First things first, I’m not an audiophile, I don’t “audition” my speakers or headphones and I certainly don’t know all the terminology, but my ears know what they like and the sound signature of the P7s, along with a number of other factors made these a great choice. I also enjoy pleasing esthetics and these two areas came together, quite well, with the arrival of a pair of Bowers and Wilkins P7 headphones.

I had a couple of requirements before I set out looking for headphones. First, they needed to be efficient enough to be powered from a mobile device without a headphone amp. Second, I wanted a pair of closed-back headphones. Third, a set of folding headphones would be a great bonus since I’ll probably spend a fair amount of time traveling with them.

There are a great number of sites with incredibly detailed write-ups, that go into some technical jargon that’s way above my head. I did do some research on some more consumer oriented sites that were a little easier for me to digest. I liked what I read, I loved the look and I was ready to place my order.

Based on looks alone I was sold, but more importantly they sound amazing. I listen to a very wide variety of music and they are flexible enough to make everything from the bass heavy Polish Ambassador to Stan Getz sound amazing.

On the head they are fairly light for over ear headphones. I do have a pair of AKGs that in even lighter. The leather is soft to the touch and the foam used in the cushions is very comfortable and creates an excellent seal. One surprise was how much isolation they provide. They are not an active noise canceling headphone, but the passive noise cancelation is outstanding.

I love the way they sound. The fit and finish of the P7s is amazing. They are beautifully designed and constructed; even the carry pouch has a touch of luxury about it. If you’re looking for a higher end headphone I can easily recommend the B&W P7s.

I picked mine up for a decent discount through Amazon’s Warehouse deals. At this time the MSRP $399.