Today, we are going to review the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 wireless headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC), which are an embodiment masterpiece of design art. Let's see if their sound quality matches their impeccable appearance. We weren't quite prepared for the Px8 S2 because, although we were aware of Bowers & Wilkins' close connection with cars and car audio, we didn't expect direct references to this theme. The Px8 S2 features refined lines and a thoughtful selection of materials and components. Concise design coexists with aesthetics here, and it's obvious that everything is attractive. Before moving on to the main sections of our review, let's take a look at the specifications of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones.
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Best Price on Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
The Px8 S2 sits at the top end of the wireless headphone market, targeting discerning listeners and audiophiles who prioritise sound fidelity, build quality & premium materials. |
Classic Package
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It's a fairly simple set in a small box, but it has everything you need. It's a beautiful, premium-quality softshell case for storing and transporting headphones. Inside the case, there are two cables: 1.2m USB-C to 3.5mm stereo jack audio cable and 1.2m USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
We have seen many cases, but this one is clearly on another level. First, the materials used for the softshell case are premium in terms of both tactility and visual appeal, as well as functionality. It is made of a durable material with a gorgeous velvet finish that protects the headphones and makes them a pleasure to take out and use.
Second, the softshell case is compact and won't take up much space in your luggage, backpack, car glove compartment, or on a shelf. We didn't expect to find a whole compartment for cables. Yes, it's there, hidden behind a beautiful magnetic cover. Every element here is exquisite and evokes extraordinary emotions, even in those not accustomed to being impressed by such things.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones have double articulation. To fold them into the case, you need to turn them in the opposite direction from what seems obvious. At first, we laughed at our own clumsiness for not understanding this, but after the first mistake, it becomes second nature. After use or during breaks, we often leave the headphones around our necks with the ear cups turned outward, as the design intended. This position is exactly the opposite of what is required for storing them in the case. It happens to everyone!
Let's clarify what we meant by the reference to cars at the beginning of the text. We immediately made a strong association between the headphone design and the interior trim of premium cars. These cars usually feature Bowers & Wilkins acoustics, which are incredible. Some elements remind us of the front dashboard; others, of the panel where the car's controls are usually located; and still others, of the premium materials used in the seat upholstery. The most interesting thing is that this is not just an impression. The ear pads and headband of these headphones are made of Nappa leather, which is only used in the highest price segments of premium cars. Nappa leather is pleasant to the touch and has a characteristic aroma. Opening the case releases this pleasant, natural leather aroma. Not to mention the coolness of the metal elements of the headphones. B&W has gone all out to make a first impression, and they have succeeded.
We are pleased to note the high quality of the assembly. The metal headband adjustments slide smoothly, and the ear cups are moderately stiff when articulated. These headphones are a pleasure to use, and it's hard not to notice the pathos they evoke. While we are not usually fans of such things, interacting with these headphones while taking them off and adjusting them to your size evokes emotion.
They fit our medium-sized ears and fairly large head comfortably and lightly. They offer good passive isolation thanks to the right choice of earpad materials and headband compression level. You will enjoy long sessions, and the headphones will quickly become imperceptible due to their moderate weight.
Special thanks to the manufacturer for using physical buttons. There are only a few buttons, and the controls are intuitive. The volume, play/pause, and answer call buttons are on the right ear cup, while the ANC mode control and power button are on the left. It's amusing to write this, and it's probably amusing to read, too, but the power button has its own "gimmick" and a premium feel. This is because it is cleverly spring-loaded; interacting with this switch makes it immediately clear how well-thought-out the design is. There is attention to detail in everything.
Now we come to the most important part/section of our Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review. Of course, everyone wants to know what the headphones sound like. These are headphones, so it's important to understand how they sound. First, the drivers are positioned at an angle to the ears, which is an important characteristic to note. While the idea is good, during testing, some members of our editorial team found that this design feature causes the soundstage to shift from between the ears to the top of the head. This shift results in a significantly different perception of sound. The angle at which sound waves reflect in the ear canal and the resonances that occur there affect sound positioning. This is a personal physiological characteristic, but you should understand that you may experience the same phenomenon, so it is better to listen to the headphones and determine how you feel about this type of sound stage.
The soundstage itself is perceived across the width of the head, and it is easy to detect volume within it. The positioning is very good due to the presence of a conditional center and excellent separation of planes. It is easy to believe in and immerse yourself in such a soundstage. The most advanced Aptx Lossless codec provides detail quickly.
Authoritative reviewers have not yet published any measurements (and there are still few reviews of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2), but we will try to outline these headphones' characteristic features in terms of frequency. This will be a subjective assessment, but that's how it is. (2026 Update. The frequency response graph has finally appeared.)
