Customer Ratings & Reviews

These headphones are EXPENSIVE! And most people will never justify spending that much on a pair of headphones. Music is a huge part of my life, it helps separate myself from the chaos of the world. So for me, sound cancellation is my second priority in selecting headphones. I can honestly say that with even with music at minimum volume, the cancellation effect is massive. Very few sounds make it through. This means not blowing your eardrums just to tune the world out. Comfort is my third priority that I look for, these Napa leather earpieces and the cast aluminum frame are a dream, the headphones never feel like they want to slide off even when jogging, biking or working out in the gym. Now my #1 priority comes down to my favorite thing about music to begin with, and that is immersive audio. Nothing beats feeling completely surrounded by crystal clear, perfectly balanced, rich sound. The sound quality is impeccable, the bass is definitely punchy but not overpowering. There is no static, popping cracking or distortion that even 100& headphones will have, much less 10$ headphones. So to wrap this up, if you love immersive, clear, audio and are willing to pay 600$ to experience it, these might be for you. I would recommend that if you only enjoy super bass heavy rap, edm or dubstep and you like the boomy, over-boosted sound of Beats by Dre, these are not for you. The sound profile of the PX8’s is supposed to bring every note to the forefront and make you think you’re center stage in you’re own private recording studio.

Didn't think I would say this but at the sale price this pair is a steal. Crazy clarity, range, quality and sound stage. Super comfortable for long term (3+ hour work sessions for me) wear and relatively average weight so they aren't unwieldy if you want to take them on a plane or train. EQ settings in the app are minimal (bass/treble) but I didn't need to adjust them much, only lowered the bass a little to bring out the mid range. I cannot say enough good things about the quality of these for a wireless set and I would buy these again without a doubt! ANC is less of a priority for me, and it's okay on these. If you want $700 of ANC this isn't it. But if you want usable ANC, a decent transparency mode, and a quick toggle button you got it.

These are like slipping into a sports car versus normal headphones. They look premium and feel the same. Sound blows the sony xms i had out of the water. Punchy accurate bass not muddied. Easily seperate instruments hearing every detail. Build quality is metal i dont see how anyone could break these without being careless. I like the button layout no gimmicky touch controls. Ive used the them gaming easily plug into ps5 controller. Everyone said they could hear me fine no complaints.

Awesome sounding headphones Great quality material headphones Works wirelessly or wired Very good carry case Noise cancelling is good Phone calls are clear 30 Hour battery life Connection and setup is easy Free App to download

The Px8 is for the audiophile. The highest of quality reflects in every aspect of this product. I wanted a pair of headphones that would help block out distractions so… I bought a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultras… the sound was great, but they did not feel like they were made to last. So, I returned them for Sony WH-1000XM4 and the sound was great but again, plastic! They both felt like they came from the dollar store! I could foresee these things snaping in half in less than a year. IF I AM GOING TO SPEND $400+ it needs to FEEL like $400+! So, I returned them for the Px8… No comparison, at all, not even close. The Px8s have weight to them, they look and feel of quality, and the sound is perfect!

Really really love these things can block the whole world out with these headphones and they feel real comfortable on your head AAA+++

I normally dont leave any reviews but this headset went beyond my expectations. It is pretty pricey buuut! You literally get what you paid for! Feels great having it over my ears and head, sound quality is S++. I recommend getting this if you have the extra $$. More than worth the buy!

An absolute amazing sound experience. If you are using this with your phone, make sure you use the App for listening to music. The sound quality is superior to using your music app. The Bowers app syncs with all the major music services. The headset looks great and feels great.

Being the proud owner of the excellent Px7 S2 I was wondering how much better it could get. Although the design language is similar, I realized right away that there was an obvious increase in build and material quality. The burgundy finish and golden aluminum accents add to the premium look. The Nappa leather on the headband and earcups just feel (and smell) so good. I'm glad that the fitting and comfort is still top-notch. Although they may be a bit heavy, which I prefer in premium items, I was able to wear them for a full 8-hour workday at a time. The earcups are incredibly soft and the clamping force is just right. Although they stay put in place, I would not wear them for heavy activities as they do get hot, and I did not see any water/sweat resistance rating. Having Bluetooth 5.2, they connected seamlessly to both my Android and iOS devices. I did not experience any hiccups, no video sync issues, and almost no lag when playing games. The multi-point worked well for me. I am glad that we still have physical buttons and that they control everything I need. This is useful especially when it's very cold. I appreciate the auto play/pause when taking the headphones off. While I have experienced better noise cancellation (ANC) in other popular brands, these are quite good. I can still hear higher pitch noise and some rumbling, but it’s not a big deal when listening at low volumes. The ambient mode is Ok as well, it may not sound as natural as when the headphones are off, but it’s clear enough. One thing to note is that the best ANC is when I did not wear glasses, and there was a full seal around my ears. The call quality is very good –even in noisy or windy conditions. I had no issues hearing or being heard. The battery life may not be the longest lasting in the premium market at 25-30 hours, but to me it’s good enough, since I do not make it a habit of not having access to an outlet for long periods at a time. Just in case, you can use the quick charge, which adds 7 hours with 15 minutes on the charger. So, they are comfortable and stylish, but how do they sound? Well, I am happy to report that the new 40mm carbon drivers deliver quite the experience. They certainly sound better than the Px7 S2. The bass is punchier, has extension, and is much more precise this time. The midrange is not recessed, letting vocals (and their texture), rhythm instruments, and choruses be heard fully. The treble soars and adds a lot of clarity and brightness without being sibilant, harsh, or fatiguing. The soundstage was a bit tight and small, and very personal. Nevertheless, the channel separation was distinctive, and the imaging on point. Of course, you'd need Hi-Res AptX audio compatible devices for the best audio quality experience. All audio was engaging –especially movies and games. Just in case, there is a companion app that allows for a simple EQ. The Px8 comes with its own 24bit 48kHz DSP, in both 3.5mm and USB-C hook-ups. The only thing about that is that the microphone will not work in this mode. Speaking of the app, that was the one thing I was left disappointed with. It just is too simplistic. I wanted a full-range EQ, and more options on ANC/ambient levels. I do not really use the suggested music channels, so I hope B&W updates it for more functionality in the future. Yes, this is a luxury item that has a premium price tag. The way I see it, it is like when people buy luxury wearables like watches and handbags. Sure, you can find the same functionality at lower prices, but the style, build quality, and feel makes them worth more than a simple look, and I am proud to always wear them.

