While visiting Clyde’s dad, we came across a piece of furniture that the family’s owned for decades: a huge analog home stereo. It looks a bit like a varnished coffin on stubby wooden legs. On the left and right of the unit, the huge speakers are concealed by decorative wooden grillwork and a screen of gold-threaded fabric.
We switched it on. After a loud pop, much crackling, and a brief hiss, the turntable came up to speed. The spindle clicked. The needle arm raised itself, swiveled to one side, and plopped down on the rim of a 33-rpm vinyl album from Disneyland Records.
I wouldn’t call this particular recording of “The Bare Necessities” a classic. That said: there was no denying the magical properties of that old stereo’s sound: the rich bass, the warm treble, the rounded notes. After decades of hearing nothing but digitized music, the organic, unprocessed sound flowing from those fabric-encased speakers sounded like the product of a new (and superior) technology.
I listen to a lot of music on Bluetooth headphones. As much as I love my HBS-700s, I’m aware they strip a lot of highs and don’t faithfully reproduce deep bass notes. Some of the lost sound is due to digital processing: the files I listen to (and that most of us listen to) have been compressed to reduce file size. But some of that reduction in quality also has to do with the headphones themselves … and for two years, I’ve been looking for an alternative that would let me hear more of my music while keeping me mobile.
Because I spend a lot of time in Apple Stores — and because you can’t walk through an Apple Store without tripping over a pair — I started out assuming I’d like the “Beats by Dre” headphone series. I’ve tried out virtually every configuration of the things multiple times with many different kids of music. To my ear, they have a boxy, unpleasant sound: a blobby bass response with tinny, watery treble. In the end, I’ve found that Beats are more something to wear than something to listen to — a fashion statement, maybe, but not worth much as a pair of headphones.
But finally, after months and months of comparison shopping, I came across the Bowers and Wilkins P3 over-the-ear headphones. Despite being lightweight and collapsible, they’re sturdy. They’re padded just enough in all the right places, making them comfortable enough to wear for hours.
And — that sound. I’m not sure how they do it, but these Bowers and Wilkins P3’s transform brittle, angular, saw-toothed digital music into soft, rounded, organic tones, evoking the analog sound of yesteryear. Wearing these, I’ve heard nuances and subtle details I’ve never heard in dozens of tracks. (In fact, early on, I even checked to see if, by accident, I was listening to a studio remix of “Some Nights,” because the track sounded so totally different from what I’d heard before.)
I know, I know. Audiophile friends swear by their Sennheisers, and the road warriors all clamor for Bose Quiet Comforts. But for folks like me — casual listeners with broad, eclectic tastes who want to maximize the sound experience without sacrificing comfort or mobility, the Bowers and Wilkins P3’s are just perfect. (And, based on the glowing reviews on Amazon.com, there are a *lot* of people like me out there.)
If you’re looking for some headphones that will travel well, feel comfortable over the long haul, and deliver rich, warm, and realistic sound, you owe it to yourself to give the Bowers and Wilkins P3’s a try.
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