Customer Ratings & Reviews

The PX8 S2 is an excellent headphone with terrific build and materials and very refined audio that is not too far from B&W's house sound for their high end home tower speakers. So you will get clarity and tighter bass. You definitely need to look elsewhere if you are a basshead. These headphones work very well with many genres of music including jazz, pop, opera and EDM. They may not work as well with rap which has significant sub bass. They support many many audio codecs and I use them with the Sennheiser BTD 700 Bluetooth dongle via aptX Lossless for the best possible audio quality. The 2nd generation carbon drivers are an upgrade to the original Px8 headphones and lead to sound that is more similar to "planar" headphones from the likes of Hifiman that sound fast and precise but sacrifice a small amount of bass as a result. All in all, these are great headphones with impressive build, sound and decent battery life. Buy them if you care about those things and if you can swing the high MSRP. These will last you many years and will bring you plenty of audio bliss.

These headphones are as great as all the reviews I read prior to purchase. The noise cancellation is not as robust as my Sony headphones but the sound is sooo much better. I use them with a Questyle QCC dongle which I believe makes them even better when listening wirelessly. Listening while using the USB-C cable and lossless music is even better. If you love listening to music, you need to get these headphones. They are also very comfortable to wear and they are very well made- no plastic.

Sound quality is excellent, connection with multiple devices works great, the Bluetooth/wired experiences are both stellar. Bought it to "settle" for a pair of really good headphones since I live in an apartment and can't really do a home theater -- these don't make it seem like I'm doing much "settling". Excellent sound quality out of the box and the app (only used for initial setup, didn't use while testing/normal use) makes it easy enough to configure/update the firmware.

[Employee of bestbuy] Incredible headphones, ANC is not as good as XM6 and Airpods Max however they do sound and feel much more premium.

These sound incredible. And the build quality can’t be beat. I switched from AirPod max, and have zero regrets.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is a premium wireless headphone that excels in sound quality with its detailed, spacious audio and aptX Lossless support. It features a more comfortable and refined design than the original, along with improved active noise cancellation (ANC) and clear call quality thanks to an eight-microphone array. The headphones also offer a longer battery life and a more versatile five-band EQ in the companion app, making them a top-tier choice for those prioritizing high-fidelity sound and luxury

Quality!!! Can’t go with B&W. Highly recommended! Premium materials! Amazing sound

Very great sound quality headphones. Tried other headphones but none sound as good as these.

Great sound! Best BT headset. Better and B&O H95!!

Good sound quality and decent noise cancellation. The build quality is above average for the price.

Worked as intended good design quality and sound quality noise canceling was good enough

The sound quality is amazing. Noise cancelling also does a very good job. These will be my go to for travel.

Excellence in all aspects. Premium build quality and materials. A nice balanced sound experience.

Amazing sound quality, premium material, leather and aluminum

My title more or less nails the main reason I am looking for headphones, but there is a lot more to the story. Bowers & Wilkins has done nearly everything very well here, with even the few areas I feel they “missed” being more of an issue of them not being “the best” with something. The build is fantastic and in some ways unlike most in the market. Premium materials done well. Across the board. Solid. No creaks, clicks, or random noises. A great weight that feels right. (they travel well with the padded carry case) They really just feel good in the hand. For me, all of this was coupled with comfort. I have found them great to wear, even for long periods of time. The clamping pressure is about right, and the cups fit my ears very well. I know this is a personal thing on some level, but I think most would be happy here. Comfort is somewhat of a dealbreaker for me. If they aren’t comfortable, I won’t wear them, so what is the point? As someone who is hit or miss with touch controls, I don’t really nick them for using physical buttons, but it is something to note. However, while I found the buttons responsive, well built, and mostly intuitive, I think the size and location could have been better. Not bad to use but could be better. As for looks? I think they look amazing. Sleek, clean, plain, and lots of matte black. I also like the hint of exposed wiring. Maybe a bit “boring” to some, but perfect for me. I have had and been fortunate to try quite a few pairs of cans over the years, but these Px8 S2s are easily the best sounding pair I have ever used. Everything is just clean. Clear. The lows, which are often a pain point, are markedly there while mids, highs, and vocals all excelled. Clean and warm, with size that filled. Noticeably so to me. I know people look for different things, as well as hear things differently, but these things just sound exceptional and I have to think most would feel the same. Beyond that, while I do feel their ANC is good, as well as probably good enough for many, it still is probably a tick behind others in the space. Same with their transparency mode. Personally, I understand it is bit of a trade off between these things and sound quality, and I not only prefer the better sound, but think the ANC is “good” and “good enough” for me. Something to note though. Call quality is good and about what you would expect here. Everything is clear and detailed, and feels “real,” if that makes sense. A bit of outside noise may come through, but overall, I am happy. That said this is not a main use case for me. Connectivity has been a non-issue for me. Quick, easy, rock solid. The app is fairly simple, yet easy to use, and offers some control over the headphones as well as sound. The offerings here are a bit paired down compared to others in the space. Again, just to note. Battery life is good so far, as expected and rated, and the quick charge offers a nice chunk of time in a short amount of time (15 minutes for 7 hours). I don’t expect any battery anxiety issues. Ultimately, I think these are fantastic headphones. They may not be “best” in an area or two, but they are still good there, they look great, are very well built, and have perhaps the best sound quality you will find. They offer a differentiated experience and are now my favorite set of cans.

