Test Bowers & Wilkons P7: Overrated

Surely you are wondering why I did not review this product positively as one of the few?
Now, after numerous tests headphones I had simply much higher expectations of the P7.
Something had puzzled me the mere fact that, although well received the P7 in the trade press,
was hardly described in various HiFi Forums audiophile.

My ratings carried out immediately in school grades for ease of understanding.
Was tested on an iPhone 5s - still the sound scale in smartphones without equalizer, AAC tracks at 256 or 320 / kbs.
Therefore, the test is carried out exclusively from the point of view, to operate these headphones to a smartphone.

1. Processing: Very good
The P7 is processed simply perfect plastic you could not find. The individual components are made of either leather or stainless steel. However, the headset is not rigid, by the spring-like effect Ironing he is quite flexible. Better processing is hardly conceivable.

2. Comfort: Satisfactory
However, the materials used have a shortcoming: The P7 is quite heavy, which makes also a negative effect for prolonged use.
As much disturbing I find the high pressure of the P7. Even on my not so big head he sits like a clamp. This is mitigated in part by the cushions of leather. However, these are not as soft as when Sennheiser Momentum 2nd generation. By P7 one is sure to always be aware of wearing a headset, which for some, certainly likely complicate the immersion in the music. I also needed a long time to adjust the P7 so that he was pleasant. On the positive side, which is connected through the high pressure also has good insulation against ambient noise.

3. Sound: Satisfactory -
Here I come to my main criticism, the sound. If you have previously owned a perhaps not so high-quality headphones, the P7 is certainly an upgrade. But has one headset of the same class makes fast disappointment wide. From the promise of "revelation" unfortunately can not be said. Taken aback I'm through listening to "Oxygene" and "Star Trek: The Motion Picture Soundtrack". This title I know very well. Somehow I had the feeling to have but at the P7 title differently in memory. And indeed, the P7 is so strong in the middle designed the effects in "Oxygene" almost disappear into the background. In "The Cloud" from Star Trek turned out, contrary to usual, no spatial effect a. The P7 sounds a bit musty, dull, the bass is too dominant, extends too much into the centers. Although all the details and heights are available, only the ratio is wrong in my view unfortunately. Direct the Momentum 2 and the contrast darker blended Sony MDR-1A used for comparison. Both headphones are the P7 ahead. Also came for me to no real fun listening the P7, I miss some agility as the Sony and Sennheiser have.
I've read that the P7 probably should take a long "burn-in" of about 30 hours. Well, these "baking" are quite controversial. Some even claim that more used to hearing the new sound, as that could change the vote of a headphone to crucial since. My experience is in any case that when headphones "out of the box" do not sound good, this is no longer also alters significantly.
Positively makes the high efficiency of P7 noticeable. It is easy to operate with the iPhone and reaches a volume higher than average.

Price / Performance: Poor
For 399, - Euro I expect sonically much more, especially since he has been tested best smartphone for music at a low compression ratio. He is indeed expressly applied for the Apple products as a portable handset. The build quality is impeccable, even unique and has certainly come at a price, but that does not help when other headphones now also well made, but here are cheap and also sound better.
Moreover, he is not really comfortable - but this should come first place with such a well thought out and sophisticated design,
Who should be considered buying the P7 (not on a dubious and Vorführwand how the Saturn Alexanderplatz) test it before absolutely to his Smartphone. I can not recommend these headphones. With the Sennheiser Momentum 2 Over Ear and the Sony MDR-1A there are better alternatives.