The bass has a fairly strong shelf that rises from the beginning of the range to around 300 Hz. It is fast; the company uses its latest carbon driver with a magical suspension that moves faster than previous designs. Physically, there are a lot of details and readable textures. However, due to the tonal tuning aimed at exciting and entertaining listeners, the sound leans slightly towards the middle. While it's enjoyable, we consider ourselves purists, and the headphones came to us after a long session with smooth wired "ears." Therefore, please take these features into account. Overall, however, with such a low edge of the range (10 Hz) and bass processing, these headphones impress and lift the mood.
The midrange is very detailed, but we immediately noticed that voices, guitars, and midrange instruments are located a little deeper than usual in the panorama. This indicates a weakened range of 1000–1500 Hz. However, Aptx Lossless allows these headphones to receive more information than many competitors, so the details are easy to hear, and there are a lot of them. The upper part of the midrange has a peak at 3 kHz, which is popular in the consumer market. Thankfully, it's not like a saw, but it's still noticeable.
The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 has extended high frequencies that reproduce spatial effects well. Together with the rich bass, they create a good sense of space and offer a wealth of detail. However, there is a drawback. In our opinion, such peaks in the 6 and 8 kHz range are only forgivable in Beyerdynamic headphones. Whether B&W has the same moral authority remains to be seen. During long listening sessions, we took breaks to give our ears a rest because we perceive these peaks quite strongly. However, based on our memory of previous headphones with aggressive sibilants, it is possible to get used to them. Perhaps a longer warm-up period for the dynamic driver will smooth out this feature.
For some reason, we didn't really listen to aggressive genres with these headphones; we were more impressed by listening to something more refined, something that matches their image. Jazz, classical music, live orchestral recordings, vocal recordings. These are the genres that best showcase the strengths of these headphones. These headphones are good for listening to music that has dynamics rather than a continuous dense background. But hip-hop and EDM also sounded good, we just don't have many recordings in these styles on Spotify, so we only explored them superficially.
The technology behind these headphones plays a significant role. They have the company's latest driver, the best possible modern data transfer codec, and a high dynamic and frequency range. While the sound quality is not audiophile-grade, we do not rule out the possibility that fans of evening gatherings in the dark with a third-filled glass will find this approach attractive.
The comparison will be dry; sorry. This segment is quite complex, but B&W clearly has the best sound quality compared to Sony and Boss. Sennheiser offers standard frequency settings and experience. Focal is similar. B&W stands apart and blazes its own trail. Whether cheap headphones or expensive headphones – they do something different!
The noise cancellation modes here are standard and lack smart conversation tracking. There are three modes: off, transparency, and ANC. We'll say right away that the noise cancellation isn't stellar; it's average and can only compete with good Chinese brands. There wasn't much of a marketing emphasis on ANC capabilities. However, the transparency mode is excellent. There were times when we had it turned on and forgot we were wearing headphones because it worked so well. This happened several times!
The headphones have their own app, but it's hardly worth mentioning. Except maybe for future software updates. With this app, you can switch between noise cancellation modes and adjust the equalizer. Overall, though, the effect is rather strange, and using it without a frequency response measurement stand is highly questionable.
The battery life of these headphones is mediocre compared to modern battery life monsters, but that's understandable. In a class where headphones compete for compactness, 30 hours is impressive. The most useful feature, though, is fast charging. In 15 minutes, you can get up to seven hours of listening time. However, this is more likely to happen when the battery is almost empty; the more it charges, the slower it becomes.
Now that we've reached the end of our Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review, it's time to summarize the results. The B&W Px8 S2 is not a practical choice, but rather an expensive accessory. These are the kind of headphones that people who are sensitive to touch can twirl in their hands for hours without putting them on their heads. Attractive sound and technology come second here, and those who don't believe it can see for themselves by visiting listening stores (which we highly recommend). Yes, this is not audiophilia. It's not a smooth, clear, transparent sound. But it's exactly the kind of sound with charisma that suits you and embraces your ears. You can sit, work, or walk around the city on business while enjoying the mood… It's there. These headphones deserve attention and the love of their future owners.
We hope you enjoyed our review of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones. Please feel free to leave your comments, questions, and suggestions in the section below. We will be happy to answer them all as soon as possible. If you already own Px8 S2 and have used it for a while, don't forget to share your impressions and tell us what you liked or disliked about these headphones.
Pros
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Cons
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9.0
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Our Score
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Thanks for the review! I cam here for this review (as well as the HDB 630 which I previously owned). While I agree that the ANC on those are NOT in any way comparable with more "consumer ANC headphones" like Apple, Sony and Bose - I wouldn't say they are too far behind.
In fact, I recently also owned the Focal Bathys MG (which are crazy expensive for what they offer but maybe when you review them you'll come to your own conclusions). Those headphones are around 5-600 euros more expensive than the PX8 S2 (in some places they cost double) - they have clearly inferior ANC and Transparency, and honestly even the build quality is inferior. Similar things can be said for similarly priced high-end BT headphones like the Mark Levinsons and the DALI IO-12. In that respect, I consider the PX8 S2 a real bargain.