Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 overview: Premium headphones that rival Sony and Bose

Over the previous month, I’ve had the pleasure of testing a collection of unreleased headphones and wi-fi earbuds. A kind of was British audio model Bowers & Wilkins’ latest Px7 S2, a pair of headphones that I’d analogize as that quiet pupil at school who finally ends up partying the toughest on promenade evening. Principally, they give the impression of being plain however sound extravagant.

Alright, it isn’t utterly honest that I examined the Px7 S2 alongside Sony’s dashingly-attractive INZONE H9, however the Bowers & Wilkins headset prides itself on audio efficiency greater than the rest — and it actually delivers on that entrance.

Priced at $399, the second-generation Px7 is nearer than ever to being a Sony WH-1000XM or Bose QuietComfort competitor. It helps that each Sony and Bose have upped the price of their respective noise-canceling headsets, giving extra room for consideration to manufacturers like Bowers & Wilkins.

In addition to the leveled taking part in discipline, there are not any flashy options or touch-based gestures right here; the Px7 S2 is only a premium-feeling, durably-built headset that hits all of the notes masterfully.

Specs

Weight	3.07 grams
Noise-canceling	Digital and ambient sound
Headband materials	Leather-based
Battery life	30 hours
Connection	Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm (through dongle)
Codecs	AAC, AptX, AptX HD, AptX Adaptive, SBC
Compatibility	iOS, Android, Home windows, Mac, Chrome
Worth	$399

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Design

Though I belittle the uninspiring design of the Px7 S2, there is not any denying that the headphones reveal the maturity and a long time of expertise underneath Bowers & Wilkins’ belt. The mix of springy leather-based and lint-free material provides the Px7 S2 finesse and sophistication, a premium aesthetic that fittingly represents the $399 value. My overview unit got here in black, however Bowers & Wilkins additionally gives the headset in grey and turquoise blue. The latter, with its gold trimmings, can be the choice that I might personally purchase.

Like all headphones on this value vary, the Px7 S2 arrives in a protecting carrying case. From the nylon exterior to the microfiber material that covers the within, the case is among the extra luxurious ones that I’ve used and appears like the right house for the Px7 S2. That stated, I want the headphones’ earcups folded upward as a substitute of twisting flat when not in use. That means, the headset and carrying case can be much more compact and transportable. 

Thankfully, the added house is not going to waste. There’s additionally a nifty compartment that the headscarf rests on to retailer the included USB-C to three.5mm and USB-C to USB-C cables. As we proceed to see high-end headsets observe the pattern of wi-fi output solely, it is good to see Bowers & Wilkins bundle wired adapters for individuals who favor conventional lossless audio. I am not forgiving them for eradicating the headphone jack, although. 

Being a glasses-wearer, I discovered the Px7 S2 surprisingly snug to put on. By default, the spring within the headband retains each earcups compressed, giving the headphones a modern and shrunken look. This makes it all of the extra spectacular once you notice how broad the headscarf can unfold whereas placing minimal stress in your ears when worn. The ergonomics of the Px7 S2 are balanced good. 

One other design aspect that I like is the bodily management buttons positioned on the edges of the headphones. Name me old-fashioned however whereas fashions just like the Sony WH-1000XM5 use contact controls, I’ve all the time discovered gesture-based navigation to be wonky and unreliable — particularly once you’re exercising or transferring round with headphones on. As an alternative, the old school, tactile buttons on the Px7 S2 insure that taking part in and pausing, adjusting quantity, or switching between sound modes is registered 100% of the time. 

Extra: Sony WH-1000XM5 brings better consolation and ANC

Additionally, Bowers & Wilkins’ consideration to element with the buttons is value a nod. Because you’re blindly urgent them when the headphones are worn, the play/pause button — located between the amount up and quantity down — is texturized. Small accents like these make the Px7 S2 intuitive, user-friendly, and enjoyable to hearken to.

Efficiency

The Px7 S2 has a 40mm dynamic driver sitting in every earcup, with help for fashionable Bluetooth codecs (AptX and AAC) and 24-bit audio. That implies that with the appropriate mixture of streaming service and system, you can play hi-res audio. Whereas this function is much less significant to the common listener, audio engineers and professionals ought to profit from the added dynamic vary and diminished noise.

Sound take a look at

Nonetheless, there’s lots to be completely satisfied about on the subject of how these headphones carry out. When testing the Px7 S2, I experimented with varied tracks and genres, however the one music that made me significantly impressed with its output was “Wing$” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. 

