Experience optimized audio with these Bowers & Wilkins C5 Series 2 earbud headphones that feature a Secure Loop design that curls around your ear's inner rim to help hold the headphones in place. The 9.2mm dynamic drivers deliver powerful and controlled bass.
I just purchased my CS5 Series 2 earbuds, so this is my initial reaction to the product.
1. Overall quality - As with all B&W products, fit and finish of the earbuds is superb. The micro-bead filters add a unique look, and do seem to add an extra spaciousness to the overall sound and soundstage. While the cable is not oval or flat, it does feel robust, and tangling has not been an issue so far
2. Fit - the provided ear tips, in four sizes, allowed me ample options for finding the most secure, sound dampening fit in each ear. Taking the time to experiment with the different sizes, mixing and matching so that each ear was perfectly sealed proved extremely valuable and revealed the true quality of sound reproduction from these headphones.
3, Sound - A little experimentation allowed me to "tune" the sound specifically to my liking, and provided a more accurate response curve, one I perceived to be more in line with a very good reference loudspeaker: bass was well-defined and tight, even at the lowest frequencies. Mid-range was excellent and clear, framing both male and female vocals well. The highest frequencies were smooth and pristine. I listen to quite an eclectic mix of music, from Nu-Metal to Opera. I found these earbuds to be especially well suited for acoustic and jazz, with a clear and pure sound and spaciousness. The dynamic range was evident on classical pieces, and even impressive with Nu-Metal and classic rock tracks. Overall definition was superb, and the smooth frequency response allowed me to clearly identify previously unnoticed nuances in the various performances
4, Comfort - Overall, these are quite comfortable to wear for extended periods. Initially, I found them just slightly uncomfortable, but soon was able to concentrate solely on the music, as the earbuds became almost unnoticed. The loop worked well to provide a secure fit, and I didn't need to constantly re-adjust or re-seat the earbuds. Certainly, it's important to spend time to find the best ear tips for comfort, sound, and noise isolation. I found external noise (moderate levels) dampened to significantly lower levels, and unobtrusive when listening at reasonable volumes
In summary, I'm quite impressed with the sound quality of these earbuds. In truth, they provide even better sound than many over-the-ear headphones I've tried, and are very similar to the B&W P7 set that I currently use as a reference,
NOTE: I did compare sound quality with and without a USB DAC on my computer: I can say that the DAC provided a very noticeable, very positive improvement to the sound quality, with tighter, more controlled bass, and an improved soundstage.
I am very pleased with this purchase, and expect the audio experience to improve as these "break in" over the next few weeks of regular use.