B&W C5

[neilmistry]

I like the look of these, but has anyone heard them yet? Does anyone know when they will be available? It's my birthday in September!

 

[Anonymous]

They are already available! I have my pair already and while they are fresh out of the box and have not been broken in, they sound amazing!

Here:

Bowers & Wilkins C5 In-ear noise-isolating headphones

 

[CustomCable]

These are due early to mid September. They seem to be available stateside already so hopefully they will be with us soon.

Regards

Phil

 

[DandyCobalt]

Does it take that long to get from Worthing to New York and back?

 

[neilmistry]

Thanks for the info Phil. Have you had a listen to them yet? If so, are they worth buying? Do they leak much sound through the open filter? I would mainly use them on the train and in the office, and I don't want anything that will cause a nuisance.

 

[Anonymous]

hi,

i was in the apple store where i live and they had the C5's in there, i got the p5's insted but they did have them!

 

[CustomCable]

They do leak sound, but I would say that it would get annoying to others at a point where it is too loud for you to listen anyhow! The headphones are cool, and amazingly well designed, the infinite loop works a treat and make the C5 an essential purchase if running or on a treadmill as these are not going to come out of your ear.

I started listening to these straight from the box and very first impressions......really bassy earphones. I was using the little Colorfly C4 and John Mayer - Battle Studies in FLAC that i know very very well. The mid was very rich and warm, still with detail. Overnight use toned the bass down a substantial amount and brought the mids out further which for me is essential, I love accuracy of vocals. I then decided to switch source.....grabbed a colleagues iDevice and heard quite a difference, the bass calmed down the soundstage improved and the performance was more as a whole rather than the low frequencies being individually presented. I'm still running them to see if they continue to improve.

 

[neilmistry]

Thanks for the mini review Phil. I'm certainly very tempted!

Neil.

 

[DandyCobalt]

Has anyone had any longer-term experience with these yet?

Tempted, but difficult to know if will be better than my Shure in-ears.

 

[Simon Lucas]

Our C5 review is in the November issue (on sale September 23rd).

 

[DandyCobalt]

Thanks Simon - will look forward to this one. I don't think shops let you audition in-ear headphones?

 

[DandyCobalt]

Picked up a pair at SSAV at end of the week - have had them running in through the ipod for about 24 hours. Will give them a first listen later today.

First impressions very positive for build quailty.

 

[DandyCobalt]

I haven't experimented much with headphones for the past six years, since buying a pair of in-ear Shures, which cost about £150 (about same as the C5s now), but the difference between them is staggering - the C5s give a much better, involving sound. Certainly not light on bass, they create an excellent soundstage for vocals, acoustic strings etc.

I've been listening to the Lia Ices "Grown Unknown" album, which I also have on vinyl, and the C5s give an excellent sound. This album is a good mix of bass, acoustic guitar and female vocals, and sounds extremely good through the C5s. If you like the sound of B&W speakers, you'll like these.