The music has loads of high and low factors, sufficient for any listener to obviously consider how the headphones reproduce voices, devices, and, most significantly, the steadiness of all of them. A kick drum units the tone throughout the first quarter of the music, which the Px7 S2 replicates tastefully. There is a mild thump in opposition to your ears that, because the music progresses and extra devices take part, regularly builds as much as create an empowering sensation. (There are additionally lyrics like “I am going to go so excessive, my ft will not contact the bottom”, however let’s give the headphones some credit score.) 

Simply as spectacular is how the Px7 S2 maintains discernable ranges of the lows, mids, and highs. When the trumpet kicks in on the 1:11 mark or the choir at 2:30, I used to be in a position to clearly distinguish Macklemore’s voice together with the underlying devices.

Energetic noise-canceling

Bowers & Wilkins says the energetic noise-canceling (ANC) has been improved from final 12 months’s Px7. Whereas I haven’t got the unique pair to check with, I do not discover the declare laborious to consider, given how spectacular the S2’s sound isolation is. From listening on the subway to ZDNet’s New York Metropolis workplace, the Px7 S2 did an satisfactory job of blocking out exterior noises. I say satisfactory as a result of whereas I may nonetheless hear the screeching sounds of subway tunnels and automobile honks, none of it was at a stage that interfered with my music. In a single occasion, I almost missed my subway cease as a result of the announcer’s message was muted.

In the end, the Px7 S2’s ANC is just some decibels in need of being on par with the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max. On the intense aspect, Bowers & Wilkins has been hinting at a brand new Px8 mannequin — set to launch later this 12 months — that ought to give all of the noise-canceling headphones even better competitors.

Extra: Finest noise-canceling headphones

Go-through mode

As somebody who receives and ships packages for a dwelling, pass-through mode (or ambient mode) is one thing that I worth in headphones. In addition to with the ability to hear my doorbell, the ambient sound on the Px7 S2 is genuinely helpful for solo walks within the parks and staying conscious of site visitors. The headphones do not make issues artificial-sounding, which is oftentimes a purple flag for me. My solely callout is that exterior noises could also be over-amplified, which some customers will truly desire. I am much less passionate about how my desktop followers sound louder with the headset on than when it isn’t. 

Microphone high quality

Naturally, the Px7 S2’s microphone was put to the take a look at throughout my weeks’ value of Zoom conferences and sport nights. Primarily based on suggestions from my colleagues and associates, the Bowers & Wilkins headset is evident sufficient to understand however not beneficial for podcast recording or interviews. That appears to be the case with most microphones on this value vary, so I’d’ve cherished to have seen the Px7 S2 ship on this finish to distinguish itself. 

Software program

To regulate the equalizer and button controls of the headphones, you will must faucet into the Bowers & Wilkins Music app — to not be mistaken with the Bowers & Wilkins Headphones app. (Belief me, I attempted pairing the Px7 S2 to the one which sounds extra logical, however it went undetected.) 

Whereas the model of the Music app that I examined was in beta till two days in the past, my basic expertise with the software program has been nice. In addition to the same old features like toggling between setting management modes (noise cancellation, pass-through, or off), mapping the multi-functional key, and adjusting the EQ settings, you can too set a precedence record for pairing and activate “Put on sensor.” That prompts the headphones to pause everytime you carry one aspect off your ear. 

Battery

Bowers & Wilkins charges the brand new Px7 S2 for 30 hours of battery life, which is real looking to the numbers that I’ve gotten. I’ve had no points with utilizing the Px7 S2 throughout commutes into town, not to mention for at-home audio listening. If you do have to high up, the headset costs through USB-C with a projected cost time of two hours. Because of quick charging, quarter-hour plugged in will web you seven hours of utilization. 

Backside line

The Px7 S2 is strictly what I might count on from a second-generation product, refining greater than defining. Being within the higher echelon of the headphone market implies that customers shall be pickier and extra demanding of options. Whereas the Px7 S2 delivers improved sound high quality and a really feel and end that justifies the $399 itemizing value, it wants somewhat extra oomph to attraction to the broader viewers. 

Options to contemplate

That stated, there are many formidable alternate options that you could be additionally wish to take into account: 

The direct competitor to the Bowers & Wilkins flagship, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 is ZDNet’s best choice among the many finest energetic noise-canceling headphones, and is priced aggressively at $399.

The Apple AirPods Max’s $549 nonetheless provides off a little bit of sticker shock, however current (and occasional) gross sales have seen the headphones promote for as little as $429. At that value, it is laborious to compete in opposition to the high-fidelity audio and distinctive microphone high quality of Apple’s newest. 

One of many extra snug noise-canceling headphones, the Bose NC 700 is light-weight, has massive earcups for a spacious sound stage, and brings a refreshing look to the over-ear market. It additionally comes bundled with a charging case. Sure, a carrying case that doubles as a charger.