I have played several genres of music and they all sound great. Amazing headphones.

I'm no audiophile but a can say the sound quality is simply amazing. I'm sold on Bowers and Wilkins audio. I started with a set of bookshelf speakers and added a pair of earbuds. Now these are added to my audio arsenal. Connectivity can happen one of 3 ways... via cable (either USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to stereo) or by Bluetooth. Of course Bluetooth offers the greatest flexibility and it allows the use of the Android or IOS app. With the app you gain an equalizer and easy toggle from pass-through ambient sound or active noise cancelling. The aptXLossless Bluetooth's advanced codec ensures a crystal clear listening experience. There are 4 mics in each of the earcups allowing the Px8 S2's for calls (Zoom, Teams, phone, etc) or even gaming. This is a huge plus for me. Besides controls in the app and any streaming or media players you can also do most of the controls on the earcups. Play/Pause, forward/back, mute are within easy reach, now if I could only remember what does what. Muscle memory will come in time. As far as comfort goes, I wear a 7 5/8 hat so my noggin is on the large side which does occasionally cause comfort issues with not only hats and caps but also headphones. Such is the case with the Bowers and Wilkins. I have to slide the earcups completely out and the top rounded top bar padding applies pressure to the top of my head. These by far are the heaviest headphones I own. Additionally there seems to be an almost uncomfortable pressure on my head from the maxed out adjustments. The earpads have soft padding with a supple vegan leather cover however I do prefer a fabric cover but usually not provided on higher end headphones. You can see quality components that create an elegant style. I ended up with Onyx black and chrome but you can opt for the Warm Stone and chrome instead. They advertise battery life to be 30 hours on a charge and I'll never push to the end as I typically charge my devices every other day. In the box these come with a nice hard case with an audio to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-C cable. I truly love these headphones. I've got several brands of cheap to medium to just less than high end headphones and most likely these will become my dailys with possible exception of when I listen to my receiver and turntable but not saying these wouldn't do great but I really like my the set I currently use.

