B&W P5 Series 2 Headphones

A couple years ago I had the pleasure of reviewing the Bowers & Wilkins P5 series 1 headphones.  Can they transfer that success into the all new P5 series 2 headphones?  Lets take a look at their brand new product right now.

Overall build quality and aesthetics are very similar.  The metallic back side to the ear cups are now matte black instead of brushed silver as the series 1 was.  With their leather wrapped ear pieces and the industrial looking metal on the outside of the ear pieces with Bowers & Wilkins engraved in, these are just plain sexy, even moreso than before.  

The P5 series 2 headphones are pretty comfortable to wear with their sheep leather ear pads.  After an extended period of wear, say an hour or more, I feel they get to be a little snug on my ears but that isn't uncommon.  

Sound Quality.  The series 2 differs from the original P5 with its all new 40mm drivers similar to what is used on the higher end P7 headphone.  The B&W P5 series 2, just like the originals are more true neutral and warm but they are no slacker in the bass department.  They prove to be a little light on the treble at regular volume levels but the treble begins to emerge at higher volumes (over 50%), giving an amazing well rounded profile.  In my opinion, I prefer a warmer headphone like this versus something that is so heavy on treble that it gives you a headache.  Warm headphones allow a much more pleasant and comfortable listening experience.  

Overall, I feel that the series 2 is a substantial improvement over the series 1 and merits the upgrade, no questions asked.  Like I mentioned previously, the more power you give them, the better they sound. 

In the packaging, you will find the P5 headphones with an attached 3 button remote cable, a replaceable headphone cable (with no 3 button iPod controls) and the same uber premium carrying bag for your precious new headphones.  Retail cost is $299.99, available with free shipping here.

Review: Lifeproof Frē for iPhone 5c

Hey guys, today i'm going to be reviewing the new Lifeproof Fre case for the iPhone 5c.  I had the opportunity to review the Lifeproof Frē case for the iPhone 5 here.

The Lifeproof Fre case is essentially the same case as was offered for the iPhone 5.  The ports and controls are covered in the same fashion and the lightning charging port has a small door just like previously.

The same thin film covers the entire front of the device providing outstanding protection. One improvement that Lifeproof has made for this 5c case has to do with the back cover.  The cover is now a frosted clear material as to proudly display the color of your iPhone 5c.

I have been testing this case for a few weeks now and have been nothing but satisfied, just like all of Lifeproof's products, they have another winner.  One thing worth noting is that the screen cover tends to accumulate a lot of oils from the users face as it does not have an oleophobic coating, but this is easily cleaned.  All in all, the case is holding up to all the abuse I can throw at it and the phone is totally pristine when I remove it (couldn't even find specs of dust inside).

Lifeproof offers this case in 2 colors; white/clear and black/clear.  Retail price is $79.99 and is readily available here.

Review: Incipio ATLAS ID for iPhone 5s

Incipio unveiled the original ATLAS case at CES 2013 which then followed up with the ATLAS ID in late 2013 to function with touch ID found on the iPhone 5s. Other than that, there aren't many differences between the ATLAS and ATLAS ID (iPhone 5 works just fine in the ATLAS ID case).  

The ATLAS line of cases are Incipio's take at a waterproof / dustproof / shockproof case that can handle almost everything you can possibly throw at it.  The case has similarities to competitors such as Lifeproof but one major benefit is the glass screen shield that is built in.  More on that later.

As you'd expect, all buttons and ports are covered by rubberized material.  The sleep/wake button, volume buttons and silent switch are covered and provide a decent tactile feel.  The bottom of the case has a flip out style "door" that reveals the lightning port and rubberized plug for the headphone jack. In order to use headphones, you simply remove this plug and attach the provided headphone extender.  

The major selling point on Incipio's ATLAS ID case (and ATLAS case) is the built in glass screen shield.  The user feel when using glass versus plastic on other cases is far superior.  The glass doesn't feel quite as slick as the bare glass but I feel safe to say this will break-in over time and will become more smooth.  Touch responsiveness is slightly muted but is expected when you add a material on top of the phone's surface.  The "ID" version of the case adds a thin membrane over the home button that allows touch ID to work.  I didn't find any issues using touch ID.  

Call quality is slightly degraded as well.  Incoming clarity seemed to be slightly muffled but not in-audible whatsoever.  Outgoing clarity was not affected.  

The warranty is linked to the iPhone 5s you register with, and is non-transferable. Registration is done using their free app.  The app also walks you through claims on the case or the phone. Incipio’s warranty is good for one incident of liquid or physical damage, and you have the option of extending the coverage to two years for an additional fee.

Overall I really like this case.  It is outstanding for somebody who wants to take their phone everywhere and never have to worry about it.  ATLAS ID is available in 4 colors; Black, Dark Gray, Pink & White for $89.99 here.