INTRODUCTION: Bowers & Wilkins is one of the worlds best audio manufacturers, bar none. When you learn recording studios use their speakers as reference monitors you know they’re one of the absolute best there is. B&W is ALWAYS focused on presenting music as it was recorded and meant to sound. Their signature sound is realistic without being overly bass driven or sibilant (harsh). I prefer to listen to music as it was intended to be listened too, without being fooled by speakers which make bass muddy or highs harsh. And no one does midrange better in my humble opinion than B&W. Midrange is where most of the music content is, like most instruments and the human voice. B&W’s HISTORY: B&W started as a Radio and Electronics shop in Worthing, in Sussex, UK,. John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, who met while serving in WWII. They began providing public address equipment to schools and churches, with Bowers becoming increasingly involved in the design and assembly of loudspeakers. B&W went into the speaker business in 1966 and Bowers was determined to produce the PERFECT loudspeaker, capable of delivering recorded sound which is faithful to the live performance and original sound. It was his passion which is imprinted in the company’s DNA where he was known for saying “Good Enough is Not Enough for Bowers and Wilkins.” The Px8 Over-The-Ear Bluetooth Active Noise Cancelling Headphones: B&W’s Px8 Headphones are their flagship wireless headphones. If you don’t want to read a long review just know they are without reservation the best sounding headphones I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to. And I have quite a nice collection of higher-end headphones but none at this level of sonic perfection. I also have a degree in music and have a well-trained ear. PACKAGING/WHAT YOU GET: These come nicely packaged as you’d expect of headphones at this price point. It was exciting just to open the box! You store the headphones in a fabric wrapped, color coordinated hard case. Even The case zipper is as smooth as you could possibly want. Inside is a compartment covered by a magnetic flap to store the two cables provided: USB C to USB C charging cable and USB C to 3.5mm audio jack. QUALITY MATERIALS: These headphones are made of premium materials. The ear cups and headband are wrapped in sumptuous Napa Leather. The ear cups underneath the leather are made of soft memory foam, which are supremely comfortable to wear for hours on end. The arms are made of aluminum, which is super light but stiff for excellent durability and slide smoothly. B&W says they used diamond-cut bright metal detailing to finish the luxuriously premium look. Not only do these puppies sound great, but they look great, without that in-your-face, look at me styling so many other headphones employ. The quality is simply on a level I’ve never experienced before! GETTING STARTED/CONTROLS: Charge the headphones first, then download the Bowers & Wilkins Music App to your cell phone. Set up an account and the app show’s how to pair them as well as what each button does. Next choose what function the Action Button on the left headphone does (ANC/Passthrough or Wake your Digital Assistant). There aren’t many customizations, but these sound so sublime, there really isn’t much need for them. The Px8 has wear sensors if you remove the headphones and start them again when you put them back on, with three sensitivity options (low – standard – high). You can only adjust Treble and Bass, but again, with sound this great who cares? Download an equalizer app if you need more. I believe good headphones shouldn't need equalization to begin with. Finally, they provide links to the some of the best premium streaming services, which feature higher 24-bitrate streaming. In terms of controls, B&W chose physical buttons over touch controls (YAY!) which have a nice solid tactile feel. There’ a power switch which doubles as the Bluetooth connect button. The Action Button and separate buttons for volume up/down and a button you double tap to move to the next track or triple tap to go back to the previous track or tap to answer or end a phone call. It’s all very simple and intuitive to control. ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION/CALL QUALITY/FEATURES: I don’t buy headphones for noise cancellation, but the ANC on the Px8 is amazingly good. In the family room with the TV on at normal listening levels and I didn’t hear the TV at all. At Starbucks in a noisy environment, outside sounds were either non-existent or barely noticeable. I give these an A on noise cancellation. There may be other Bluetooth headphones which block out more noise, but often at the sacrifice of sound. Passthrough is quite good if you need to be aware of sounds in your environment. With Six Microphones, 4 for ANC and 2 for phone calls, the phone calls I’ve made have been very clear. The Px8 has multi-point pairing and I’m now simultaneously connected to my iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro. Switching seamlessly from one device to the other, B&W has made multi-point connections smooth and easy! The driver in a speaker is what you hear sounds through. A driver’s sole purpose is to move air for low, mid and high frequencies. The driver in the Px8 is not your standard cardboard type driver found in most headphones. It’s a precisely angled 40mm Carbon Cone driver, designed to improve stereo imaging, deliver reduced distortion and improve clarity. I’ve never heard such clarity in a headphone. EVER! The Px8 uses a high-resolution 24-bit Digital Signal Processor (DSP), coupled with the Carbon Cone Driver to capture sound better and it DOES! The headphones have 30 hours of battery life which is good, but not industry leading. There are other headphones which have more, but for a charge on-the-go, just plug them in and you’ll get 7 hours of play time in 15 minutes. The Px8 supports the best Bluetooth Codecs/Profiles, including: aptX, Adaptive aptX, HD aptX, AAC, SBC, A2DP, ACRCP, HFP, BLE GATT (Generic Attribute Profile) and they support Bluetooth 5.2. There really isn’t a Codec/Profile you can’t use, if you have a device which supports them. Suffice to say B&W has you covered here. ABOUT SOUND! Some may buy headphones for features such as, ANC, Battery Life, and Style, but to me, nothing matters except for sound. I’ve listened to a LOT of music since getting these and they simply sound better than any headphones I’ve EVER owned. Bass on these headphones is tight and controlled, but NEVER Boomy. Treble is brilliant, but never Sibilant. The star of the show, however, is midrange. No matter how complex the music, every single instrument is presented precisely with a presence that is hard to believe. Stringed instruments are warm. Vocals sound like the person is directly in front of you. One of my favorite contemporary composers is Mason Bates. I listened to his Alternative Energy – Xinjiang Province and Mothership. I thought I knew them, but with the Px8, I heard nuances I’ve never heard before. I listened to Libera (boy’s choir) – For the Future. With many other headphones, this song can sound sibilant (shrill), but not on the Px8. It was present, smooth and warm. Another amazing vocal group is Adiemus. Listening to Children of Dannu, something I’ve listened to more times than I can count was like listening to it for the first time. The vocals were amazing and the instruments warm and accurate. Next up was Camile Saint-Saens Organ Symphony. OMG, when the organ hits in the last movement, it hits with depth I’ve NEVER heard in ANY headphone. An acoustic piece which is fun was recorded live by Schindleria prameaturus – The Fish. Acoustically and sonically presented with amazing clarity and presence. There really isn’t any genre you could throw at the Px8, which wouldn’t sound better than you could possibly imagine. There is an intimacy with these headphones I’ve never experienced before. EVER! CONCLUSION: To say the B&W Px8 is astounding in just about every way, is an understatement. They are stunningly beautiful, made of premium materials. They look great and feel wonderful on my ears for extended hours of listening. Clamping force isn’t very high and that’s important if like me, you wear glasses. The Px8 headphones aren’t inexpensive, but the price in my humble opinion is beyond justified. They are simply about as perfect as headphones could get. When you recognize they are Bluetooth headphones, it’s beyond amazing headphones can sound this great without being wired, though you can plug them in for a direct connection if you want. If this review helps you justify spending this much on a pair of headphones, I hope you will be as happy with the B&W Px8 as I am. Yes, I do!

