Now I generally hate inner ear headphones but these are a tad different in that (as the latest issue of Men’s Health Tech Guide has said in their Best New Mobile Gear Section), “they’re comfortable, with a unique loop design that balances them securely around the inside of your ear while also blocking out noise”.  Yes, I realize you need a picture to know what I am talking about which is why to your right there is a picture of  the Secure Loop.  iLounge is clearly a fan, “C5 makes a great first impression, in part because B&W has taken canalphone design in some new directions.  Rather than merely mimicking the most common canalphone cable designs by either dangling cords directly down from your ears or wrapping the cords around the tops of your ears, B&W has done something that both looks cool and works well: C5 uses position-preserving memory wire to create size-adjustable loops that secure the tubes within your outer ears—an innovation that not only legitimately enhances their stability, but feels completely natural.”  As B&W’s website states, “it is an ingenious innovation where a cushioned loop fixes quickly and comfortably in the inner ridge of the user’s ear.  It is infinitely adjustable, so it works perfectly with anyone’s ears”.  I can assure you these C5′s won’t get your of your ears (after being properly applied) even if your doing intense interval training.

When it comes down to sound I will tell you these sound amazing but what does an audiophile, an editor of a major consumer electronic website and an audio website think?

Steve Guttenberg who is a member of the CNET Blog Network thinks likewise.  “The raw electric guitars, bass, and drums were totally rocking out, and the C5 didn’t hold anything back.  I just enjoyed the C5 more with a wide range of musical styles. I found the C5′s wide-open soundstage hugely appealing, and switching back to other comparably priced headphones was a disappointment.”

Or as CNET Editors’ Review has said, “we tend to prefer earphones that carry a neutral, balanced sound and work well with all kinds of music, and the C5s are right up our alley.  What’s nice about them is you get rich, detailed, natural sound that delivers deep bass without over accentuating the low-end like some competing earphones.  One of the attributes of good headphones is that the sound doesn’t seem stuck inside your head and feels more “open.”  These guys flaunt that open sound, and as CNET contributor Steve Guttenberg said, “they sound more like full-size headphones.  The Bowers & Wilkins C5 earphones offer clean, detailed, natural sound with tight bass.”

Theaudiobeat,  “in a word, stunning — in its breadth, its spaciousness, its all-round accuracy”.

On a side note I must warn you to be very careful with the ear tips (4 different sizes so 4 pairs) for two reasons.  Reason 1, they break really easy so please twist them off real slowly (give it your full attention).  Reason 2, unless you find the right one for your ear type you won’t be able to lock them in properly to get the sound you deserve so do try on all 4.  Another side note since you will be taking these to the gym to workout in clean them everyday (that you use them) with a cloth and water or rubbing alcohol.

Some might look at the $185 price tag and get sticker shock especially considering with tax (8.25% CA) they cost $200.26 but you can easily get a pair for $150 shipped including 2-3 Day Priority Shipping on Ebay (which isn’t too bad).  The New York Post for one has no problem with the price, “the sound the C5s produce is astounding” from the very appropriately titled Bowers & Wilkins C5 headphones: literally the best buy for your money.  Going back to CNET Editor’s Review to clarify the value, “they feature an integrated microphone with navigation controls for cell-phone use, and an eye-catching industrial design with an innovative adjustable Secure Loop keeps the earphones securely in your ears.  The earphones exude a high-end quality of design with an artful tungsten/aluminum finish and feature a seemingly sturdy build quality.”

It even comes with a killer case that feels and looks like quilted suede but I wouldn’t use this on a daily basis because it doesn’t look like it can take a beating and I would never take this to the gym.  Keep this quilted suede for style points but on a regular basis get yourself a small bag to put them in.

So the Bowers & Wilkins C5 have the sound quality and the looks that we need or to put it more eloquently, from CNET Editor’s Review, “the Bowers & Wilkins C5s are wonderfully designed earphones with excellent sound quality”.  Or The Washington Post, “sound Great, Look Classy, And Strong Like Bull”.  Do make sure and get a warranty on them I have heard horror stories that some have stopped working after a month (only $21 at Square Trade for a 3 year warranty) since you want to keep all this sound and style in your life.

