Bowers & Wilkins C5

• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 11 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 4 stars

  Annoying sound from the cord hitting your shirt

  by sean617 on May 17, 2012

  Pros: Good sound

  Cons: When you walk or run with these headphones, there is a distracting and annoying sound that emits from them. I got so distracted I took them back to Apple

• 7 stars

  I recommend them, the sound is glorious for every genre

  by n8dogg2121 on April 19, 2012

  Pros: The sound is glorious.
  I got used to the cumbersome fit eventually.

  Cons: The wire in the pictures looked more durable and less plastic-y/annoying. It is in fact plastic-y and annoying. It gets tangled easy and just isn't what I wanted or expected from a $200 pair of earbuds. I think they are at Be$t Buy now for $175
  
  Also..

  Summary: I recommend them. They won't let you try on a pair but if you make sure and get it from a place that is easy to return items, buy ...

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  Summary: I recommend them. They won't let you try on a pair but if you make sure and get it from a place that is easy to return items, buy them, try them, return them if you don't think they're comfortable.
  
  After a while I either stopped caring about the discomfort or got used to it, they still sound flawless.
  
  I bought these as well as some beats with a nicer cord, the beats were grossly bass heavy and when I heard these things the awesomeness was easily recognizable immediately compared to the beats.
  
  This is irrelevant really to the headphones but I thought I would mention it, the zipper on the case is awful. it gets stick, the metal zipper handle gets strangely jammed with the box-esque attachment.

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• 10 stars

  Effortless, realistic sound.

  by jstacy82 on April 18, 2012

  Pros: --precise sound
  --very comfortable (acutally...read my summary)
  --high quality construction

  Cons: --price
  --bass could be fuller (but I understand these you actually do have to break in...which based on other reviews does occur with time)

  Summary: I was VERY hesitant to buy these headphones at $179 from the Apple store given all of the reviews talking about the uncomfortable nature of the Secure Loop (not just ...

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  Summary: I was VERY hesitant to buy these headphones at $179 from the Apple store given all of the reviews talking about the uncomfortable nature of the Secure Loop (not just on here but especially on Amazon.com); however, since they offered a complete refund within 2 weeks if I didn't like them, I decided to try them--AND I'M GLAD I DID! I have migraines and have very sensitive ears and nasal bridge--I say this to mean that other bluetooth earpieces do hurt my ears quite a bit. I put these headphones on 45 minutes ago in the car at the Apple store and haven't taken them off yet...and no I don't even have sore ears yet.
  
  My recommendation, try them and return them if you don't like them. I figure that people who buy them and DON'T have a problem with them DON'T actually leave reviews since they're satisfied, so as usual, only the people who are mainly dissatisfied leave very detailed reviews. Also, some reviews about the metal housing sticking into the ear canals and hurting, this is likely a factor of undersizing the silicone ear pieces. It also may stem from pushing them in so far in an ATTEMPT TO MAKE THEM NOISE CANCELING. They're not noise canceling, and don't claim to be. I do find that I can't hear my computer sound or my house alarm keypad (for example) when wearing them, so they are pretty darn good at it. Just don't FORCE them into your ear canal.
  
  Also, when I first put them in, I fitted the ear loops correctly and didn't push them into my ear canal TOO TIGHTLY, which I suspect may be the problem for some people, and I would expect that to hurt after a while by the creation of a mini pressure sore.
  
  I'm a neurosurgery resident, and so I pay great attention to detail. I truly think that the sound (as has been said by most) is brilliant. I also happen to think that they are extremely comfortable (seeing as I'm now almost into an hour wearing them for my first time). The sound is so good, I truly don't want to take them off. Hope this helps.

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• 8 stars

  True Hi-Fi sound from one of the best in Hi-Fi

  by Arvin_C on April 6, 2012

  Pros: - Highly accurate sound reproduction, without sounding too "clinical"
  - Bass response is fast and clean
  - Crisp and detailed highs
  - Open, airy soundstage compared to other in-ear phones
  - Solid build-quality
  - In-ear loop design works

  Cons: - Warm signature may not appeal to the critical listener
  - Mid-range is a touch forward
  - Noise isolation is average at best
  - Straight-design jack isn't as portable as a L-type
  - Needs some break-in time to sound and fit its best

  Summary: Hi-Fi & stereophile enthusiasts know that B&W's full-size speakers have a well deserved reputation for providing lush, smooth, room-filling sound with presence and power. Well, the C5s ...

