The Bowers & Wilkins C5 ($189.58 at Amazon) , released in 2011, was a groundbreaking set of earphones. It offered the most secure in-canal fit we'd seen, thanks to the audio cable itself forming a loop that presses against the ear. The new version, the $179.99 C5 Series 2, looks very similar and utilizes the same excellent, customizable secure fit to deliver rich bass response paired with bright, clear highs. Bowers & Wilkins upgraded the drivers, but the sound signature remains pretty close to the original; some might want a bit more high-mid presence out of the C5 Series 2, but this is a matter of personal preference, and there's little to seriously complain about here. These are simply some of the most elegant in-canal earphones available under $200, winning the C5 Series 2 our Editors' Choice award.

Design

The new C5's ( at Amazon) design focuses more on a black color scheme rather than the previous C5's metallic tones, but otherwise looks nearly identical to its predecessor. An attractive metallic grille on the outside panel of each earpiece catches the eye, and projects some sound outward, which helps the airflow of the drivers inside. Silicone eartips, of which four differently sized pairs are included, fit comfortably in the ear. The earpieces are secured by the loop mechanism, along with a tungsten weight in each earpiece that helps shift the balance of their weight toward the ear. Inside the earpieces, B&W has updated the 9.2mm drive units.

The aforementioned audio cable loop is adjustable, with markers to help you achieve a consistent ear-to-ear fit. An inline remote control and microphone are situated on the left ear's cable at roughly upper-chest height. The remote is of the three-button variety, with a central multi-purpose button for Play/Pause/Call Answer/Call End and, when tapped multiple times, track navigation, flanked by two dedicated Volume Up/Down buttons.

The C5 seems a bit light on accessories. Other than the included eartips and a very small-but-classy zip-up carrying case, there are none. True, you don't really need much other than what you get, but for the price, more eartips or perhaps a cleaning tool would have been a nice inclusion.

Performance

On tracks with intense sub-bass presence, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the C5 provides a powerful low frequency response that remains distortion-free even at top, unsafe listening levels. There are few other earphone pairs that deliver this much bass response and still have a balanced overall sound signature. Does it sound like there's a subwoofer in your ears? Kind of, but not in an unpleasant way; the drivers thankfully also deliver crystal-clear midrange and high frequency information.

Bill Callahan's "Drover" lacks the sub-bass presence of "Silent Shout," and unlike many earphones that can produce such intense low frequency output, the C5 does not go out of its way to invent what's not there. Callahan's baritone vocals sound rich in the mid-lows, and the drumming on this track receives a bit of boosting in the lows, but keeps the sound natural and not over the-the-top. This track could perhaps benefit from a bit more crisp high-mid presence, but this is nitpicking, since the higher frequencies are clear and bright and provide plenty of balance.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop is delivered with just enough crisp edge for its attack to slice through the mix. Again, we've heard crisper responses, but there's enough high-mid presence here to keep things clear. The low-mids and lows flesh out the drum loop, while the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat on this track are delivered with an excellent balance between the raspy top notes and the booming lower frequencies. Vocals on this track get enough high-mid and plenty of high frequency presence to float over the busy mix and remain clear and in the spotlight.

Classical tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, have a wonderful sound through the C5. Lower register instrumentation gets a rich resonance, but blends quite well with the higher register strings, brass, and vocal performances. There's a bit more bass presence here than some purists may want, but it's not over-the-top, and allows for a more compelling balance where all elements of the orchestration can be heard. The highs are clear, precise, and never harsh.

If the C5 is a bit less crisp in the high-mids than what you're looking for, consider the Westone W10 ($135.00 at Amazon) , which also has plenty of bass response, but has a slightly more sculpted high-mid presence. The Bose FreeStyle ($129.95 at Amazon) has a far more sculpted sound, with plenty of bass. If this price range is a bit too high, consider the Audio-Technica ATH-CKX7iS ($56.87 at Amazon) or the JBL Synchros S100i ; they're both less expensive and offer varying approaches to the deep bass experience. For $180, the Bowers & Wilkins C5 Series 2 continues to offer the superb fit, excellent bass response, and wonderful detail throughout the frequency range of the original. Some listeners may wish for a bit more high-mid presence, but this is a matter of personal preference. The latest C5 easily earns another Editors' Choice award.

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