Elegant and unwired: B&W and B&O’s Bluetooth Headphones

Part of the charm of having a wireless headphone is the absence of inelegance. With the Bang & Olufsen (B&O) H8 and Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) P5 Wireless, we’re stepping into the territory where looks matter as much as performance, and in which case, price be damned (a little, not too much).

Both companies are well-known for this philosophy, but while the P5 establishes its foundation in a classic design and a conservative application of modern technology, the H8 delves into fairly modern territory in both looks and features. The contrast is perfect for a side-by-side comparison.

B&W P5

It’s quite a feat to design a headphone that looks exquisite and yet minimalist – an oxymoron; a juxtaposition of eye-catching materials and low-key sensibilities at all once. A keen eye will instantly spot the fine leather trim and polished metal fixtures, and recognise that there is nothing conservative about this headphone. A wolf in sheep’s skin so to speak, if you must torture the metaphor.

In addition to good looks, there’s much to like about the P5’s ergonomics. The buttons are well placed, and respond confidently when pressed, inspiring confidence in their durability. The cord socket enabling a wired connection is well-hidden under an ear pad, which attaches magnetically to the headphone. Sound isolation is stellar, and you can see why B&W did not think to add a noise cancelling feature. The only downside to the P5, if any, is that the clamping force is on the heavy side, so some users may experience some discomfort during extended hours of wear.

But you will be willing to forgive that little quibble when the music comes on. Yes, the P5 Wireless is no studio-grade monitor, and the soundstage feels a little cramped, but as a portable, it’s good enough that you can separate the instruments fairly distinctly, and with a decent level of detail. It’s so easy to forget that this is designed for casual listening, albeit a very luxurious listening experience. In terms of sound character, it has a pretty balanced signature; one that should not offend most people.

The difference between wired and wireless modes is relatively minor, and the wireless mode more importantly, captures the character and quality of the wired mode for the most part. Wireless features are fairly limited, and for the money you can’t help but think that you’re paying mostly for the build quality – which is not necessarily a bad thing; whether that’s really what you want is another matter altogether.

S$690

B&O H8

A modern design with a passing reference to art deco lines, the H8 is clearly the more fashionable of the two and is available in two distinct colours. Unlike the P5, the H8 sports significantly more tech in the form of touch sensitive controls and an active noise cancelling circuit.

With its satin finish metal, genuine leather trim and ear cups, there’s no mistaking this for a wannabe luxury headphone – this is the real deal. And for that matter, it’s a design that will sit well with the ladies, as much as it will with the laddies.

The H8 has a sound that’s slightly roomier than the P5 – wider but almost equally narrow, and it is partial to the mid-high frequencies. Interestingly, it has a fairly prominent sub bass, and you get as much booming lows as you do screeching highs. It’s a little warmer, a little brasher. It’s almost on par with the P5 when it comes to detail.

The noise cancelling mode of the H8 works well enough, but it’s not exactly a highlight reel performance – it does just well enough to justify being added, and does not affect the audio performance of the headphone much.

The touch controls, though convenient, takes some getting used to. But at least, it’s well thought out. This extends also to the use of a user removable battery, which increases the longevity of the headphone.

S$698

Final Thoughts

At the risk of pigeonholing them, the evenly-keeled P5 Wireless is more suited for ‘old school’ tracks with many layers of instruments, while the energetic H8 will serve you well with its urgent and energetic presentation of modern pop tracks.

If anything, their feature set seems to reflect the character of the headphone: the more traditional P5 Wireless keeps it conservative with its Bluetooth features while the modern H8 is quick to present its full serving of hors d’oeuvres. Both are lookers in their own distinct style, and I suspect that might actually be the main deciding factor should you have to choose between the two.

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