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  Summary: Hi-Fi & stereophile enthusiasts know that B&W's full-size speakers have a well deserved reputation for providing lush, smooth, room-filling sound with presence and power. Well, the C5s attempt to provide the same for your personallistening enviroment, mostly succeeding on that front. B&W went for a sound signature that is clean, accurate and detailed. However, as with their speakers, B&W throws in a bit of warmth. The C5s do not have the starkly accurate, clinical sound of say the Etymotic hf5 or ER-4, nor do they have the bass-heavy signature that many other manufacturers favor. Instead, the C5s strike a pleasing balance, providing sound that is deep and powerful, while losing none of the detail and speed that can make for a muddled mess.
  
  Having owned the C5s since they were introduced, I can say that they benefit greatly from some break-in time. On the sound side, the sound has become deeper and fuller, with all the frequency signatures having a richness that makes listening a real pleasure. The soundstage they provide is wide and open, with none of the "inside my head" sensation many earphones can give. They are capable of playing as loudly as you dare while not breaking down into the area of distortion. Another factor during the break-in period is fit: at first, the novel loop-in-ear design was very un-comfortable, causing some soreness. But, as the cables have loosened and my ears have adjusted to them, I find wearing the C5s to be easy, with the loops keeping them securely in place even during a dead-run through an airport terminal. The build quality, as with all B&W products, is very high.
  
  I own several hi-fi grade headphones and earphones from Shure, AKG and Grado. While the C5 cannot match a true, audiophile can like the Shure SE535, for the $200 and Under pricepoint, they are hard to beat. They have that complete, fulfilling sound that B&W is famous for. They would be hard to beat at twice the price.

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• 10 stars

  The perfect headphone for your portable device

  by Craigster75 on March 24, 2012

  Pros: Signature transparent B&W sound quality with surprisingly deep, accurate and punchy bass. Amazing ear loop innovation that hold headphones in place and helps maintain the earbud seal for amazing sound, even during strenuous physical activity.

  Cons: Only the most minor of issues- ear tips can rip easily during changing if not careful and three button I phone connector on the cord could be easier to use with raised buttons.

  Summary: Simply the cleanest, most accurate, most transparent sound you will hear on a headphone in this price range. I have listened to many headphones and these are far above all ...

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  Summary: Simply the cleanest, most accurate, most transparent sound you will hear on a headphone in this price range. I have listened to many headphones and these are far above all others. The entire sonic range is amazing. Vocals will give you goosebumps. I thought my Klipsh S4's were excellent. The B&W C5 blows them away. The bass extension rivals powered rapper headphones, but in an incredibly compact design and no batteries needed! Also, the ear loop is the most secure and comfortable (with some adjustment) way to keep your earbuds in place. If you have $180 to invest in the sound quality of your portable device, this is a no brainer....enjoy!

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• 8 stars

  Excellent Headphones.

  by iamjosuff on December 28, 2011

  Pros: Clarity at all ranges.
  Uncolored, sparkling sound.
  Build Quality.
  Design.

  Cons: Bulk.
  A bit cumbersome in ear.

  Summary: After breaking these in I am very pleased with the quality. I lost my Klipsch S4's on the subway and decided to try a different pair as to make ...

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  Summary: After breaking these in I am very pleased with the quality. I lost my Klipsch S4's on the subway and decided to try a different pair as to make the best of my losing a superb set of headphones. The sound of these is most excellent. Just beautiful sound. They really do create an exceptionally wide sound stage for headphones of the in ear variety.
  
  As many others have stated, the design is a bit wacky. I find them to be rather comfortable and I have smallish ear canals. Frankly as long as you can get a good seal from them they will be worth keeping for the sound of the them.
  
  Overall I applaud Bowers & Wilkins for their ambitious design and overall build quality. I prefer these to the Klipsch S4's by a hair. They are also $100 pricier.
  
  Maybe a slightly smaller frame, less punch in the low end and a more practical case would make them perfect for me.

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• 6 stars

  Excellent Sound quality, but terribly uncomfortable.

  by nimitroongta on December 19, 2011

  Pros: One of the best sounding in-ear headphones, I actually even felt that they sounded better than my former Klipsch S4 headphones. The balance in every song was just perfect and very well balanced. Unique and fashionable design.

  Cons: Extremely uncomfortable. It took me nearly 15 minutes to figure out how the hell the damn things on. Within a few minutes,they started hurting, and I had to keep readjusting them every time. Controls on the wire are also very oddly shaped/ confusing

  Summary: The discomfort far outweighs the amazing sound quality. I only purchased them yesterday, but I've decided I'll be returning them later this week. They definitely make a fashion ...