Bowers & Wilkins, a renowned name in the realm of high-fidelity audio, has once again raised the bar with its latest flagship wireless headphones, the Px8. These over-ear marvels deliver an exceptional audio experience, complemented by a sleek design and choice of colors, and industry-leading noise cancellation. These headphones are sure to impress even the most discerning audiophiles. Audio Performance: The Px8 headphones deliver stunning audio performance, thanks to their all-new 40mm Carbon Cone drivers. The carbon cones are designed to deliver outstanding clarity and detail. This, combined with high-resolution 24-bit DSP and aptX Adaptive wireless technology, results in a truly exceptional soundstage with rich bass, clear mids, and sparkling highs with remarkable clarity and precision. Noise Cancellation: The Px8 headphones utilize active noise cancellation technology, which effectively blocks out ambient noise. Whether you're seeking tranquility amid the hustle and bustle of city life or craving uninterrupted focus during work or study sessions, and even while writing this review, the Px8's active noise cancellation (ANC) proves to be unbeatable. The Px8 uses a total of 6 microphones to precisely deliver the ANC level of your choosing. The noise cancellation is adjustable, so you can choose the level that best suits your environment. It effectively blocks out external distractions allowing you to focus on your music, podcasts or anything of your listening pleasure without distractions. Designed for Comfort and Style: The Px8's design exudes elegance and sophistication, seamlessly blending premium materials with ergonomic construction. The earcups are generously padded with soft memory foam and finished off with premium napa leather, providing a comfortable fit even during extended listening sessions. The lightweight aluminum headband is adjustable for a personalized fit, ensuring a secure and comfortable grip, combining elegance with durability. Battery Life: With a generous battery life of up to 30 hours, the Px8 ensures you can enjoy your favorite music or podcasts without worrying about running out of power. The headphones also support fast charging and the provided USB-C cable ensures that you can still enjoy your music while charging. Features: The Px8 is packed with thoughtful features that enhance your listening experience. Its automatic wear detection pauses playback when you remove the headphones and resumes when you place them back on. The headphones also support multipoint connectivity, allowing you to seamlessly switch between two Bluetooth devices without having to disconnect and reconnect. Pros: • Outstanding sound quality • Amazing noise cancellation • Comfortable Design • Pure Elegance • Long battery life • Crystal clear phone calls Cons: • Price The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Over-Ear Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are a premium product that delivers exceptional sound quality, amazing noise cancellation, and a luxurious yet comfortable design. The Px8 are a dream come true for discerning audiophiles seeking an unmatched listening experience. They are the best headphones that I have ever used, and I am confident that you will love them as much as I do.

