Classy cans that break from mainstream habits

If you're looking for over-ear Bluetooth headphones, you're probably going to be making your selection based on four main factors: their sound quality, their aesthetics, their comfort and their price.

Stylish design; Good audio quality; Easy usability

Nothing of note

The Bowers & Wilkins P7 are classy headphones with the sort of construction most other sets can only dream of. Sound quality is bettered by open-back sets, but they're portable headphone royalty. As long as you don't work on a building site – noise isolation isn't that good.

Top sound quality; (Mostly) Excellent build quality

Expensive; Sound bettered by ‘at home' sets at price; Mediocre isolation; Jack construction needs a tweak

For all its audiophile heritage and reputation as something of a style connoisseur, it is strange that Bowers & Wilkins has until now abstained from competing in the higher-end headphone space with the launch of its B&W P7 over-ears.

Gorgeous design with quality materials; not too ostentatious for over-the-ear headphones and can be worn out and about; superb audio performance with all types of music and movies

Some sound leakage outwards means you'll be sharing with those in your immediate surroundings; hardly budget (but they don't look or sound it

Even in this post-Beats by Dr. Dre world ￡330 is a hefty price to pay for a pair of headphones, but the B&W P7 offer a class-topping combination of premium materials and durability, comfort, timeless style and phenomenal sound quality.

Soft leather; Brilliantly built; Epic sound

Price; Large headband; Less than portable

When Bowers & Wilkins does something new, we pay attention. It has been going since 1966, in the grand old tradition of British audiophile companies producing and sticking with a very few, very excellent models.

Sleek, comfortable and beautifully balanced, Bowers & Wilkins' P7 headphones are a pleasure to use. This British audio company has a huge reputation in delivering premium audio quality in an equally polished package, and the company's first dive into over-ear headphones is another notch in B&W's...

Unboxing the P7's is an occasion. Slide the cover off the box and the headphone's sit folded on a platform. Keeping these headphones in the box is a great idea as they can be grabbed when wanted and displayed to passer-bys when not.

Almost $500 may seem a lot for a pair of headphones, but you often have to pay significantly more if you want better sound than

Superb sound quality from one of the best headphones we've tested in a long time; P7 looks and sounds like a million bucks, though fortunately costing much less; These you can use both outdoors and indoors, and with all kinds of music

The isolation could have been better; and they only come in black

Fashion focused buyers take note.

Outstanding Design; Sound quality; Comfort; Optional wired listening

Price; Bass heavy; Mediocre isolation