Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Over-Ear Headphones - Advanced Noise Cancellation, Technical Fabrics, 30-Hour Battery Life, 15-Min Quick Charging, Black

I bought the Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2 a couple of years ago, refurbished like new. Its sound is excellent, and its soundstage is good as they claim. However, its microphone was not as good as I had hoped. Fast-forward to 2024, the Sony WH1000MX7 was on sale for nearly 50% off the original MSRP. Of all of the Bluetooth headphones with ANC, it was consistently rated the best or runner-up. Notably, its microphone was well-regarded. I bought one, refurbished like new. I will compare these two as they were contemporaries and direct competitors. My general use cases consist of listening to music while I work, participating in a virtual meeting, and talking on the phone while I do chores around the home. Music on the Bowers and Wilkins is where the headphones shine. The Px7 S2 was reported to have a very neutral sound out of the box. I found that to be very true. Its soundstage magic and clarity of drivers gave each part of the music very good separation. I listened to the Jurassic Park theme song from years ago — don’t judge. It is orchestral with many instruments contributing to the detailed delight of sound. I use this track to sound-check every new pair of headphones I get, so this would have been the sixth or seventh pair of headphones I used to listen to that theme song. For the first time, I heard two or three instruments whereas before I thought there was only one. How did the Sony’s do? They were pristine headphones, but they couldn’t achieve that level of detail and separation. Out of the box, the Sony headphones are said to be a bit bass-heavy. However, the customization feature of the app allowed me to tune the bass to my preferences. Sony partially compensates with its app and five-channel equalizer, but it could not better B&W’s music-playing prowess. For the second challenge, the Px7 S2’s were wasted on video conferencing calls. Yes, my managers never sounded so life-like except when they were in person. My tuned Sony cans were more than capable of reproducing their sound. Sony wins this round, because my colleagues described me as sounding more loud with my Sony’s. And in the final challenge, I switched between the two headphones while taking telephone calls. For the most part, the Px7 S2’s was overqualified in sound production. Background sounds on my end were also filtered out by the mic, except on two occasions when I got ice from my ice dispenser and ripped open a package at chest height. Meanwhile, the Sony sounded just fine, but the ice dispenser was not so annoying at the other end. Other notes: The Px7 S2 has a physical button to toggle on-off. It’s a quick flip of the switch, and within seconds it is connected and ready to go. The Sony’s power button is a press-and-hold button. It’s a little more annoying, because if you hold it too long, it does something else. It takes just as long to get connected. Gone are the days I tell my conversation partner to wait while I get bluetooth connected and have to put on elevator music for them. Of the two designs, I prefer Bowers and Wilkins’s. The Sony headphones rely mostly on touch controls. Although all manner of functions can be done via touch, I can’t remember which gesture does what. The Px7 S2 uses physical buttons for volume control, play/pause, and connect and disconnect. Once more, I prefer the physical controls. Finally, the B&W headphones are noticeably heavier than the Sony ones. If you’re sitting and staying still, the extra weight doesn’t matter. On the other hand, if you’re up and about and turning your head often, the Sony’s feel much more planted on the head. The Sony’s are generally regarded as having better ANC. In my experience around the house, they’re very close. It still surprises me which sounds get through ANC and which don’t. With enough happening around you, the Sony’s seem to block more sound. You can’t go wrong with either pair of headphones. It’s very much up to your preferences. If you like strawberry — I don’t know — go with one of them. If you prefer chocolate, then go with the other one, I’d say. Ok fine. If you want a more feature-filled app or better EQ or better mic or lighter weight => Sony. Sound or materials and style => B&W. How about that?

This is my first time trying this brand of headphones and I am very impressed! (In the past I have used Sony, Bose, Audio Technica, JBL, and other headphones. The Apple Airpods Max were probably my favorite.) This brand is a solid winner in my book! Setup with my iPhone was a piece of cake! The sound is fantastic! Music, audio books, podcasts, movies etc, it all sounds great! Everything is rich and detailed without being harsh. Also, having the adjustable EQ via the iOS app is nice. They are comfortable, seem quite durable, and I like the carrying case. The noise cancelation works very well and while the aware function is okay, I wish it could be boosted a bit more... Finally, and this one is a big one for me, the microphone is more sensitive than the microphone on most bluetooth headphones or earbuds I've used in the past. (You can test this by recording a voice memo for example using the headphones.) A lot of the time, the microphones do not pick up enough of your voice which can be frustrating. These headphones don't give me those sort of headaches most of the time when recording audio notes or handling Zoom or Facetime calls etc. All in all these are excellent and I would like to try the new version of these headphones!

