Bowers & Wilkins - Px7 S2e Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones - Forest Green

Both modes work well. It’s far better than Bose QC45 in sound quality and battery life. None of the cutting out that happens w Bose wireless. The bass is richer than Beats, Bose, and Skull Candy (though most of their lines are inferior, the bass is sometimes passable).

Overall, I find these headphones to be wonderful. I purchased these as an upgrade from my Platronics poly voyager 2 headset. I find that the noise cancelation feature on the b&w headphones are superior, that in addition to the sound quality. However, i find that the b&w headphones are a much tighter fit then the platronics. The microphone works way better then suggested on other reviews, in my opinion. I do find that the B&W headphones is ultimately lacking a major feature, which would be to have better compatibility with a a PC. I would like to see that improvement made on future models. I also found the build quality to be of higher quality, then comparable headsets. I would really like to get a pair of the B&W s8's and see if they are worth it.

Amazing headphones with very crisp sound and solid ANC! I love the manual buttons which make them super easy to operate. Feels good on the head. No discomfort with hours of wear. These were a solid upgrade from the Bose NC 700.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e Wireless Noise Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones in the stunning Ocean Blue color variant are some of the best headphones I have had the pleasure of using to date. Let me start by saying, these headphones are nothing short of a masterpiece. First and foremost, the design of these headphones are true testament to elegance and sophistication that Bowers & Wilkins have made here. The Ocean Blue finish is really sleek, and the build quality on these are exceptional. The headphones are not only aesthetically pleasing but also incredibly comfortable to wear. The memory foam ear cushions are lightweight and never once did they feel sweaty to me after wearing them for a 5 hour flight. These are perfect for long listening sessions. Bowers & Wilkins has truly outdone themselves when it comes to the sound quality in this department. The audio is nothing short of great. The headphones deliver a rich, detailed soundstage with deep, punchy bass, clear and crisp mids, and sparkling highs. Whether I was listening to music, an immersive action movie, or a funny podcast, the PX7 S2e headphones handled every genre with finesse, allowing me to hear nuances in my favorite tracks that I had never noticed before.The noise cancellation technology in these headphones is simply outstanding. It effortlessly blocked out all the background noise. Whether I was traveling on a noisy airplane, working in the office, or simply relaxing at home, the noise cancellation feature created a serene, uninterrupted listening experience. The PX7 S2e comes with a nice sturdy carrying case that has a pocket flap that stores the charging cable along with a 3.5mm headphone jack to USB-C adapter. The 3.5mm adapter is very clutch, especially if you’re someone who travels a lot and wants to use the entertainment screen on a plane, so you don't have to use those uncomfortable earbuds they give you. The battery life of the PX7 S2e headphones is impressive, offering hours of continuous playback on a single charge. The quick charge feature is always a nice addition, which provides hours of usage with just a short charge. This convenience ensures that my music and podcast are always within reach. I also appreciate the intuitive button controls on the ear cups, with the 3 buttons on the right ear cup allowing me to adjust the volume, skip tracks, and answer calls with ease. Then on the left ear cup there is one button with the ability to switch between ANC and pass through Audio. The headphones seamlessly connect to all of my devices via Bluetooth/power switch, where you just hold it up for a couple of seconds and it will go into pairing mode and you’re good to go. The bluetooth connection on these are Phenomenal, in that I have had zero connection issues between my devices and they pair super easy with everything. Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e Wireless Noise Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones in Ocean Blue are a true auditory delight. Their exquisite design, unparalleled sound quality, top-notch noise cancellation, and comfortable fit make them some of the best wireless headphones you can get. I am thoroughly impressed and can confidently say that they have elevated my listening experience to new heights.