Breaking down these Headphones

Farhan Latif writes exclusively for CloudFantasy. Email him here

As I said earlier….

“End of the day it’s a nostalgic easy to play puzzle game you can download the demo for free for.  To make it even better you make choices along the way very similar to the classic Choose You Own Adventure books from the 1980′s.  Now is it fun to play?  That’s really a tough call.  Part of me wishes if I could just press a button and the game would just play itself, sort of like a movie.  Sadly the second the game starts to really heat up the demo is over, TO BE CONTINUED!!!”

But now you demo, rent it and decide if you like it enough to buy it or not in your choice of download format or a physical copy.

Farhan Latif writes exclusively for CloudFantasy.  Email him here

Tekken Hybird features a HD remake of Tekken Tag Tournament, the movie Tekken: Blood Vengeance, and a preview build of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Prologue).  Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue has awesome graphics but only lets you choose from 4 players needless to say you have to just wait until Tekken Tag  Tournament 2 comes out to play the real game.  But it should be good!  Tekken: Blood Vengeance is a fairly nice movie to watch with awesome CGI and a good story.  Then the HD remake of Tekken Tag Tournament is better than expected but still not up to par with current fighting games.  All told playing a HD remake of Tekken Tag Tournament, preview build of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Prologue) and watching Tekken: Blood Vengeance might seem pretty useless but if you were just to rent Tekken Hybrid you can save the HD remake of Tekken Tag Tournament and preview build of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Prologue) to your PS3.  Still, if your not a Tekken fan this might be a total waste of your life.

King of Fighters XIII isn’t better at all.  It is literally a 90’s video game, straight 2D!  Who cares if you can play as “30 powerful hand-drawn characters”?

Not much of a fight, if you really want a fighting game just wait till Tekken Tag Tournament 2 comes out!

Ed Jones writes exclusively for CloudFantasy. Email him here

Farhan Latif writes exclusively for CloudFantasy.  Email him  here

Ed Jones writes exclusively for CloudFantasy. Email him here

Ed Jones writes exclusively for CloudFantasy. Email him here

Farhan Latif writes exclusively for CloudFantasy. Email him here.

The big reason everyone loved the original NBA JAM for the arcade and console was that it was just about having fun.  The problem with all future NBA JAM’s after the original such as Tournament Edition and such was that it was more about pushing and shoving.  I mean I am all for defense which is a part of basketball but just randomly getting shoved to the ground while bring the ball up court or in midair going for the jam?  That has nothing to do with basketball.  I mean it’s called NBA JAM, not NBA PUSH and SHOVE.  It is just really irritating to get shoved randomly all game long.  So what should you do if you want to play basketball and not get shoved, shoot the 3 ball.  Yes, in order to win by more than 10 points and actually have fun you have to have a really good 3 point shooter on your team plus a bruiser.  Basically you need one player to bring the ball up court and shoot mostly 3’s and another guy to do the dirty work such as rebound and block shots of course it doesn’t hurt if he can dunk, score, pass and bring the ball up as well.

Now am I telling you not to buy NBA JAM?  Of course not, that would be foolish, your emotional attachment is too high!  So do download NBA JAM: On Fire Edition  for $15 you wouldn’t want to miss out on childhood memories.  So what if you lose all interest in this game in 2-3 months?  It costs $11 a month to rent one game on Gamefly so keeping this game for 2-3 months would cost you $22-33 so $15 is a steal (but you can just can’t sell it after your done).  I wish if NBA JAM: On Fire Edition was a better game but it’s not.  Looks like for the second year in a row EA Sports has killed a Classic Basketball Video Game!

Farhan Latif writes exclusively for CloudFantasy.  Email him  here

Release Date: 9/26/2011

Release Date: 10/4/2011

Release Date: 10/18/2011

 Test Drive Ferrari

Release Date: 11/1/2011

Release Date: 11/15/2011

Release Date: 11/22/2011

Farhan Latif writes exclusively for CloudFantasy. Email him here.