The P3 from Bowers & Wilkins are cheaper than the P5 but aim to offer sound performance as well as a stylish and portable design. Here's our P3 review.

Bowers & Wilkins' P5 headphones made waves on release for their perfectly modern-yet-classic styling, excellent sound quality, and exacting build quality. The Bowers & Wilkins P3 is a cut-down version of the P5 - smaller, using fabric padding instead of leather, and with a folding headband.

Excellent overall sound; Good bass response; Excellent build quality and design

Treble is slightly overshadowed; Can leak sound at high volumes

The B&W P3 headphones reproduce sound impeccably. I think that they marry sound and portability perfectly so that I can real very relaxed at work. In fact, these have actually helped me to stay focused at work, whereas other headphones have distracted me and their fabricated equalizations have hurt...

Warm, natural EQ; No exaggerated frequencies, Comfortable for long period of time / lightweight, Beautiful design, Easy-to-use, understated control talk design, Very portable yet these do not sacrifice audio quality, Small, hard-shell case

After a few hours; ear pads begin to hurt ears (short moments of rest can cure this

Retains B&W aesthetic; good build quality; comfortable; very compact & portable; replaceable cable

Sound lacks a bit in balance and clarity; may not be secure enough on small heads

). Priced at $100 less than the top-of-the-line P5, the P3 shares many of the P5's attributes, such as a removable/replaceable cable and Mylar diaphragm drivers. There are two primary differences between the P3 and P5.

Only made from rubber, stainless steel and cloth for the earpads. Sound quality is brilliant, and I can't understand why you would say they are light on bass because trust me they ain't.

Bass is very deep; Midrange is fantastic; Very durable; Clear vocals; one of the best you can get for £170

Needs a little more of the higher frequencies

Unlike most of the full-sized headphones marketed to Apple device users today, P3 doesn't attempt in any way to emulate the glossy plastic looks of Monster's ubiquitous Beats by Dre family; instead, it's a study in class at a comparable price.

B&W 's first foray into the land of on-ear headphones was pretty successful. The B&W P5 s (£250) were a stylish, comfortable option and a fine alternative to the Monster Beats by Dr Dre of this world.

Stylish; clever design; Soft; comfortable fit; Warm and inviting sound

Could be a little grippier on your ears; New rivals offer more detail

You have to hand it to Bowers & Wilkins . This British audio company makes some of the best sounding speakers anywhere and they charge handsomely for the privilege. But for some reason, when it comes to personal audio like headphones and earphones, they have become somewhat affordable.

Tuned just right for commuting; Very well built; Classy; Affordable (for B&W; Very comfortable; Foldable; Strong; protective case; Replaceable cable

Too bassy and muffled sounding for quiet environments

The fact that Bowers & Wilkins makes excellent audio products is not up for discussion. The company's product history speaks for itself, ranging from outstanding iProduct docks to speakers made from diamonds.