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Works with AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with the latest firmware when paired with a compatible Apple device with the latest operating system software. Driving the P9 Signature are a pair of 40mm full-range drive units. These have a frequency response of 2Hz to 30kHz and an impedence of 22 ohms, so they can be driven easily by most devices. AirPods (3rd generation) are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise, and are IPX4 rated. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions. Maybe it’s down to the fact that the headband is decoupled from each ear or the angling of the transducer, but all we know is that they sound simply excellent. The cables terminate in a 2.5mm plug, but have a proprietary shape in connecting to the earcup. This means you’ll need to get B&W replacement cables should they get damaged.
B&W has borrowed other loudspeaker principles, including the decoupling of the earcups from the headband, which limits any potential vibrations that would otherwise distort or impact the sound production. The added distance between the drivers and your ears also makes for a fuller-bodied sound and a wider soundstage.
How the P9 Signature sounds
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the P9s' exceptionally high price, and if you’re considering purchasing these headphones then you should know that almost every penny is going towards sound quality, rather than non-essential features. Requires an iCloud account and a compatible Apple device using the latest operating system software. The one modern flourish B&W has allowed the headphones is an inline remote for controlling your music, but you have the option of removing this by switching out the detachable cable if you want to minimise signal noise. The fact remains that they’re a comparatively feature-light pair of cans. If you want to spend less then you can get a much more portable pair that’ll be better suited to the morning commute or a plane ride thanks to additional features like noise-cancellation and Bluetooth connectivity.
The design takes the premium look and feel of the P7 Wireless and dials it up a notch. All of the materials were selected specifically for the P9 Signature, including the luxurious Italian Saffiano leather that has a unique cross-hatched stamping across the outside of the earcups and headband. The P9 Signature are by far the best headphones Bowers & Wilkins has produced and are a glorious way for the company to celebrate a half-century of existence. We personally had no trouble using them while out and about, but if you prefer your headphones light and portable then these might not be the pair for you. Performance The magnetic ear cushions are a little stiff out of the box, which caused some trouble for our glasses-wearing reviewer, butthey softened up after a couple of weeks of use. B&W has promised that a Lightning cable for iPhone users will be available in early 2017, which you can claim for free. The only thing otherwise missing is an airplane adaptor, but these are inexpensive if you need one.The design of the connection does at least mean the cable becoming detached is never going to be an issue if it gets snagged, and makes for a more elegant look compared to other detachable cable designs. Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signature sound quality — An expansive soundstage with a rich and detailed sound Never is this clearer than with a piece of orchestral music, like Mozart’s Don Giovanni Suite KV 527 – Madamina (Leporello). Violins are crisp and textured, with depth in every bow, while flutes flutter and soar without constraint. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Compatible device and internet access required. Mobile data charges may apply. The B&W P9 Signatures are a simple pair of headphones designed with the single-minded aim of providing a fantastic level of sound quality. Yes, they’re expensive, but the delightful sound, wonderful construction and sheer joy they exude go some way to justifying the expense. They’re surprisingly versatile, both in how easy they are to drive, as well as in their sound reproduction. Regardless of what you feed them, they sound lovely. Verdict
Works with iPhone 8 or later and iPod touch (7th generation) with the latest version of iOS; and 12.9‑inch iPad Pro (2nd generation or later), 11‑inch iPad Pro, 10.5‑inch iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation or later), iPad Air (3rd generation or later) and iPad mini (5th generation or later) with the latest version of iPadOS. AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are dust resistant and sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise, and are IP54 rated. Dust, sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions. Well, that’s the best description we came up with of the Bowers and Wilkins P9 Signature headphones after several months of exhaustive testing. Their price tag won’t be easy to swallow for many, but the detail, dynamic and organisational improvements these offer over the rest of the B&W headphones range, makes them worthy of their price, not to mention their flagship status.They’re designed to more closely follow the angle of your ears, maintaining a consistent level of space between them. Sound is therefore meant to feel like it’s coming more from in front of you, rather than from the sides. It feels like a completely flat response. Bass is present but never overwhelming, and mids and highs are similarly balanced. Once you put them on, they begin justifying their position as Bowers & Wilkins’ top-of-the-range headphones, too. These are seriously excellent headphones, and a fitting anniversary celebration. Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signature design and comfort — A premium pair of over-ears that are supremely comfortable A final point on the form factor of these headphones is that they’re probably at the edge of what we’d consider portable. There’s a lot of technology built into these cans, and the result is that they’re very bulky, and moderately heavy. As the P9 Signature are wired headphones – unlike B&W’s other recently launched headphones – you get a range of cable options included. There’s one Apple-friendly three-button remote cable with a microphone, alongside two standard 3.5mm cables – one of which is 5m long for home hi-fi use. A 6.3mm adaptor is also thrown in. Swapping out cables just requires you to remove the left ear cushion in customary B&W fashion.
The vented multi-layer memory foam cushioning of the earcups and headband is plentiful – these are headphones you can quite happily wear for hours at a time. The comfort levels are heightened by the sheer size of the cavernous cups, too. I threw on some live Charles Bradley and there was an extra layer of raspiness to his soulful voice that I’d never noticed. You’ll take delight in revisiting your old favourites and hearing them in new ways. As mentioned, though, the P9 Signature require very little to drive them, so they’ll play nicely with smartphones without amplification – even if that won’t show them at their best. These headphones do lend themselves to on-the-go use, thanks to the generous cushioning providing a decent amount of passive isolation. They sound good regardless of what you put through them. Even just streaming Spotify at its highest bitrate you’ll hear an improvement. Of course, feed the P9 Signature something of higher quality and they’ll really shine. Driven by a Creative Sound Blaster E5, clarity and detail from my Hi-Res Audio test files was dialled up to 11. This time, however, Bowers & Wilkins is celebrating by launching a new pair of headphones in the form of the P9 Signature, its new flagship over-ear cans.They don’t come with bells and whistles such as wireless connectivity or noise-cancellation. Instead you get a simple pair of headphones that are solidly constructed and should last you for some time. There’s never any harshness or hardness that you might hear on lesser headphones, and everything sounds as it should, as if it were being played right in front of you. Not always easy with sounds like this.
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