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e Wireless Headphones offer a premium audio experience with a sleek design that caters to the audiophile in you. The standout feature is undeniably the sound quality – the headphones deliver a rich, well-balanced audio profile that truly immerses the listener in their favorite tunes.The build quality is impressive, featuring a sturdy yet lightweight construction. The ear cups are plush and comfortable, making extended listening sessions a joy. The design exudes a sophisticated elegance.The active noise cancellation (ANC) is commendable, effectively blocking out ambient noise for an immersive listening experience. The adaptive nature of the ANC adjusts seamlessly to your surroundings, whether you're in a bustling coffee shop or enjoying a quiet evening at home. The battery life of the PX7 S2e is impressive, providing ample usage on a single charge. Quick charging is an added convenience for those on the go. The inclusion of USB-C for charging is a welcome modern touch.However, no product is without its flaws. The price is a slight drawback. Additionally, the headphones lack customization options for the sound profile. Unlike some competitors in the market, the PX7 S2e does not offer an equalizer for users to fine-tune the audio according to their preferences. This limitation might disappoint users seeking a more personalized audio experience. In conclusion, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e Wireless Headphones are a top-tier choice for audio enthusiasts who prioritize exceptional sound quality and premium design. Despite some minor drawbacks like price and limited customization, the overall experience is superb. I would rate the PX7 S2e a solid 4.5 stars out of 5, acknowledging its excellence but leaving room for future improvements in user interface and customization features.

This is my first pair of Bower + Wilkins headphones though not my first foray into the world of luxury premium audio products. That said, it probably comes as no surprise that the latest iteration of their entry-level wireless Bluetooth headphone, the Px7 S2e (‘E’ for evolved), delivers a deliciously satisfying listening experience. These headphones are designed with style and beauty in mind second only to its exceptional sound quality. The headphones come with a velvet-lined, zippered protective case that cleverly stows the USB-C to USB-C charging cable and USB-C to 3.5mm wired cable in a magnetic compartment in the middle. The minimalist monotone color palette used throughout complements soft curves and clean lines in its handsome yet durable construction. Adjusting the flexible headband feels smooth and seamless and is free of any creaks or clicks, and they fold flat for storage. These cans are weighty at around 11 oz but don’t feel heavy because of how well-balanced they are. The leatherette-lined headband offsets and distributes the weight, and the clamping force is firm but not uncomfortably tight. I like that oval ear cups are tall and wide with angled interiors, giving your ears more room inside the cup without adding bulk, and the soft leather pads create a good seal around the ear for isolation. This design also helps contain and direct the sound from the 40mm drivers into your ear canals. Upon powering on the headphones for the first time, my smartphone detected it immediately and even prompted me to download the accompanying B&W Music app. After creating an account or logging in, you’ll add the headphones to the app by pairing over Bluetooth 5.2, so you can change its settings. By default, noise cancelling is enabled, and it works well thanks to its use of 6 microphones to detect and eliminate background noise. The mics are also used when making hands-free calls for clear noise-free pickup of your voice. Alternatively, you can use the USB-C for a wired connection (up to 24-bit/48kHz), if your Bluetooth codec doesn’t support aptX Adaptive or HD for hi-res audio transmission. Pressing the quick action key on the left earpiece switches to pass-through mode which lets the mics pickup audio so that you can listen to your surroundings without taking the headphones off. Pressing once more toggles ANC off, but just note that without pass-through audio, the passive isolation of the ear cups is still quite good and sounds around you will be dampened. You can also change the function of this key to activate a voice assistant instead, so you can ask your AI questions, make calls, send texts, and control your IoT devices. The position of the key is convenient and places it just under your thumb when cupping the earpiece with your left-hand. The power switch and playback controls are similarly placed on the right ear cup. Since there are three physical keys to press, the middle multi-function button (MFB) is textured so you can differentiate and identify it, which also gives you a reference point to locate the volume buttons above and below it easily. For track skipping forward or back, you’ll double and triple press the MFB. In the app you can view the headphone’s battery life, which can last up to 30 hours on a full charge which takes only 2 hours. If you need a quick top up, just 15 minutes of charging can deliver 7 hours of runtime. There’s also an automatic standby feature that will put the device in low power after 15 minutes of inactivity and an adjustable wear sensor that automatically pauses what you’re listening to if you take the headphones off (or lift an ear cup off your ear) and resumes when you replace them. Both of these features can be toggled off in the app as well. The only EQ adjustments you can make in the app are to boost or reduce the treble or bass by up to +/- 6dB. There is no advanced control that will allow you to adjust the mid-ranges or get more granular. Ostensibly, this is because the sound engineers at B&W have already tuned the drivers