The hype and internet consensus is justified: the Px7 S2s sound phenomenal. I prefer the soundstage over that of my Sony WH-1000XM5s, which I use for calls and on flights (or in other noisy situations), since their noise cancellation and microphones are definitely better than those on the Px7 S2. Compared to the Px7 S2s, the XM5s sound muddy and condensed, whereas the Px7 S2s feel expansive and crisp, while maintaining a robust lower register of bass to fill out the overall soundstage. I'll cover 5 main areas in this review, often comparing the Px7 S2s to my experience with the Sony WH-1000XM5s (XM5s), the Airpods Max's (APMs), and the first-generation B&W Px7s: 1. Sound Quality 2. Build Quality 3. Bluetooth & Corded Connection Technology 4. Included Case 5. New Bowers & Wilkins App — SOUND QUALITY — I should preface this by saying that I purchased the Px7 S2s to be my listen-at-home-for-best-sound-quality-using-bluetooth headphones. I have a pair of open-back Beyerdynamic 990s that I use to mix and produce music, my XM5s for traveling and phone/video calls, the APMs (which I've since returned), the in-ear Sony WF-1000XM4s for the gym and exercising, and now these new Px7 S2s from B&W (which I'll just call "S2s" from here on). It took a little time for the S2s to "run in", basically like "breaking in" any pair of headphones, over the course of about 24 hours of listening time – and the sound really just got better and better. I noticed better channel separation over time, especially when listening via the corded connection and internal DAC to get true HiFi sound (using TIDAL). I did adjust the EQ in the app over time, basically increasing the bass by 4.5 dB and the treble by 2.5 dB to get even more dialed in to the sound I prefer. Now, the S2s offer an impressively wide soundstage with a level of detail and precision that I've never heard in any other pair of wireless headphones. The highs are clear and articulate, while the mids remain warm and rich, providing an incredibly immersive listening experience. I also appreciate that the S2s don't sacrifice bass response in pursuit of clarity; the low-end is powerful and well-defined, never overpowering or muddy. As a true audiophile, I can confidently say that the S2s deliver a level of Hi-Fi audio quality that is unmatched in the wireless headphone market. — BUILD QUALITY — When it comes to build quality, the S2s are simply outstanding. Crafted from a high-quality plastic that feels almost indistinguishable from aluminum or other light metals, the entire build of the headphones exudes a premium feel. The materials used make them lightweight yet durable, perfect for extended listening sessions without discomfort. The ear cups are plush and comfortable, providing excellent passive noise isolation. The S2s also boast a sleek and elegant design, making them as visually impressive as they are sonically. — BLUETOOTH & CORDED CONNECTION TECHNOLOGY — The S2s feature the latest Bluetooth technology, ensuring a stable and high-quality wireless connection. I've experienced no latency issues or connection drops, making for a seamless listening experience. The inclusion of a USB-C to 3.5mm cord and a USB-C to USB-C cord allows users to enjoy Hi-Res music quality, which is a fantastic addition for those who desire the best possible audio experience. I find that using the corded connection with the built-in DAC delivers superior sound quality compared to Bluetooth alone, especially when listening to lossless audio formats such as FLAC or TIDAL's Dolby Atmos tracks. — INCLUDED CASE — The Px7 S2s come with a fantastic case that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The case is smaller and less bulky than the XM5s, making it easier to carry around without taking up too much space. Made from a nice canvas-type material, the case feels durable and offers excellent protection for your headphones. The case is far superior to the AirPods Max's, which don't even come with a case, and it's clear that Bowers & Wilkins put thought into creating a case that is both protective and stylish. — NEW BOWERS & WILKINS APP — The Bowers & Wilkins music app is a fantastic addition to the Px7 S2 experience. The app enables you to adjust EQ settings, including treble and bass, allowing you to fine-tune your listening experience to your preferences. Additionally, the app integrates multiple streaming platforms like TIDAL, Spotify, and Soundcloud into one centralized music hub, making it easy to access and enjoy all your favorite music from a single location. I particularly appreciate the ability to listen to TIDAL's Dolby Atmos songs in a standard FLAC format, which sounds much better to my ears. The app is user-friendly and responsive, and I find it to be a valuable tool in getting the most out of my Px7 S2s. — FINAL THOUGHTS — Ultimately, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 over-ear headphones have exceeded my expectations in every way. With unparalleled sound quality, exceptional build quality, versatile connection options, a fantastic case, and a highly functional app, the Px7 S2s have quickly become my go-to headphones for enjoying Hi-Fi audio at home. As an audiophile, I can confidently say that these headphones offer a listening experience that is unmatched in the wireless market. If you're seeking a truly premium audio experience, look no further than the Px7 S2s.