The first thing you notice is that the box feels substantially heavy. Inside there is a nifty burgundy semi-hard carrying case containing the Px8 headphone along with a USB-C charging cable and a USC-C to 3.5mm stereo audio adapter cable tucked inside a small compartment covered with a magnetic lid. The Px8 supports connections using Bluetooth, a 3.5mm stereo audio cable, and USB direct (to a computer) so it's very flexible. Manual controls on the Px8 include a customizable Quick Action button on the left earpiece (you can configure it to set ANC modes or to activate a voice assistant). On the right earpiece, there is a sliding power button that also functions as a Bluetooth pairing button. There are also two buttons for increasing/decreasing volume as well as another multifunction button that allows you to play/pause/skip-to-next/repeat-previous track. These 3 right buttons also allow you to answer/end/decline telephony calls as well switch/merge/mute calls. While fairly intuitive, I’m almost certain that I will accidentally press the wrong button until I get used to how they work. The presentation and build quality is one of elegance. Sporting a golden metal frame and soft burgundy leather ear cushions, the Px8 headphone is probably the best looking headphone I have ever seen. The headphone is a bit on the heavier side but still feels very comfortable. Installation was very easy. Just download the Bowers & Wilkins app and turn on pairing and it easily and quickly finds the headphone. I found the app to be fairly intuitive and simple to operate but it is somewhat basic compared to other apps I have used. You can link your existing streaming music services (currently supported services are Tune-In, qobuz, Tidal, deezer, Soundcloud, and NTS) in the app so you can easily access them but I did not try this feature out. The app offers settings for ANC (Noise Cancellation, Pass-Thru, and Off), and sound (treble and bass adjustments). I was somewhat surprised there wasn’t an EQ that allowed more fine tuning. I found the ANC to be very good but I think I’ve experienced slightly more effective ANC on other headphones. The sound quality is simply gorgeous. Vocals and instruments are very crisp, clear, and precise. The sound was very rich and smooth but for me I think the bass was a little over emphasized in its default settings so I used the bass control to dial it back a little. The bass was very impressive and it was on the punchy side and not muddy. I played music from various genres (Michelle Branch, Diana Krall, The Gaslight Anthem, Marshall Crenshaw, Squeeze, along with movie soundtracks from Superman, Harry Potter, and Alita: Battle Angel) and they all sounded great. The Px8 also worked well for watching movies and TV shows. The Dialogue was very easy to understand and the soundstage was very immersive. I never experienced any drop-outs or disconnections using Bluetooth. The Px8 has been rock solid and the gorgeous sound quality has made listening to my music collection very pleasurable. Overall, I can give it my highest recommendations. It’s a little on the pricey side but if you're an audiophile who appreciates a luxurious premium aesthetic and superb sound quality, then the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 is the perfect choice.

I have been daily driving the Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2 for over a year because I love them so much. So of course I was excited to "upgrade" to the Px8. B&W took over my preference when it comes to over the ear headsets because of not only their legendary sound quality but also comfort for a person with a big head like mine. Unboxing the headphones was exactly same experience as their last generation of headphones. Premium quality case and it shows. Inside a little compartment houses 2 cables, a USB C to 3.5mm Jack Adapter and a USB C to USB C cable. The feel and looks are very similar to the Px7 S2 so using the on phone buttons were a cinch. On the right cup is where you will find your physical controls. On/Off slider can go up one more tick to enter BT pairing, Volume Up and Down are the very bottom and 2nd from top buttons. Right in the middle of those 2 are the action button that can Answer/End a call, Skip or Go Back a track and lastly the USB-C connection/charger. While the headphones uses faux leather and memory foam, I have no complaints about comfort. They just feel nice and I use them for usually 2-3 hours per session and even removing them, I did not suffer any pain of any kind or heating. My ears were slightly warm but never did my head get hot. I recommend using the App for people who are first time users. Having already downloaded for the Px7 S2, pairing was a breeze. Automatically found the headphones when I switched to pairing mode and auto added it to my app. Though the EQ is very limited to Treble and Bass only, trust me, that's all you will need. They are tweaked so perfectly everything sounds amazing coming from them. ANC worked well and I could barely even hear outside interference. Call quality according to the other side said it sounded great. Sound quality is what you expect from a premium set of headphones at this price point. Highs are loud and do not get distorted and bass has the perfect amount of oomph. Even with music that is loud (like doing the Crab Rave test) even being at 60-70% sounds like it feels louder than that. If you get a chance while browsing a store and see these, I suggest giving them a try. Quality and comfort is again to me worth it. Bowers & Wilkins are known for their sound, and they back up that claim.

I want to like this headphones but after having used this for two weeks , I am not convinced that this is an audiophlle quality headphones for the price.I will just wait fo the airpods max 2 release date.

