Two years ago, Bowers & Wilkins debuted its P5 headphones , some of the best-sounding compact headphones we'd ever heard. B&W's design for the P5s coupled a minimalist and luxurious aesthetic - complete with supple memory-foam ear pads swathed in black New Zealand sheep leather - with truly stunning...

Great sound quality, as expected from the Brit audio powerhouse; 30-millimeter mylar drivers handle mids and lows with gusto; Cables snake under the earpads, protecting the connection jack; Earpads and cables are user-replaceable; Folding design makes them great for travel.

Light on high-end detail - you'll have to fiddle with your EQ; Ambient noise isolation is lacking; Stowing them away inside the plastic case takes patience and practice; Cheap, thin cable

Dashing design, inside and out

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.

The Bowers & Wilkins P3 headphones' impressive combination of design, sound quality, and features put it near the top of the class for portable headphones in its price range.

The, have an impressive design, strong performance, and an iPhone-friendly integrated microphone/remote; They also come with a hard-shell carrying case and an extra "straight-wire" cable that can be easily swapped in

They're fairly pricey and the integrated; remote isn't compatible with all smartphones; and you'll get some sound leakage from open-back earcup design

Bowers & Wilkins, the hi-fi and pro-audio manufacturer responsible for multi-thousand dollar monitoring systems in recording studios across the world, is now several products into its far more affordable-but still quite expensive-consumer audio line.

Excellent audio performance with pleasantly resonant bass response; Does not distort on deep bass at high volumes; Very comfortable; Folds into compact shape; Built-in iPhone controls

Leaks sound at higher volumes?people nearby can hear; A slightly less-crisp response than some listeners may prefer

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

The P3s look every bit as stylish and premium as you'd expect from a company like Bowers & Wilkins. They provide a pleasing, balanced sound, which will appeal to fans of folk music. Hardcore bass addicts would be advised to shop elsewhere.

Stylish looks; Portable design; Good sound

Can be light on bass; A little pricey; Cable feels flimsy

These are the best PORTABLE headphones I have yet heard. By portable I mean that they are reasonably easy to fold an carry about. They are dynamic, yet a little soft on the high end. They are very comfortable, and they are not at all fatiguing.

If you are familiar with the Bowers-Wilkins sound, you will probably like these headphones. Strong, clear midrange and dialogue, bass you can hear but not necessarily feel. Stellar build quality, looks really cool. No frills operation and highly portable.

Signature Bowers-Wilkins sound Look and feel high quality Small and easy to take with you

Not the most comfortable

Background: I own Sennheiser HD600 and Fiio X3II. I love HD600 because it is comfortable and also works well for my classical music and vocal music. But it doesn't play well with any pop music on my iPhone. I got a decent portable amp. I have tried several different brand of amp.

warm; comfortable and stylish looking

too warm and only good for pop