As a music lover, it can be perhaps challenging rather frustrating even, to explain why lossless music quality is of the utmost importance, both from a listening standpoint and for historical preservation purposes. If I am listening to music, its quality needs to be exactly how it was recorded. Thus, twelve years ago I decided to completely take it upon myself to rebuild my entire music collection from physical copies in lossless quality. As such, I was extremely excited to test out the highly anticipated Bowers and Wilkins Px8 S2 reference model to see how they sound! Physically, the Px8 S2 craftsmanship is quite exquisite to see in person; they are much smaller and lighter than I expected, which is certainly a positive. As far as comfort goes, these are easily the most comfortable headphones that I have used. While my head could be considered on the larger side, I was able to adjust them accordingly so that the headphones fit comfortably around my head, yet snug enough that they did not slip around. Connectively, I did not experience any discomfort over my ears nor listening fatigue, even after a couple of hours. Lastly, the Px8 S2 package remains unchanged from the previous Px8; included there is a carrying case, a USB Type C cable, and a USB Type-C to 3.5mm. For setup, the Px8 S2 should be a familiar and straightforward process as it is verbatim of every other brand of headphones. Despite forced account creation and location services, the Bowers and Wilkins app does at least offer some basic control. However, on my first initial pairing attempt, I had some difficulty proceeding past the setup confirmation screen as several attempts to toggle the power button up did not register the Px8 S2. Accordingly, I had to completely start over by removing the Px8 S2 from my phone, then after re-enabling location services, proceeded to pair again by toggling the button up and down repeatedly within the application. Eventually, I noticed three loading dots on my screen and was able to complete setup. Afterwards, I had to then manually pair the headphones again with my phone before I was ready to go. While this may be an isolated issue, this was at least worth mentioning in case you have an issue. As for call quality, one of the upgraded features of the Px8 S2 over its predecessor is the inclusion of two additional microphones for a total of eight (up from the previous six). As a result, and coupled with the ADI Pure Voice algorithm, there should be a noticeable improvement. Unfortunately, while I do not own the original Px8 for a direct comparison, I was able to at least make a couple of observations based on three phone calls I made during initial testing. First and foremost, the user on the phone with me commented that I sounded loud and clear, nor was I drowned out by any external noise. While switching between noise cancelling and pass-through modes, the user on the phone call could not discern a perceivable difference. However, once I stood next to my TV while playing a loud movie, the user noticed a substantial difference between noise cancelling and pass-through mode; my voice became much louder and restricted as to what I assume was the aforementioned Pure Voice algorithm working as intended. For noise cancelling, I wanted to see how the Px8 S2 performed in a noisy environment; starting first by standing near my TV during movie playback. While typical volume level of the TV is anywhere from 12-15, depending on source, the Px8 performed quite exceptionally within this range; any dialogue or background music was effectively silent throughout. However, I then cranked the TV to 30 and played the loudest scene I could find. With my Px8 S2 set at 50% volume, there were sections where I began to hear some leakage into my headphones, though I was still quite impressed as it was still minimally invasive and I could not discern what was being said. Naturally, once I switched to more dynamically mastered tracks such as classical, did the external noise become much more apparent. As expected, depending on the type of music you are listening to will certainly alter the effectiveness of the ANC. With that said, I feel the Px8 has enough noise cancellation performance at normal volume; pressure change was noticeable between ANC and pass-through mode and most of the noise was filtered out, though I suppose if you are expecting literally no sound to seep through even at the lowest volume level, you should probably tamper your expectations. Before moving onto sound quality, I first wanted to clarify some preliminary technical aspects of the Px8 S2; most notably, its Bluetooth codec situation. The good news is that the upgraded Px8 S2 covers a wide range of codecs; undoubtedly, the utmost important one being APTX Lossless support. In addition, the rest of the common codecs such as APTX Adaptive, APTX HD, APTX Classic, AAC, and SBC are covered as well. As I noted last year with the Pi8’s, your device will be the sole determining factor with regards to what codec the Px8 S2 will use. Unfortunately, my Sony Xperia 5 III phone is capped to the APTX Adaptive codec so my connection is limited between 276 kbps to 420 kbps depending on the surrounding environment. Fortunately, Px8 S2 can also be used via a wired USB Type-C connection or by using the USB Type-C to 3.5mm so at least you are not forcibly hindered by wireless transmission should you choose to do so. Lastly, all of the music listened to have been physically sourced from my CD collection. My library consists of 4,282 songs and were ripped by EAC 1.6 using the secure rip feature and are encoded to FLAC 1.4.3. Additionally, each song has been personally scanned through a spectrogram (Spek 0.8.5) to make sure it is of proper lossless quality. Lastly, the EQ was left on the True Sound setting. As an audiophile, I suppose it is rather cliché to say less is more, even extravagantly more, yet it still feels like describing these headphones in this way somehow undercuts the very nature of their exquisite sound; in essence, my initial impression is that these are the best headphones that I have personally used. In general, I don’t think I have heard sound this restrained, clear, and concise; yet it still has this fullness to it that is hard to accurately describe. Every genre, and especially those that are dynamically intact such as Jazz, classical or movie soundtracks, have a richness to it that only elevates the Px8 S2. Furthermore, I have heard things I previously wasn’t aware of; even extremely compressed metal and rock genres had their muddy bloated sound pulled back and stripped so that you can really hear the middle and upper frequencies. As for the low end, the Px8 S2 is quite restrained in that regard; while the low end is there and noticeable, it does not take precedence over the other frequencies. Take into consideration the track “Caught Up in the Rapture” by Anita Baker. From 2:20-2:40, the tapping percussion can be clearly heard on top of the bass guitar; chimes are rendered perfectly right top of the middle frequencies. The acoustic guitar at 4:20 is clear and much more pronounced than my other headphones. On Lisa Loeb’s “Stay”, the instrumental separation is quite shocking; at 1:22, vocals are nice and centered over the bass line, while you can distinctly hear the picking chime of the guitar in back left ear cup. Another good song that has to be mention is “Yesterday’s Gone” by Straight Line Stich. At 1:50, you literally can hear two separate guitar lines in each ear cup with insane clarity. Vocals are perfectly placed as if they were in front of me once they resume. Switching to more bass oriented tracks, Fat Jon’s “Risk It All,” there is a percussion click that begins at 0:30 and remains perfectly audible even when the bass line rumbles in at 0:43. Additionally, you can clearly hear the up and down shifts of the low frequency. On “624, Part 2,” at 0:20 all three layers are blended together perfectly, yet you could still isolate each portion. Lastly, “The Space Between Two World” by Nujabes is literally sonic perfection; the tapping middles, coupled with the bass notches over the main guitar line should heard by everyone! Next, switching to Soundtracks, one of my favorite movies, Kingdom of Heaven (2005), has a fairly wide ranging sound, blending both and western and eastern pieces seamlessly. On “Sibylla,” the clarity of the harps at 0:12, followed by the choir at 0:50, is just amazing. Additionally, there is a nice low end rumble at 1:00 that just speaks to how wide the soundstage is on the Px8 S2. Connectively, “The Battle of Kerek,” has a nice crescendo using some vocal harmonizing as it increases in sheer volume along with the rest of the orchestra. Lastly, I wanted to at least give some perspective on what battery life was observed during my testing. For my first listening session, after fully charged, I was able to achieve a 10 percent drain after about 2 hours and 20 minutes. During this duration, I toggled between noise cancelling and pass-through modes. On my second listening session two days later (79% battery), with noise cancelling off, I was able to squeeze 3 hours out of an 11% drain; after four continuous hours of playback, the total battery drain was a mere 15%. In conclusion, the Px8 S2 provides an exceptional audio experience while combining comfort, elegance, strong noise cancelling performance, and excellent call quality. In addition, it supports a wide range of wireless codecs and can also be used in a wired connection. As for sound, the Px8 S2 is a reference model for a reason; the 40mm carbon cones are just an absolute treat to listen to and I have no doubt others will be please as well. While the value proposition is certainly debatable, for those who care about music and lossless quality, the Px8 S2 accomplishes exactly what it was intended to do. With that said, the Px8 S2 comes highly recommended.