If I were forced into a single word review, then my word would be “luxurious”. Visually, materially, physically, and sonically the Px8 is luxurious. My Royal Burgandy and Nickel Px8 is a rich, decadent wrapper implying the musical finery waiting inside each ear cup. The leather wrapped ear cushions are soft and blush. The Px8’s are constructed of metal and soft, plush leather. The ear cup outer shells are a combination Metal, leather, and brushed nickel. The connecting armatures are brushed aluminum metal and extend well into the headband. The head band is wrapped in a matching royal burgundy leather, plush foam padding, and is very flexible. The ear cups have a 180 Degree rotation that allows them to rest cups facing in or cups facing out when wearing the Px8 around your neck. It is nice that B&W gave me the option that I find most comfortable. Sonically, these are like having two high fi speakers strapped to my ears. I would describe the sound as clear, precise, rich, detailed, intimate, and full bodied. In some instances, acoustic guitars and classical piano are sonically voluptuous. There is just the little extra something that I find lacking from less expensive headphones. For example, Chopin’s Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat. Op. 9 No 2 and the Plonaise No. 6 in A-Flat, Op. 53 – “Heroic” are like being teleported into the best seat in a professional concert hall. I can hear everything from the most powerful notes reverberating through both ear cups to the gentle decay of the most delicate keystrokes as they forever vanish into silence. The world simply evaporated away and reconstituted as Chopin. The Px8’s did not shy away from anything I threw at them. As a matter of fact, they played everything I threw at them magnificently. Meghan Trainor, Indego Girls, Air Supply, Metallica, Old 97’s (thank you James Gunn), Anime Anthems, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Albinoni, Litz, John Williams, Boston, Christmas and Holiday Music, and so much more. Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24 by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is simply explosive. The electric guitars are alive and screaming in my ears with such richness that I wish the piece could go on forever. In my home, I can only outperform the Px8’s with a fully dedicated component stereo system. But now we are comparing apples to rocket ships. Bottom line, the Px8’s sound amazing with all music in every genre I sampled. At low volumes they sound good. Medium volume is where the Px8’s truly come alive. Hands down, this is the best headset, wired or wireless, that I have ever used. And just in case you believe my experience is limited to midrange only. Wrong. The Px8 put out a surprising amount of bass without any adjustments. And bass can be boosted in the B&W App. The same with the treble. They are there, they are clean, and they are wonderful and airy. The 40mm Carbon cones of the Px8’s delivers the goods and then some. ANC: Active Noise Cancelation is good but not excellent. Sorry B&W. However, B&W states that their ANC does not impact the quality of their sound. I mostly agree with that assertion. ANC has a slight impact on sound but nothing that you will notice until you turn off ANC in the middle of a listening experience. And even then, the difference is very minor. Much better than other ANC enabled headphones and earbuds I have used. The other thing to keep in mind is that strong ANC can, and does, increase the pressure in the earcup and will eventually lead to ear fatigue. I have not experienced either with the Px8’s. So, the tradeoff is superior sound quality/low fatigue vs inferior sound quality/high fatigue. That’s a no brainer. I am picking the Px8’s all day long unless I absolutely need the very best ANC that money can buy. Passthrough: The Px8’s have six external mics. This is for ANC, phone, and Passthrough. What is the purpose of passthrough. I am sure there are times where you wish you could casually listen to music, a podcast, the news, but also want to remain sonically aware of your surroundings. Maybe you are in an office building, keeping one ear open for your mischievous children, or your wife is…uh…just turn on the ANC and up the volume. You’ll be fine. The six mics pick up the sounds around me and reproduce the environmental sounds in the ear cups. Unfortunately, the passthrough is boosted which gives it a slightly unnatural sound. Conversations, road noise, wind, and other environmental sounds are clear but not 100% natural. For instance, computer fans, ceiling fans, air purifiers, drier sounds, and anything that I would qualify as “white noise” is boosted and will take away from musical enjoyment. Phone calls: The Px8’s are not the best for phone calls. The six external mics do not do a good job of picking up my voice. For example, my voice has been described as distant and with the quality if speaking through a hallow tube. My voice was very clear. However, my partners needed to turn the volume to maximum to enjoy a full conversation with me. There is no gain adjustment in the B&W app. So, it is what it is. Moving on. Bowers and Wilkins Sound App: My only musical subscription is Apple Music. Thus, I can only comment on the Px8 controls portion of the app and not on the music service integration portion of the app. The Bower and Wilkin’s headphone control app is spartan at best. It does not have the same flagship feel or experience as the Px8’s. And there is no reason why not. It’s software. You can make it look like and do anything you want. The options are as follows: - ANC is On, Off, or Passthrough. There is no manual adjustment to customize the ANC to my tastes. - EQ: limited to Bass and Treble. - Quick Action button: Environment Control or Voice Assistant. - Auto Standby 15 Minutes or Off - Wear Sensor: On or Off. There is an added configuration for movement sensitivity. - Device Rename - Factory Reset I was hoping for a multi-band EQ, Passthrough volume controls, in ear notification volume and sound/voice selection, additional sleep timer settings, and maybe an ANC intensity adjustment. It is functional and useful for what it does. It could be much better for a premium product such as the Px8’s. Conclusion: The Px8 is the best sounding wireless over ear headset I have ever heard. Period. Waitress, may I have the check! Do I think they could be better? Yes. If the Px8’s had Muli-EQ support and more control over the ANC, microphone gain for phone calls, and volume adjustments for native functions then these would be next level wireless headphones. But none of the cons I rattled off above are deal breakers. As is, these will need to be pulled from dead, rotting hands before I’ll give them up. The Px8’s radiate luxury; both physically and sonically. Pure and simple, this is an outward expression of decadence. Sonically luxurious. I would recommend these all day long for anyone looking to take a dip into the high-end wireless headphone pool.

