B&W P3 or P5 Headphones?

Spit · 22 Oct 2012 at 19:50

Anyone have any experience of these? Which has the better sound quality as it doesnt seem to be clear, you would think it was the P5 but the P3 are newer. Not worried about the cost difference just sound quality.

AbsenceJam · 22 Oct 2012 at 20:50

The P5's; although I definitely wouldn't spend money on either. They just sound dull, too much bass and very recessed mids. For supra-aural, closed portables you have the HD-25/Amperior (my choice, the former), DT1350, ESW9, V-Moda M80 - all sound much better.

Spit · 22 Oct 2012 at 20:58

Thanks, you recommend the Sennheiser HD25-1 II Pro?

gitbags · 22 Oct 2012 at 23:17

I'm with AbsenceJam. My step dad bought a pair of the P5's, they were possibly the most boring, muddy cans I'd heard. But that said there are people who like them :confused:

The HD25's are a good choice if you like rock/metal.

AbsenceJam · 22 Oct 2012 at 23:54

Spit said:
Thanks, you recommend the Sennheiser HD25-1 II Pro?

Owned them four years now and I'm always buying headphones (including the one I mentioned), but they're still my top closed portables as nothing has supplanted them. They're definitely not just for rock/metal. Along with sound quality their size, weight, durability and isolation all come together.

There are a lot of good circum-aural headphones coming out at the moment if you prefer that style. Trouble is they mostly have ridiculous 'lifestyle' pricing (like the Amperior has to the HD-25 when they're practically the same).

gitbags · 23 Oct 2012 at 16:13

AbsenceJam said:
..They're definitely not just for rock/metal...

True, but their forward sounding nature makes them particularly talented with such genres I've found.

Disco Boy · 23 Oct 2012 at 16:21

I have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 770s (the 32 Ohm version) which are around this money and are absolutely superb.

You should think about whether you want open, semi open or closed back phones.

What will you be using to drive them?

Spit · 25 Oct 2012 at 20:22

Will be using my MacBook Pro or Galaxy Note 2 with .FLAC files. Will the headphones be overkill for these?

AbsenceJam · 26 Oct 2012 at 00:57

Spit said:
Will be using my MacBook Pro or Galaxy Note 2 with .FLAC files. Will the headphones be overkill for these?

Not at all. Both have reasonable DACS and these are easily driven headphones.

Disco Boy · 26 Oct 2012 at 10:36

Spit said:
Will be using my MacBook Pro or Galaxy Note 2 with .FLAC files. Will the headphones be overkill for these?

The Beyerdynamics that I have are low impedence (32 Ohm) so are easily driven. They sound great driven by my laptop and iPad.

One thing to consider though is that they are bulky and not designed for using on the move (which you may be wanting because you're listening from your phone?). I've no experience of them, but the hd25s are probably similarly cumbersome.

Spit · 26 Oct 2012 at 22:16

Thanks, mostly they will be used at home.