B&W P7 Headphones Will Turn Heads, Delight Ears

1. 

   Studio Sound on the Go

   B&W's P7 headphones give you audiophile-quality sound on the go, along with the comfort and high-end design. Be ready to spend, though -- they cost $400.

2. 

   Cord Controls

   A detachable remote control and microphone make the P7 an easy mobile option, even against the most popular headphones.

3. 

   Highly Adjustable

   Along with comfort and design the P7 also pays special attention to versatility.

4. 

   Retro-Futuristic Style

   Audio geek-level quality, but with a look that is decidedly modern. However, this is not for the modest, the P7 will stand out in a crowd.

5. 

   A Name Backed by History

   Those who know the history of hi-fi will immediately appreciate the name emblazoned on the side of P7.

There's something slightly daring about wearing the Bowers & Wilkins P7 headphones during a commute. Attribute it to the pricey-looking amalgamation of stainless steel and leather, the fact that the plainly visible Bowers & Wilkins label has associations with exotic cars and fancy hotels or perhaps even to the noise isolation the design provides.

Whatever the case, the P7 headphones are likely to draw stares of envy from passers-by — whose footsteps will be blissfully unheard. Take this as a subtle warning about paying attention to your surroundings.

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The P7 headphones are, unbelievably, the 47-year-old audio equipment maker's first over-the-ear headphones. This "first" may help explain why the press materials emphasize the mobile nature of these headphones, thereby differentiating them from the relatively stationary speakers for which the manufacturer is so well known.

Perhaps it's also to emphasize that these aren't meant (just) for the sound studio, another association of B&W's. Rather, they're meant to be worn while connected to an iPhone or other audio-playing device, on-the-go.

Still, at 7.6 x 7.5 x 2.8 inches and 10.2 ounces, these are big headphones — larger than even the Bose QuietComfort over-ear headphones — so the mobility of the headphones are more a function of how comfortably they sit on the head as opposed to the size of the product. Luckily, the P7 headphones are plenty comfortable (again, attributable to the leather headband and ear cushions). The tight fit of the headphones on the skull help to further reduce ambient noise.

If the boxy shape doesn't bring home the comparison to classic B&W loudspeakers, the sound quality certainly will. Highs are bright and clear, vocals are sharp, and the bass can boom well enough to rattle the brain.

Chalk up the quality to an old-school loudspeaker-esque driver design and large, hollow spaces that encase the ears in order to isolate sound. The result is noise-canceling, headphone-caliber sound without the extra noise-canceling technology.

The Lowdown

What's Good

• Superb sound

• Comfortable

• Head-turning design

What's Bad

• Ostentatious

• Painful $400 pricetag

Bottom Line: Setting themselves apart from the Beats by Dres of the world, Bowers & Wilkins has produced the Maserati of over-the-ear headphones.

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Images: Mashable, Matt Schneiderman