NOISE CANCELLING/PASS-THROUGH: Noise cancelling is probably the one thing that these do not excel at. Which isn’t to say they are bad. But they are not class leading. My AirPods Max and Sony XM4’s do a better job. If those are at 10/10 then these are at like 8/10. I found that they did a great job at blocking out low noises and normal talking voices. Fans I could still hear but were greatly reduced as was running water (where those were either blocked or completely blocked by the other two). Music it struggled with and would come through (which I’d expect) but performed as well as the others in that regard. But regardless it does reduce the sound of things going on around you by a noticeable degree and is good enough that it is worth turning on. Pass-through was surprisingly good. I usually can’t stand Pass-Through on anything other than Apple devices as they are normally trash. But with these I was easily able to have a full conversation with someone with these on. Or listen to a video on another device quickly using their speakers. And be aware of what was going on around me such as typing, people walking around, etc. Everything is a bit more quiet in comparison to without the headset on. But I’ve found that Apple’s Transparency mode has been leagues ahead of the competition. These are the only ones that I’ve tried that have come close to being at the same level. They aren’t. But they are moderately close. CONTROLS: So many devices these days have poor controls. Usually do to limited buttons. To the point I’ve almost forgotten how nice it is to have actual buttons again. On the left earcup you have your “Quick Actions” button which can be paired to either Environmental (Noise Cancelling, Pass-Through, or Off) or Voice Assistant (Siri, Google, etc.). On the right earcups from top to bottom you have your slide to power on/off. Which is unique and I like a lot. Holding up will let you go into pairing mode. Volume Up, multipurpose button (single press for play/pause, double for forward, triple for back), and volume down. On the bottom of the right earcup you have a USB-C female port for charging, connecting the included USB-C to 3.5 mm jack, or USB-C to USB-C cord (gives the best wired quality). SOUND: You have three ways to listen on this device. First, Bluetooth. Second, USB-C to 3.5 mm. Third USB-C to USB-C. The third option will give you the best audio quality. And with most phones and devices having a USB-C port isn’t all that inconvenient. I also plugged this into my DAC/AMP and it sounded great and better than Bluetooth. Bluetooth will be the worst simply because the amount of data it can send is limited. Which isn’t to say it sounds bad by any means. It would be neat to see these brands start to include 2.4 GHz connections which give lower latency and better audio quality. With the plugged in methods you do need to have the headphones powered on and using battery though. Which is a bit of a bummer but not all that surprising. Which also means noise cancelling and all that jazz works. These simply sound fantastic no matter which method you choose to listen to them. I have no complaints. Treble is fully present, can be a bit sharp, but due to that you get the sparkle that allows voices and stuff to be highly impactful. Bass is present, tight, impactful, and accurate. It isn’t overblown or heavy though. But does give a nice deep rumble given the correct type. If you are a basshead these aren’t going to give you what you are looking for as the bass is backed off in order for the mids and treble to shine more and not muddy up the rest of the sound while still adding a lot of impact. I’m able to hear the nuanced parts of songs and different aspects going on easily. Also, I put these on for some gaming (Escape From Tarkov) and was blown away at how accurate the localization was. I knew exactly where someone was. To the point I’d actually say wired they are viable for gaming. They get plenty loud. I listed to music, movies, media, games and found they excelled at all of them. I tried to think of some negatives here. But they are right up there with the AirPods Max, Senneheiser HD650, and Hifiman Ananda’s that I own. Where at this level those all sound fantastic and the differences come down to specific tuning that specialize in certain areas. They are much better than my Sony XM4’s. It seems like I’ve made these seem like they are the greatest things since sliced bread. They aren’t and I hope I don’t give you unrealistic expectations. They aren’t perfect. No headphones are. But at this level I think it really comes down to what specific sound you want and I find these do great at multipurpose. Where they do a great job at most genres instead of a specific one. Which is my preference. PAIRING: Is extremely simple. You can be connected to two devices at a time. On the right earcup on the top you have your slide to power on/off button. If you hold that up whether the devices is on or off it will go into pairing mode after a short while. It will say “Ready To Connect” repeating until it pops up on your device. I’ve found that it doesn’t always pop up immediately and takes some time. As does pressing connect and it actually connecting. So not the quickest I’ve seen. Once a connection is established it does connect quickly upon first powering up the headphones. While it is a bit delayed in popping up and connecting initially I have found that this process if by fair the easiest I’ve seen on a device. Which usually requires me to turn them off, then hold to turn back on and go into pairing. I much prefer this method. BUILD QUALITY: It is superb and the main thing you are paying for here. It is by far the most attractive and best feeling headset I’ve ever felt or owned. Even putting my AirPods Max to shame. The leather is soft and plushy. The earcups move so smoothly along with the headband adjustment I can’t contain it in words. I don’t feel any plastic on the device anywhere. It’s either leather, padding, or aluminum. There is zero creaking or noise when I am handling the headphones. Each button is easy to tell apart without looking. Has a very crisp solid click to it and the only thing I hear is a nice soft click in the earcup itself. They are very lightweight and just feel incredible on in the hand, when handling, and are supremely comfortable. The color scheme is beautiful. Before these I’m not sure if I fully understood what a quality pair of headphones felt like. Simply put incredible. They do come with a nice hard carrying case, with a great zipper, that holds the headphones and both of the cables which magnetically shuts. Comfort is great and I can wear this for extremely long periods without any issues on my ears or on the top of my head. I don’t get hot ears with them. Clamping force is light/moderate. They can be worn for working out. I can do pushups and running just fine (as long as I’m not throwing my body around a lot). But they tend to slide off when laying down for bench or something. Also, with these actually using real leather I would be worried about destroying that with sweat. THE APP: It is simple, intuitive, and basic. Going from the top to the bottom you have your environmental control which includes Noise Cancelation, Pass-Through, and Off. Each one of those has a unique tone associated with it. I would have preferred an actual voice, especially at this price point. As I just struggle with tones on correctly identifying what they mean. You are not able to select say just Noise Cancelling and Pass-Through. Instead you always have all three options. Then you have a simplified EQ setting where you can increase or decrease the Treble and Bass (+/- 6 dB). That’s it. Connections where you can select what you are connected to just a single device or two devices at once. You can select what the Quick Actions button on the left earcup does (Noise Cancelling/Pass-Through/Off OR Voice Assistant such as Siri). Auto Standby allows low power mode after 15 minutes. Along with Wear Sensor (it will register if it is on your head or not). You have three settings here (low, normal, high) for how sensitive you want it to be. I kept mine on high. It still takes about a second or two for it to register it is off your head before it pauses/plays your media. Last two options are rename product and factory reset. CONCLUSION: These are the best pair of Bluetooth headphones I’ve ever used. I’m not sure if they are “leading class” in anything other than build quality. But they are right up there with the rest of the competition. But the difference between these and them is that they do well in EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY. Where the AirPods Max might have great Noise Cancelling, Transparency, and seamlessly connect on Apple devices. They can be heavy, sound is interesting, and clamping force is high. Where the cons for these guys are more subjective in nature over a complete miss. If these hit the boxes you are looking for and your comfortable with the extremely high price tag I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. As I certainly wasn’t.