As a part time audiophile, I do search for products that I find eye opening at less than painful price range. I’m not about to delve into the world of upper echelons of audio due to financial reasons but I found these headphones to be impressive. I’m a wired-headphone kinda guy. They do, by fact and science, sound better. These being wireless and sounding the way they do is what caught my attention. I’ve never owned any B&W products. Now they have a customer for life. Apparently these have the ability to be listened to wired as well, I have yet to try it. Now, one thing has caught my attention (which I provide a photo). I don’t know if I got an opposite of a lemon device or what but I’d consider this a golden apple. I’ve used these at my job almost every day. I’ve had these since September 5th. I haven’t charged them ONCE. They still haven’t died. I’d say the battery is life is incredible on these. The sound quality is very good. Being wireless and battery powered, they aren’t as loud as I’d like it, but that’s only because, again, I have wired headphones I use on my PreSonus Central Station (Philips Fidelios, Beats Pro *the all metal ones, not those plastic pos*). You can hear the power behind it as far as volume and detail. But nonetheless they do sound ALMOST on par with the wired headphones I have, so very very nice. I haven’t had much experience with noise cancellation so I don’t have much of an opinion on it. But so far, these are the best I’ve had. And lastly. Their appearance. They just look good. I love the color, design, shape, and feel. They are comfortable. I was worried about some of the reviews with the quality control/build issues, but I could care less honestly. As long as they play music at their intended quality, I’m happy.

Final Update: I purchased and received replacement earpads from a suspect looking website as instructed by Bowers & Wilkins support, which ended up working out. I also ordered an extra ear pad for when I need it in the future. But now the leather on the top of the headphones is coming off. It’s a shame, these were great sound, excellent battery life, and all around really solid. But the cosmetic defects are continuing to pile up, so I’m done with Bowers and Wilkins. Definitely not something I’d expect for headphones in this price range. Very disappointing for a premium product I purchased just under a year ago. Second Update: Now one of the earpads has started coming off in the last couple months. This is disappointing (I originally purchased these 10 months ago) and normally wouldn’t be an issue, however replacing them appears to be very difficult. The only options on Amazon seem to have low reviews and are not OEM parts, and the B&W website directs me to outside sellers who end up not having the parts. Also, their website has a page for PX7 earpads, but I’m not even sure if these fit the PX7 S2 like I have. This makes me long for the days when I had Bose QC25 headphones where replacing the earpads was a pain but at least I could easily obtain them! Update: They recently issued a software update that’s corrected my only issue with these headphones. Now they’re great! I also forgot to mention some other benefits. Very solid storage case, and I appreciate theist they have all the necessary cables included. They battery life is awesome at 30 hours as it’s better than the 20 hours offered by AirPods Max and Bose 700. They’re comfortable and the app is easy enough to navigate. No regrets! Original review: These headphones have mostly been great. I did a lot of research before purchasing them and they’ve generally lived up to the hype. I bought them about 5 months ago without issues. I had originally purchased the AirPods Max but found those to be a little heavy, have less battery life, and the condensation issue in the ear cups, so I returned those. The B&W PX7 S2 was a welcome change from those issues. Now I’m experiencing a strange issue where the battery level always shows as 37%. I’ve tried different USB-C cables and adapters, but my batter level won’t change. I’ve read others having this issue online without resolution. For the price you’d think this would be happen. Hopefully it resolves on its own after I try one more factory reset.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 rewards you with a generous sound stage and excellent instrument separation. Classical and acoustic music gain the most from these cans, even as decent bass support provides full playback to other genres - hip hop, punk rock, and techno. (As a rule of thumb, the more layers and instruments that a track contains, the more rewarding your experience). The ambient pass-through ANC mode is the best to stick with when listening to music. The noise cancellation is decent enough - they certainly work much better than foam earplugs. But I don't really ask much of it as I don't wear these outdoors. I mainly use them to listen to music or videos on my desktop PC via a 15' USB C cable, to take advantage of the motherboard's high end audio chipset. The sound quality with these wired is notably superior to the experience when paired via Bluetooth. The build quality is superb with aesthetics, comfort, and workmanship worthy of the price. It's as premium a headphone in sound quality that you can get, without the extra aluminum, leather, and weight of pricier models. The comfort level is superb. The cups are covered in Nappa leather, while the inner lining of head band is padded. I have worn these for stretches of 3-4 hours without the slightest discomfort. Bluetooth connectivity with my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra used to work most of the time, but it failed often when the Wear Sensor software was enabled. It kept cutting out as if I was removing the headphones from my head, while they were still sitting on top. I'm glad to note, however, this problem has been resolved with app version 2.1.5. While the the noise cancellation button works great, the on and off switch is a tad too small for me. But that's my only gripe, really. This was a major upgrade from my previous cans, a Grado Prestige SR80 and an Audio Technica ATH-M40x (both in the $100-range). I'm happy I purchased the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2. I bought these mainly for use with my PC, and they perform marvelously in this regard while they also provide for a solid Bluetooth performance. These are, without a doubt, the best upgrade to my listening experience in over a decade.

