line playback/volume controls plus mic. This is a growing trend that has been woefully absent from too many portable headphone designs out there. Even if you want to just use them with an iPod Classic or Touch, I find playback and volume controls to be invaluable.
Jeff- Bottom
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