Listening pleasure

If classical is your forte
Audiophiles say Bluetooth speakers don't generally provide the same quality of sound as wired speakers. But if Bowers & Wilkins, the toast of audiophiles, comes up with Bluetooth speakers, it is indeed worth a look.

The T7 looks premium, in fact like an object of art (though on the heavier side at a shade below 1kg), especially since the speaker is housed in a transparent honeycomb-like frame, which dampens the vibrations.

I paired my iPad 4 with the T7. On Apple Music, I streamed Michael Jackson's Dirty Diana and the T7 egged me on to crank up the volume. It was loud! The bass provided thump, there was good detailing, but the guitar riffs sounded cramped. A lossless version of The Star Spangled Banner by Jimi Hendrix, on my fifth-generation iPod Touch, confirmed this.

Next, I switched to Bizet's Carmen (on my Android phone) and was rewarded: The sound was wide with all distinct tonal variations of the instruments. In fact, the speakers excelled while listening to opera or classical music.

At Rs 29,900, the Bowers & Wilkins T7 is a great buy if you're the discerning type who loves listening to classical music.

Cans for all occasions
Bang and Olufsen (B&O) has made equipment to audiophiles' exacting standards for years. The Beoplay H6, over-the-ear headphones, look premium due to their aluminium and leather construction. But they're quite light and look good as well.

I connected it to my iPod Touch and played Led Zeppelin's When the Levee Breaks. The bass sounded punchy, with the mids sounding a tad warmer. Next up was Lana Del Ray's Born To Die. While the sound had detailing, her voice sounded thinner.

Turning in for the night, I slipped in a CD of Chopin's Nocturnes by Arthur Rubinstein. The soundstage sounded nice, with a flat, if somewhat warm output. The cans are comfortable for long use.

At Rs 34,990, the B&O H6 is a good buy for those who listen to a wide range of music, provided one is happy with the flat response.

BANG AND OLUFSEN H6
PROS: Great sound, good looks
CONS: Expensive, flat response might not suit everyone

BOWERS & WILKINS T7
PROS: Great sound, classic looks, long battery life
CONS: Expensive, no USB support, no speakerphone