The C5 B & W have done it to me. For a few weeks now I have it as my successor Klipsch S4i. Here, I give you up a full purchase recommendation. I hear a lot and love music - go back to the iPod Classic and until a few weeks ago with my previous clear No. 1, the Klipsch S4i.. Once these have been but carried off by a broken cable, I have now opted for the B & W C5 In-Ears. I do not regret buying!
The quality of in-ears is high. The listeners are quite heavy, but what you do not notice when worn. The quality of the cable seems to be good as well as the connections to make a solid impression. Unfortunately, there is cable noises but at least drowned out with me even at low volume levels. The headquarters of the listener is used to, but then good and safe. I had a little play with the papers until I found the right fit and the best possible sound. Unlike my S4i listeners stuck not deep in the ear, but is rather firmly, but also close cleanly. The attenuation of ambient noise, making it not quite as strong as in the S4i. What really annoys me about the C5, is the terrible crackling sound in the headphones when they are after you complete the auditory canal, further pushes into the ear. I believe that as the speaker membrane is pressed by the resulting air pressure ... if that's healthy for the membrane, I can not imagine 'possibly a design flaw, which I hope will not lead to an early end of the C5. But I have now learned that it is not necessary to introduce the C5 in the ear canal.
Now for the sound: The C5 has by far the best sound of all in-ears, I've had so far (the C5 but is also my hitherto most expensive headphones). Funnily enough, you realize the leap from S4i to C5 not as strong as the jump back. I had to return my first C5-pair, because the handset was broken left after a short time. In the transitional period, I again heard with my patched S4i. And there is only noticed me right, how much better is the sound of the C5. The C5 plays so differentiated, clear and neutral on that one hears things in the music that remained a previously hidden. With neutral, I do not mean that the C5 has to weak bass. Not at all. The C5 plays with clean highs and mids but it is also a great deep down reaching bass. Classical organ pieces are accompanied by a precise crisp bass, as we know it only from the church. Even with bass concrete Gansterer electronic music of the C5 do not slip up. Whether Chemical Brothers, Eminem or Loveparade-pieces, the music is no 'schrebbeln' even at high volumes, 'rumble' or transferred other distortions clean and with high dynamics. Only with Peter Fox, I have the C5 bass sided rudimentary to its knees' but at high volume. Rather acoustically instrumented music like Whitest Boy Alive is a treat on these in-ears. And also operas that are truly dissuasive on most in-ears do with the C5 really enjoy. I almost think that some of the bad reviews must be kept here on a not yet found the right seat back.
Conclusion: Great in-ears with possibly a (very) small design flaws. Nevertheless, full marks.
ADDENDUM: Unfortunately, I have a clear point deduction perform from 5 to 2 stars. On my first set C5 fell by approximately 9 months from the left earphone. Nothing more to hear - I guess it was the cable. Well, one is nothing, moreover, the C5 was in daily use. I then bought a second set C5. Again great sound, but after almost 9 months no longer make a sound from the left earpiece - I guess it was back the cable. This must not happen! I've no earphones treated better than my C5, yet are both down after less than 9 months. Thanks, that's it for me.