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  Summary: The discomfort far outweighs the amazing sound quality. I only purchased them yesterday, but I've decided I'll be returning them later this week. They definitely make a fashion statement and look beautiful, however, they desperately need to work on the comfort for the C5.

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• 5 stars

  Good, but not exceptional

  by walto034 on October 14, 2011

  Pros: Stay in place. Excellent and natural sounding bass response. Very sturdily built. Very wide sound stage.

  Cons: Highs (cymbals) do not sound natural. Voices on some tracks sound empty, hollow. Uncomfortable to wear, hurt my ears even with short listening sessions.

  Summary: The best way to describe my feelings on these is disappointed. I purchased to replace my Klipsch S4s because the S4s slip out of my ears regularly. I will say ...

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  Summary: The best way to describe my feelings on these is disappointed. I purchased to replace my Klipsch S4s because the S4s slip out of my ears regularly. I will say that these stay in place (even when I vigorously shake my head) but they are uncomfortable to wear. The edge that pushes against my ear is a sharp edge. If it were rounded, I think that would be negated entirely.
  
  The sound quality was up and down for me, and if I had to guess I would say that this most likely had to do with the quality of recording and the audio compression level of the tracks. Some might say that this can't be blamed on the headphones, but rather on the source. However, given that I will always use these to listen an mp3 player, it is a big deal to me. One part that was consistently harsh to listen to was the upper register, specifically cymbals. This harshness does distract and detract from my overall listening experience. This was uniform across all tracks.
  
  On the positive side, I will say that guitar and (for the most part) vocals sounded excellent on these ear buds and sounded very smooth and was easy to listen to. The bass response was also excellent and didn't sound boomy at all. They do have an openness that is not present in other ear buds and they also do give a much broader soundstage than others that I've listened to.
  
  Bottom line for me:
  
  Sound Quality: They sound (overall) good, but not great. When I compare the sound quality to my S4s they sound markedly better in all ranges with the exception of the upper register.
  
  Comfort: Not comfortable for me at all. My ear canals hurt after short listening sessions due to the sharp edge.
  
  Overall: I will be returning and purchasing the P5s in a few months. I really wanted to like these due to the lower price point, but just can't do it. I would be looking for a replacement within the next year and at this price point that is unacceptable for me. I'll stick to the Klipsch S4s ($79) for now.

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• 10 stars

  Life-Changing Sound in an in-ear product!

  by mrfcobf on October 12, 2011

  Pros: The sound. I just can't say enough how much different these sound than other in-ear phones I've tried. I gave my Bose IE's to my son when I got these.

  Cons: The carrying case is like a Chinese puzzle. I even emailed B&W to try to get a picture of what they would look like when properly wrapped in there so I could try to duplicate the procedure, but I have not heard from them yet...

  Summary: Worth every penny!

  Summary: Worth every penny!

• 8 stars

  Superb Headphones in the under $200 Market

  by AnonymousDude on September 17, 2011

  Pros: Bass is smooth and clear. Not overpowering, it seems they got it just right.
  Secure Loop technology is a fantastic innovation. Hope to see more things like it from other companies and future Bowers & Wilkins products.
  Multiple ear bud options is very

  Cons: Very little bad things can be said about these. You could argue they are overpriced, but this normal with nearly all quality headphones. I find the case they come with to be a bit confusing. Also, taking off the buds they come with to put on the packaged

  Summary: Bower & Wilkins has got it right with their first ever in-ear headphones. The clear bass does not overpower any highs or lows. Playing these at midway volume can be ...

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  Summary: Bower & Wilkins has got it right with their first ever in-ear headphones. The clear bass does not overpower any highs or lows. Playing these at midway volume can be enough to effectively keep out any outside noise, as if they are noise canceling. I especially like the Secure Loop technology. If you are a hardcore music fan who likes to bop their head up and down, for example, you will not have to worry about these buds falling out. The Secure Loop has you covered.
  
  Only things I could complain about was the process of taking off buds to put on new ones that come in a packet with the product, as well as the pouch meant to hold the headphones when they are not in use. I actually ripped the buds that the headphones came attached with, but that was not a big deal to me - they come with plenty other buds. The pouch is pretty confusing. It can bend the Secure Loops, which are not very easy to put back in a straight form. But these things matter little in the gran scheme of things.
  
  But hear this! Using the right type of buds is very important with these! I decided to try a few of the different types of the buds the C5s came with, and I can tell you the difference is astounding. At first I tried the smallest kind, and the C5s sounded no better than a 50 dollar headphone. It turns out I have a bigger ear canal than I thought, and I put in the largest buds, and wow, did they shine! Superb sound.
  
  Recommended.

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