This review is for the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 (Blue) . TL;DR │ I've been using the original PX. These are frustrating to use. The wear-sensor is garbage — pauses when worn; doesn't pause when removed.⁽ⁿ⁰⁾ The button layout ergonomics are inferior⁽ⁿ¹⁾ but have better functions.⁽ⁿ²⁾ The small kinks of PX are still not resolved here.⁽ⁿ³⁾ Subjectively inferior colors and materials (I had the Bowers & Wilkins PX (Gold/Blue) ).⁽ⁿ⁴⁾ CONTENTS: Intro │ What I Like │ What I Don't Like │ Package │ Notes │ Verdict - - - - - As a long-time PX user, I was very much interested in upgrading to the newer version. Surely, it can only get better, right? Right? After a couple of months of thinking, I decided I wanted these. I skipped the first version of PX7 because that looked like a downgrade to me, and did not have a blue color option. Well, these are, without a doubt, still a downgrade. I bought these at a higher price, and the usability is frustrating. WHAT I LIKE │ + │ + Sound is still great. "Crisp bass." + USB-C charging and playback. + aptX Adaptive. This is important. + Angled drivers. Still genius. + Solid clamp for excellent sound isolation. VS. PX: ++ Finally, a dedicated button for pass-through.⁽ⁿ²⁾ ++ Looks more solidly built.⁽ⁿ⁴⁾ ++ Smaller case, with compartment. ++ The earcups rotate 180 degrees ++ No break-in period. ++ More compact when worn. ++ Manually turning it off is a lot less confusing.⁽ⁿ²⁾ ++ Friendlier to people wearing glasses, WHAT I DON'T LIKE │ × │ × Garbage wear-sensor.⁽ⁿ⁰⁾ × App issues.⁽ⁿ³⁾ × Non-replaceable battery.⁽ⁿ⁵⁾ × Cheap non-braided cables. × Expensive. × No LDAC. × No mic when wired (it uses TRS audio cable).⁽ⁿ⁶⁾ × Not eyeglasses-friendly. × Not collapsible (for travel). × This is the third B&W app I had to use. VS. PX: ×× Way inferior wear-sensor.⁽ⁿ⁰⁾ ×× Worse button placement, ergonomically.⁽ⁿ¹⁾ ×× No 3.5mm headphone jack.⁽ⁿ⁶⁾ ×× Non-removable earcups. ×× I did like the flatter sound of the PX. ×× Color-matched fabric case vs. leather. PACKAGE │ ✓ ✗ │ ✓ Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphones. ✓ USB C to C cable. ✓ USB C to 3.5mm TRS audio cable.⁽ⁿ⁶⁾ ✓ Printed materials. ✓ Hard case with cable compartment. ✓ Slim box. - - - - - NOTES ⁽ⁿ⁰⁾ Very disappointing wear-sensor, compared to the PX. The PX just works, maybe 95% of the time. The PX7 S2 at best works a third of the time. There are three sensitivities, and none of them made any significant differences in the experience. Pauses A LOT when worn. When removed, half the time it does not pause, the other half, it literally takes 2 seconds to pause (so people can hear your music). When worn back, does not resume most of the time. This is a disgrace because B&W got it working on the PX. Their support site actually recommends just turning it off. In fact, it is OFF by default. It also does not seem to "wake up" the headphones. ⁽ⁿ¹⁾ The power button was moved where the volume-up button was on the PX. This would be fine, but now, the volume-down button sits very low that it is awkward to press. Also, I do prefer the PX's "bump" for the middle multifunction button. The PX7 S2's middle button is just ribbed, which is a lot harder to distinguish in my opinion... ⁽ⁿ²⁾ ...but at least now, it is a lot less confusing to turn the headphones off. If you've used the PX, you'll know what I'm talking about. Also, the multi-function button has moved to the left and is now able to switch between ANC, pass-through, or off. I always found it stupid that I have to dig through the non-responsive app to activate pass-through. They had it done this way, all the way through their PI7. ⁽ⁿ³⁾ The app still has this issue: The app sometimes could not find the headphones, EVEN WHEN IT IS ALREADY CONNECTED and playing music. ⁽ⁿ⁴⁾ There is too much blue, too less metal. Looks less classy, more casual. However, I do like that the looks and the profile of the headphones when worn which is a lot more compact. I'd say even when there is more blue and less gold, it is a more muted design. It does feel more solid even though it is not metal, and having a broken metal weld on the PX, I would say, it should hold better in time. ⁽ⁿ⁵⁾ If the battery dies, it's brick. A very expensive e-waste brick. ⁽ⁿ⁶⁾ This means I cannot use most third-party audio cables anymore. There are third-party cables, but it's a lot tougher to find one that would work and one that you actually like. - - - VERDICT: I "kinda" recommend this product. ★★☆☆☆ | 2 stars out of 5. Great headphones, ruined by the very disappointing wear-sensor. 