Bowers and Wilkins B&W P5 or P3 when used with iPhone 5 or Arcam rPac

[stuartayling]

 

[stuartayling]

I'd like a pair of either the B&W P5 or the B&W P3 headphones. I have heard the P5s and think they are very nice, not the best sound quality but I'd actually be willing to walk in public wearing them when using my iPhone 5. Then when a quiet office is needed they'd be hooked into my Arcam rPac. As I have not heard the P3s so I wondered if anyone has done a direct comparison between the two sets of headphones? As I'd be interested to know how they stack up against each other in the terms of sound quality, comfort and portability? Thanks for the advice.

 

[dalethorn]

I had 2 sets of the P3, and have a P5 in the closet. My wife used the P5 after me, and eventually replaced it with the ATH ESW9a. I gave the P3's away. You could check my P3 review on Amazon, and the P3 and P5 reviews I have on Yutube - I make as accurate an analysis as possible of the full spectrum of each headphone, but not purely on my own hearing - I compare directly to several other headphones and my notes from other headphones I've had going back to the Senn HD800 I had for 3 years. Basically, the P5 is fairly neutral, but with a slightly muddy low end and a somewhat soft treble. The P3's to me are more colored in the midrange than most headphones I've had, and have a very recessed treble. My P3 review is optimistic sounding, but while I try to make it a 'sell' review, the basics are still spelled out. The P5 is comfortable and isolates well, but you have to keep your head up or they tend to slide off. The P3 was not as good a fit for my average size head, because the earcups just wouldn't sit perfectly parallel to my ears.