to give you the most accurate listening experience, as recorded, though some music streaming apps may allow you to apply additional EQ adjustments. Speaking of, the sound that the Px7 S2e delivers natively is truly enjoyable. A bit bass heavy perhaps, but in a good way. Even so, the sound overall was full and detailed with bright trebles and rich, clean textures. The headspace and sound stage both felt adequately spacious though not large, per se, which is typical of closed back headphones. However, I found the stereo separation and imaging to be clean and precise. Overall, the listening experience with the Px7 S2e is satisfying, immersive, and comfortable even over longer listening sessions. You can pair them with up to two Bluetooth source devices simultaneously, and the battery lasts all day on a single charge. I also like the option of using them wired, though I found the volume levels are somewhat reduced when doing so.

The PX7 S2e’s are my new favorite headphones. They don’t have all of the features that Sony or Bose have, but they nail the sound, materials, and comfort. For me that’s pretty much everything. I’m always looking for an excuse to put these things on. They’re one of the few headphones I’ve handled that really ‘feel’ high-end and don’t just pack in a bunch of stuff to justify a higher price tag. The PX7 S2e definitely has the high-end look and feel to match its price, which is something I missed in my Sony XM5’s, which I found to be rather plain-looking. The different materials all blend seamlessly into each other and have a soft touch throughout. The buttons and switches are easy to press, but a little challenging to find by feel. The adjustable headband extends to fit my head and the leather cushion and ear cups don’t get uncomfortable even after hours of continuous wear. The Ocean Blue color also looks great and is suitably classy. It comes in a nice color-matched case with a cream colored interior. There’s a magnetic flap that holds both cables. Unfortunately the PX7 S2e’s don’t fold to make them more compact, so if that is valuable to you you may need to look elsewhere. They take up about the same amount of space as my Sony XM5’s in my bag, maybe a little bit less. The PX7 S2e supports sound via Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX Adaptive (no AptX Lossles unfortunately) and wired sound via the USB-C connection via either a direct USB connection or using the included USB-C to 3.5mm cable. They sound fantastic no matter which interface I use. It carries through a ton of detail in music, video, and gaming. No one particular part of the sound overwhelms or underwhelms and they sound very balanced and full. I will say that using them via USB-C on my Pixel 8 Pro they were rather quiet, but that was not an issue on any other device I used. There’s no mention of spatial audio or head tracking with the PX7 S2e, but I’ve yet to have an experience with other headphones I’ve worn that makes me miss that here. The noise canceling on the PX7 S2e is very good, but not quite as good as my Sony XM5’s, which is just fine with me. It easily drowns out most annoying sounds like loud fans without any problems and even if the ANC isn’t quite as good as my Sony’s I still would go anywhere I’d with them with the PX7’s no problem. The transparency mode is also good and while it doesn’t sound completely natural (there’s a bit of an airy background noise that comes through), it was very easy for me to carry on a natural conversation while wearing them. The noise canceling is not automatic or adaptive like it is on other headphones, but I found this feature to be finicky at best with them, so I’m fine with it not being here. Noise canceling and transparency mode can be cycled through using the Quick Action button on the left earcup, or they can be turned off completely. The microphone quality is excellent and not what I was expecting. In my experience the microphone/call quality is usually an afterthought even on the highest end headphones. The people I spoke to could not even tell that I was using a Bluetooth microphone instead of the normal microphone. The battery life is rated at 30 hours and while I haven’t come anywhere close to running these down just yet due to my combination of wireless and wired USB-C usage, that estimate seems to be holding up in the limited battery drain I have seen so far. The app is somewhat barebones, but it’s easy to use and it doesn’t get in the way with unnecessary notifications. It offers some basic bass/treble adjustment (no full EQ) and lets you change the Quick Action button to trigger the voice assistant instead of triggering ANC/Transparency/Off. It also allows you to turn wear detection on or off. For me it was off by default. I played with having it on for a while, but ended up turning it back off since it didn’t trigger reliably for me or muted the headphones at inconvenient times. This hasn’t been a strong area for any of the previous Bowers and Wilkins headphones and earbuds I’ve used either. Overall I’m really happy with the PX7 S2e’s. They get all the things that are important to me right and they mostly leave out the fluff. If you’re shopping in this price range and want something that’s truly premium I don’t think you need to look much further.