4 to 5 stars if you do not care about the wear sensor. Questions? Hit the comments! This review is for the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 (Blue) .

I tried Sony XM5, Bose Q700, Sennheiser M4, Airpod Max, Technics A800, Beats Studio Wireless. They all have strengths and weaknesses but I could only afford to keep one. Whichever one I chose I was going to have to decide which little imperfection I could live with. And there’s so much more that goes into it besides sound quality. There’s ANC, controls, comfort, portability, connection etc. My biggest priorities were sound quality and, due to a broken arm a while back and lingering nerve damage in my fingers, the controls. I’m kind of an audiophile so I’m really picky with sound. Rock, Jazz, ambient, folk. Etc. These had the best and most natural sound quality by far. Nothing phony added to try and beef it up no heavy sound signature and tuning. Just super clarity and natural punchy bass. Sennheiser was a really close second. Third Apple. Fourth Bose. I know Sony has its fans, and there’s a lot to like, but I found it a little muffled and overly compressed. The Bowers and Wilkins brought out details and channel separation and still had a balanced and full sound. The bass didn’t swallow up the rest of the sound like some of the others. I love these. I surprisingly found the noise canceling to be almost on par with the Bose. And these rivaled the Apple air Max in terms of build quality. These BWs are also really comfortable and I forget that I’m wearing them. The case is also high end with a cool little storage compartment inside. And now the controls. The headphones with the easiest controls for my situation were the Apple AirPod Max. One button/dial. Clickable not haptic. Awesome. Loved it. But the sound quality was not nearly as nice, they were kinda heavy…and they were the most expensive. By a lot. The Beats also had great controls …But the sound was not even really in the ballpark of all the others. All the others had touch controls that I found very frustrating. Sennheiser was probably the easiest of the touch controls but the stupid power button and shutting them on/off was an adventure every time. The Bowers and Wilkins have buttons which were a little tricky for the first couple days but thankfully the center button has ridges to distinguish it from the other same-shape-size buttons. So after getting used to it for a day or so it was easier to live with than the others. The two cons with these which I find easy to forgive are the app only has Bass and treble…no eq. And the wear sensor, which senses when you take them off and pauses the music, will often malfunction. Luckily this is easily fixed. You can just disable it in the app and then they work flawlessly. And because they have physical and clickable buttons, pausing them and shutting them off is way easier than all the other ones. I bought them in blue. Very cool. My teenage daughter, who swears by her Air Pod Maxes, even admitted that these sound way better and look great…just not as cool as her maxes:) Anyway this is a long review because I spent weeks trying them all and it was important to my lifestyle. If you try these you need to be patient and let the simplicity and nuance of the sound settle in. It won’t blow you away with bass or make it sound like you’re in a noise deprivation chamber like the Bose…They have a mature and exciting sound and BW nailed it! I cannot recommend these enough and I feel confident that I picked the best ones for me.