V-Moda M80 or Bowers & Wilkins P3

[admin_exported]

Been researching the web in my search for headphones. Based on many reviews and comments from people more knowledgeable than I I've narrowed it down to 2 choices.

B&W P3 - available from John Lewis with a 2 year warranty for £169

V-Moda M80 - currently available on amazon for £114 (reduced from £160).

Both seem to get good reviews. My listening habits are largely iTunes AAC+ format on iPod or iPad. Ranging from Radiohead, the Jam and the Smiths to Tinie Tempah, Mumford & Sons and Cat Stevens. So, fairly broad taste.

I want one set on on ear phones for home use and portable. Not interested in noise cancellation but some isolation is good. I prefer to be aware of my surroundings however.

Design is important but sound quality more so. Can't audition the V-Modas anywhere in the UK so I'm reliant on advice.

Any thoughts - which of my 2 options should I go for. I'm leaning towards M80 given the current pricing.

 

[dalethorn]

Both headphones have a soft treble, but the M80 is still better in treble. The M80 is better in bass, and in midrange the M80 is excellent while the P3 is very colored. It's not a very close comparison.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dale - your reviews and advice have been instrumental in me getting to my short list of 2, so a word of thanks, I appreciate the effort you put in to this, it's very helpful.

Sounds like a ringing endorsement of the M80 over the P3 then. Especially at the current price point. Although I'd be quite prepared to pay the extra for the P3 if the consensus was that B&W was e better option.

 

[Anonymous]

Another question Dale if you don't mind.

The black (shadow) M80 is £114 based on the current offer.

The white (pearl) M80 is £154.

You noted in your review of the white version that it may have slight improvements over the earlier black model in terms of ergonomics and sound. Are those improvements material and worthy of the price difference in your view? I'm neutral on design so wouldn't pay extra just for the white version.

 

[dalethorn]

Another question Dale if you don't mind. The black (shadow) M80 is £114 based on the current offer. The white (pearl) M80 is £154. You noted in your review of the white version that it may have slight improvements over the earlier black model in terms of ergonomics and sound. Are those improvements material and worthy of the price difference in your view? I'm neutral on design so wouldn't pay extra just for the white version.

I would expect that any new production of the black M80 would have all of the improvements, but how you would know in advance whether you're getting the latest production? Probably the only way would be to order the white one, or if ordering black, go direct to v-moda and tell them what you want. Then of course there is the risk that they will avoid discussing those specifics. So I don't have a good answer for that.

I still have and will keep the M80 and the P3, and comparing them side by side just now:

They sound quite different. The P3 has a much steeper high freq. rolloff than the M80 and will not have the detail in the highs that the M80 has. The M80 also has a distinctly better bass. The mids are interesting. The P3, because of its steep HF rolloff, will have a more muffled-sounding midrange. Now played on its own and ignoring the M80 completely, I can not only get used to the P3, I love its sound and highly recommend it to anyone who prefers the design. I like the earcup fit better than the M80's, although it will slide off of your ears easily if you don't keep your head straight up. Each has its distinct look - the white M80 is much better looking than the white P3, because of the pearl color and the contrasting color of the earpads (gorgeous). But the P3 is more svelte and would be much better liked by women in my estimation (guessing by what my wife says). The black P3 is very bland. Some may like it - I think it needs a trim color like the black M80, but some people may like it just as it is.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dale.

More web research today pushing me in the M80 direction. That £114 price looks to be very good value for money for the black version. I've also noted that the new V-Moda M100 is imminent, but I think that will be out of my price range. Nex time perhaps 🙂

I have no doubt that the P3 would also be an improvement on my current in ear phones, and the design is very slick, but the M80 seems a better option.

Off to order some now....

 

[Anonymous]

So I took the plunge and ordered the M80 black/shadow version via Amazon uk. £115. It was out of stock earlier today so perhaps the new stock is the version with whatever minor improvements were introduced with the white version. If not, well I'm sure I will be more than happy anyway. Look forward to trying them out.

 

[quadpatch]

Congrats mate! Do let us know what you think when you get them. Mine should be the older type I guess but I still love them. To be honest this just makes me more excited about the M-100, I don't know if they can live up to the hype now 😛.