Attempting to explain what these headphones are like is akin to trying to explain the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies to someone who has never smelled them before. You must personally experience these headphones to understand what a literal sensual experience they are! Bowers and Wilkens have managed to deliver a set of headphones here that comes in at a lower price than some of the giants like Apple Airpods Max and deliver sound, comfort, noise cancellation, and battery life that are all parallel if not surpassing some of the higher-priced wireless headphones out there. The sound out of these headphones out of the box is incredible and surprisingly neutral in audio balance in comparison to the many headsets out there that attempt to drown out glaring audio imperfections by over-emphasizing bass tones. I did bump up the bass in the app a bit and was impressed by the thumping, visceral tones the drivers in this headset elicited. I tested Bass Head from Bassnectar and was astonished during some of the deeper bass drops that all the tones came through and even reverberated as they would with external audio equipment. If I wasn’t aware of these headphones on my head, I would have thought I was back in my high school car with dual 12” subwoofers enclosed in a ported enclosure in the trunk! The rest of the audio balance is incredible too. The driving rhythm track in the mid-range towards the beginning of Empress of the Damned by Gunship comes through in such a manner that it feels like it is pulsating in my throat and my chest with the tonal qualities. Vocal and instrumental music comes through unexpectedly balanced and detailed as well. Rylynn by Andy McKee stuns with the detail of his acoustic guitar playing, and Sea Shanty Medley by Home Free was giving me chills along the sides of my neck with the separation and detail of each of the singer’s vocal ranges. Finally, the Sound of Silence (Cover) by Disturbed almost had me choked up with just how precisely David Draiman’s voice was projected by these Px7 S2e 40mm drive units. That is one of my favorite covers of all time and this is one of the first headsets I have used in memory that truly gives justice to that song’s range and fullness. Altogether, I think this is a headset with audio characteristics that will satisfy all but the pickiest consumer and prosumer audiophiles. The looks and beauty of these headphones cannot be understated. This Ocean Blue set is positively sublime to visually experience in person. I am a fellow who conforms more towards matte black and white colored personal electronic devices, but these are a departure from that and manage to draw attention and praise to the looks while also not leaning too far in the direction of either feminine or masculine (for those that care about such things). Every texture, piece of plastic, and component of this headset feels and looks high quality, even down to the clickiness and perfect separation of the thoughtfully implemented and positioned physical buttons. They even added texture to the middle, multi-function button (pause, play, etc.) on the right ear cup so it is easy to get anchored at where your finger is at on the buttons. These buttons are big enough too that I think you could find and press them with ease even while wearing gloves! That is a nice benefit for us cold-weather commuters. I also find the position of the buttons to be somehow intuitive. Every time I bring my right index finger up to the rear of the headset, I am somehow getting to the right button I want every time. Real thought was put into the ergonomics design of this headset! If you are interested in wearing these headphones for daily commutes on public transportation or for study or work in noisy environments, you are in luck. The noise cancellation is, in my opinion, best in class in this price range. The earcups are comfortable, conforming, and manage to create a perfect seal around my ears which is a big component of the noise cancellation equation, plus the four ANC microphones (6 mics total including the 2 mics for communication) on this headset seem to be outstanding at keeping the outside low, mid, and high tones out of your audio experience. I am certain I could be consoling a crying baby in my arms while wearing these headphones and manage to cut out most all of that noise signature. When I compare