I was filled with anticipation as I began to unbox the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones. I had heard so many people singing such high praises for them that I couldn’t hardly wait to finally get them and around my ears. As I unpacked its box, I was met by a beautifully crafted case. I have the Royal Burgundy edition, and the case is of course burgundy. The case is extremely well-made of semi-hard material, and the zipper has a real leather pull strap. Across the front of the case is an elegant Bowers & Wilkins logo in raised lettering. But the best was still yet to come. As I opened the case, I was greeted by the sight of the equally elegant Bowers & Wilkins headphones. The golden cast aluminum structure with golden cast aluminum logo plates is clothed in well-dressed burgundy cloth and leather. The logo plates are accented with a polished (golden) aluminum Bowers & Wilkins logo. Turning the headphones causes the logo and polished edges to glimmer, as if they are lit from within. The headphones are nestled in a form-fitting interior, and within the center of the headphones there is a magnetic door that houses a USB-C to USB-C charging cable which is approximately 4’ in length, and a USB-C to 3.5mm analog cable that is also approximately 4’ in length, for plugging into a source player if Bluetooth is not preferred. I can’t finish my overall description of these majestic headphones without mentioning the memory-foam earpieces upholstered in unbelievably soft Nappa leather. I know I have used the word elegant several times already, but it is almost impossible to speak of the design of these beautiful headphones without using “elegant” to describe each of its many features. But we’re not really here to focus on the Bowers & Wilkins aesthetic value, so let’s get down to the meat of this review. Incorporated into the elegant design is also the determined goal of simplicity. There are four physical buttons located on the right side…the On/Off & Bluetooth slider button, the Up & Down Volume buttons, and a Multi-Function button to control Play/Pause, Forward/Reverse, and Answer/End/Reject Calls. Also located on the right side (below the controls, is the USB charging port. On the left side is located a physical button for controlling the ANC or VA options. These are changed via the app. After all the admiration, I was excited about actually listening to the B&W Px8s. I downloaded the Bowers & Wilkins app, and in about a minute and a half, I was ready to start listening. Seriously, setting up is as easy as it gets. There are several music/podcast/radio services available to link the app with, but in all honesty, I had only ever heard of one of them. Instead, I chose a music streaming service I already subscribed to. I wrote a list of about 6 songs that represented a wide range of music styles and began to listen. What happened next was magical. There are so many features of these headphones that complement and intermingle with each other to create a sound experience unlike any other. Inside of each cup is an angled, ultra-high resolution 40mm carbon cone driver unit. I am no expert when it comes to such things as this, but what I am an expert in is sound experience, and the cumulative effect of the B&W design and construction is ethereal. I truly felt as if I was sitting in the very same room with the vocalists and musicians. The ANC feature was the finishing touch as it somehow created an environment unlike any I have ever experienced before with over the ear headphones. For the first time in a very long time, I absolutely did not want any of the songs I was listening to to stop. And even the silence between songs was a pleasant and unique experience. To me, it was as if I was actually surrounded by the warmth of sound, submerged in it, bathed. I simply look forward to every opportunity I have to put these headphones on and surround myself once more with the otherworldly depth and richness of the Px8 So, are they perfect? I for one certainly think so. These are some of the very best over-the-ear headphones I have ever had the privilege to listen to. They make music so much more than something I simply listen to. Like I said, they allow you to experience music. With all the praise I have heaped upon the headphones, I do want to mention. The Bowers & Wilkins app…it is almost pointless. Like I mentioned earlier, it offers the ability to link with different services, and you can control on the app everything you can control with the buttons on the headphones, but that is just about it. There is the ability to adjust the bass and treble, and that is it. There is the profound absence of the ability to choose from any equalizer presets, and there is no ability to adjust any other settings. I’m not sure why they chose to do this, but to me it is a huge letdown. Other than that, everything about the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Headphones is spectacular. For those who are longing for much more when it comes to listening to music, podcasts or what-have-you, the Px8s are the answer. Once you put them over your ears and begin the B&W Px8 experience, you will know that you have found what you have been longing for.

You don't come to this class of product for the problems these have. ***QUALITY:*** Clearly, right from the gate you can tell these are quality. The weight, feel and textures tell you. Soft-touch? Check. Mem. foam? Check. GOLDEN metal? Check. Even the cord material which can be seen as you elongate the band is color-matching and woven. "Bowers & Wilkins" is machined (embossed) onto the side. These tell others you got something expensive. ***DESIGN:*** My particular set are "Royal Burgundy", and as such won't appeal to all, but as stated, give you that stand-out gold finish. The microphone ports are substantial, perforated grilles integrated into each earpiece. The left is sleek, with a single botton (ANC) and the right is topped by on/pairing, with textured play/pause sandwiched between up and down volume. Of any set of headphones, this is close to perfect for layout. The only improvement I could make is to move play over to the left so each button can be easily, quickly found (even when wearing gloves, please). ***FUNCTIONALITY:*** These have an exceptional feature no other headphones do: quick sounds to indicate connectivity and modes. All other sets I have tried consume media time with their prompts (you end up rewinding podcasts and videos). Bowers & Wilkins doesn't wish to interrupt. The set is very comfortable even when wearing a hat (quite adjustable) and can be stretched for a wider head (like I have). My medium-large ears are covered by the cuffs, which breathe acceptably well. The volume controls allow you to crank it way up, but... ***SOUND:*** only on Bluetooth. Curiously, plugging these in with USB-C to connect gives you substantially quieter listening - at least on my S23 Ultra. This is unfortunate because Bluetooth seems not to be the way to get the best fidelity. You get decent quality from this connection type, but the experience is let down by software which DEFINITELY could have been better. The details will be spoken about next, in ***SOFTWARE:*** 1.) For starters, the available settings here are WAYY outgunned by far cheaper kit. A brand like this should give you what you desire as a respecter of the finer things, but it doesn't. "Bass" and "treble" are the only "EQ" settings. They might as well be called"high" and "low", since you get no indication of frequency, curve, or decibel raise. This isn't good, as ultra-low frequency sound is too quiet when you get these. "Bass" in the app appears to adjust something like 100 hz - and that's not good enough for most recordings. "Treble" is okay, but seems to sound best when close to max, and that increases harsh 12k+ sounds too much in order to get 4-8k right. 2.) The app only let's you fiddle when it notices the PX8s, and that isn't consistent. I was listening to them once when it couldn't find them. An app kill and restart corrected it, but still. 3.) When you actually can fiddle, you get a choice to turn off the standby mode, so that's nice (like for falling asleep with music playing. They _didn't_ automatically connect most of the times I came back to them, however (like, when leaving the set on and walking away). 4.) Only ONE button is customizable - ONE - and that's only to select ANC mode or voice assistant. Nothing else. Fail, B&W. ***FIRMWARE:*** Another EXCELLENT feature is that the PX8s remember which ANC (active noise canceling) setting you last used. The ANC, by the way, is no-contest the best I've used... when it works right. Unfortunately, something about those "2 external microphones" doesn't. Driving in the car? Turn your head the wrong way and INTERFERENCE. Sitting in an air-conditioned space? Volume difference equals INTERFERENCE. A bit of wind on one side? Interference. For some reason, these things are HYPER sensitive to pressure changes and give you static (in only ONE ear - whichever is most affected) FAR too frequently. It's actually a tragedy. I'm not joking. These would be exquisite otherwise (even with the lacking sound adjustment). ***AFFILIATIONS:*** The one very interesting thing B&W gives you is a free trial to "Quobuz" to listen to very high quality audio from an extensive collection. The selection algorithm is terrible, though. Really, it's only good for your own manual selections. ***CONCLUSION:*** Something this expensive really needs to be "The Cadillac" of headphones. It isn't. ANC which can't handle pressure variations is Active Noise Creation, not Cancellation. Connection needs to be FLAWLESS - it isn't. Settings need to be ABUNDANT - they aren't.

