Bowers & Wilkins go wireless with the new P5 Wireless

There are a lot of things to like about the original P5 headphones by Bowers & Wilkins, but wires is not one of them. The English audio company recently decided to cut the cord and enter the world of Bluetooth for the first time with their headphones. The P5 Wireless on-ear headphones keep the same basic aesthetic as the wired P5, but with some necessary adjustments.

For one, you can now find three buttons placed discretely on the side of the right ear cup giving you volume control as well as basic playback options. The second change is that the ear cup padding can be removed to reveal a 3.5mm input, which you can use just in case the battery dies. After connecting the included audio cable you can pop the ear cup back into place and go about your day. Besides that, the headphones are fairly identical in terms of design. Premium leather and memory foam cushions are found on the headband and ear cup padding which is sure to make these feel featherlight when you wear them.

In terms of specs they feature two 40mm drivers, one in each ear cup, and can swivel a full 90-degrees so you can comfortably wear them around your neck when not in use. They have a 10Hz – 20kHz frequency range and are rocking Bluetooth 3.0 with aptX codec for higher quality streaming which is good news for anyone who takes sound quality seriously. Seeing as Bowers & Wilkins is usually considered a more premium brand, that probably applies to a lot of people. What good is build quality if the sound isn’t up to par?

Unfortunately, as great as these sound (pun intended) they do come with a downside: the price. The P5 Wireless headphones will run you $399, $100 more than it’s wired P5 cousin. Considering everything it comes with it makes sense for these to be a little more on the pricey side, but that doesn’t make it any easier. That said, if you decide to make the investment you most likely won’t be disappointed as this brand rarely disappoints.

The P5 Wireless are available for purchase now through their website and should hit your local retailer on July 15th, so be sure to go check them out in person.