these to my AirPods Pro 2 earbuds, which are best in class for earbud noise canceling, these headphones come out ahead in that metric. The ambient Pass-Through is also commendable and helpful for phone calls and safety during risky commute portions such as crossing busy intersections. My sensitive ears can detect a just barely audible amount of hiss from the mic pass-through, but it is hardly noticeable unless I am actively listening for it. Another piece of praise is that the battery and charge time on this headset are just insane to me. You can get SEVEN HOURS with just a FIFTEEN MINUTE charge! I will say it again: 7 hours of battery life, with a 15-minute charge! That means that even in the worst of circumstances where you forgot to charge your headset for days of use and it is dead in the morning before your morning commute, just plug these into a USB-C power source for a few minutes before you leave, and you will be able to get through a chunk of the day with just that quick charge! The case is a welcome and handsome accessory and the clever little storage spot inside of it for the USB-C charging and 3.5mm audio cables is also quite clever. I might even store a couple of SD cards in there for when I am on the go editing content! The headset itself is built so comfortably that it is obvious that the geniuses at Bowers and Wilkens aren’t just a bunch of audiophiles or audio engineers but are people who actually know what it is like to wear headphones for more than a few hours straight. It can be pure misery. These headphones I am happy to report have caused me zero discomfort at all over more than 8 hours straight of wearing them with minimal interruptions between over days of use. The earcups have kept my ears remarkably cool and the earcups, to my surprise, do not press the temples of my blue light glasses into my face like some other headphones models do. The ear cups instead seem inclined to just comfortably mold around them! So, glasses wearers, rejoice! These are darn comfortable for all except perhaps the most obstinately thick and square-framed glasses out there! Some final points I want to touch on before wrapping this review up are the wireless and app connectivity features of this headset that are highly convenient and worthy of a headset at this price range. The app is not just a gimmick as with some audio companies’ apps. The B&W music app has utility in customizing buttons on this headset, adding music into the app itself for streamlined audio control, turning on and off features like wear sensor (pauses music when you move the headphones off your ears), and most conveniently, set up of multiple Bluetooth connections and how you want to prioritize them. I use both my iPhone and my MacBook Pro alternatively all day for school and work and I thought I was going to be stuck using only Apple Ecosystem products for that unbeatable quick handoff and instant connection experience the chips inside them provide. But here, my friends, is a good competitor! I have both my MBP and my iPhone set up in the connections of this app and now it will seamlessly switch between the two depending on which is playing audio. An example is that I will be listening to a lecture on my laptop, get a phone call on the iPhone, pick it up, and I am hearing and talking through the speakers and mics of this headset! That is just perfect for my needs. The only aspect of it that feels a little sloppy is that my interminable fixation with using the Spotify Connect features makes swapping back and forth a little bit of a hassle sometimes since the headset and Spotify Connect feature get things mixed up on which device I want to listen from versus control from. The only small detractor I can give to this headset is that there is no IP rating that I can find regarding their dustproof and waterproof abilities, so I do not feel confident recommending them for very sweaty use or outdoor inclement weather use when not covered. Music can be more than just an audio experience. It can be something that transports you out of wherever you are to different times, places, feelings, and more. These B&W Px7 S2e’s are headphones that are capable of doing that for you. Thanks for reading this review and I hope it encourages you to make the purchase I think you are probably already leaning towards making if you have read reviews this long, haha!