In my extensive experience evaluating audio equipment, I can confidently assert that the Bowers and Wilkins PX8 headphones stand out as an exceptional product. The build quality is truly remarkable, exuding a sense of luxury and durability. The sound quality is simply superb, delivering an immersive and refined listening experience. The use of high-quality leather and the gleaming golden finish add to the overall aesthetic appeal. When handling the headphones, one can immediately perceive the superior craftsmanship and attention to detail. The noise cancellation feature is highly effective, providing an unparalleled level of isolation from external noise. The comfort level is exceptional, allowing for extended listening sessions without any discomfort. The battery life is commendable, ensuring uninterrupted usage for an extended period. Overall, the Bowers and Wilkins PX8 headphones represent a pinnacle of audio engineering and design, offering an unparalleled listening experience.

Headphones have been a hobby of mine for the last 15 or so years. I began with "expensive" cans costing $300, but over the years, I've developed an obsession that will cost me much more later in life. I have yet to surpass the $1200 mark on a pair, though I know some are priced beyond that. I have gathered quite a collection of medium to high-end headphones. One could say I'm an "audiophile," but that term gets thrown around a lot, so I'll say I'm an experienced user instead. Throughout this experience, I've learned that each set of cans has a different sound. No two headphones are alike. This is especially true when you throw Noise cancellation in the mix. Sound is subjective in any case. And that's very true for those of us who use a variety of headphones. We can tell what sounds good to us because we have our favorite and not-so-favorite ones to compare and contrast. That doesn't mean our least favorite pairs sound bad. It just means we prefer a different sound. Keep that in mind when I describe the sound of these Bowers & Wilkins PX8s. The most crucial aspect of any headphones to me is the sound. Bowers & Wilkins have a reputation for dialing in their sound well. They've been in the high-end audio game since 1966. I've owned a few variations of their earbuds, a few medium-tier over-the-ear headphones, and three versions of the PX7s, one of my favorite-sounding cans. I chase a balanced sound with a rich, expansive soundstage that gives me the atmospheric feeling of being in the studio with the artist as they record. Gone are the days when I craved heavy bass. I want to hear clarity. I listen to all genres, so even though I still love hip-hop, I don't want the heavy bass sound to damper the other, more instrument-driven genres I love to listen to. Bowers & Wilkins are known for their balance, and I expected these to have a similar sound to the PX7s. They do live up to the balanced reputation. However, compared to my $1000 pair of Mark Levinson 5909s, the clarity and punch of those sound better to my ears. On the PX8s, there is decent soundstage, but they're a tad hallow compared to the Levinson's. But keep in mind that I'm comparing my current favorite set, I, which costs $1000, to these PX8s, which cost $600. And there lies the problem with always chasing a better sound. I'm spoiled. I know these sound good, and they would be an excellent choice for the "normal" consumer looking to get into expensive headphones. Part of the issue with these ANC headphones is that they only work when turned on. Most don't possess a wired passthrough mode, which allows you to listen wired without a battery or ANC on/off. The PX8s suffer from this trend, which can affect the sound because they are "on," if that makes sense. Even with ANC off, sometimes it can affect it. The only way to get to the authentic sound is by having them off, which my Mark Levinson 5909s do. If you feel like you'll use something other than the ANC, then go with a model that doesn't have the feature for the most accurate sound. On the other hand, if you use it (which most of us do), these are still a tremendous-sounding choice for $600. For $600, you get excellent build quality. These are premium. You can feel it when you take them out of the case. They pack a heft to them without being too heavy and uncomfortable. The earpads are soft and airy, though they have a great clamp that holds the sound in. Bowers & Wilkins knocked it out of the park with the build quality. Even the color is gorgeous. I think these are reasonable due to their pristine quality. The associated app is barebones, but it's worked well for me. I had no issues setting it up or connecting each time I opened the app. I've downloaded the Android version on my phone and the Apple version on my wife's, and both were very easy to set up. I love how easy setting up the Bluetooth connections is because I remember when that was the most frustrating aspect of Bluetooth headphones. The beauty of headphones at this price point is the build quality, and the sound is above average. The best thing to do is to go to a Best Buy with a Magnolia center in it and hope they have these to try out. Or, purchase them, try them out yourself, and utilize the return period. As wasteful as that may seem, if you're paying this much for headphones, please ensure you love them because there are choices out there. Try getting one pair of headphones; if you like them, stick with them. Avoid comparing and contrasting because that will only make you spend money and go crazy chasing a better sound. Trust me. I know.