Since receiving my B&W PX8 S2’s, I have had several unique opportunities to truly test these headphones. I have been on 6 different flights across the US, and have even gamed with them on my PC. Usability: When it comes to ANC travel headphones like the PX8 S2’s, the usability is arguably more important than how they sound. Most travelers want good sound, but more importantly, they want headphones that make travelling more enjoyable. This starts with the case. This is one of my only complaints about these headphones. The case could certainly be more compact. I think they were forced to make a larger case due to the lack of the headphones being able to fold. However, that also makes them feel extremely sturdy and premium, more on that in a moment. The size of the case just makes bringing them in a small or already tight bag a bit more challenging. The button setup is excellent. B&W did not jump on the touch/swipe functions you see on so many headphones nowadays. I really respect them for this, it gives the headset a unique functionality and once you get used to the buttons they are extremely easy to use. The adjustability is pretty much what you’d expect. However, the premium feel of the adjustability is a notch above what I’ve seen in other headphones. The sliding function is so smooth and stiff that it provides very nice usability when making adjustments to the headband. Comfort: This is subjective as everyone's head is different. What I can tell you is that these headphones are snug. That could be a good thing, or a bad thing depending on your head. For me, they are on the tighter side, but I would consider my head being on the larger side. The nice thing about the snug feel is that these headphones feel extremely secure. I can be moving around, leaning over… they aren’t going to fall off my head. The ear pads are definitely plush, but also firm enough to not feel like they will be too soft in a few years. These are the kind of headphones that have room to “break in”. I could see after heavy use, these will still feel extremely solid, and possibly even better than they did day one. The room inside the ear cups is also very nice and I never felt cramped or ear soreness like I have in some headphones. Sound Quality: Listen, any B&W headphones are going to sound incredible. These being a part of their high end line, they are no different. I listened to some HiFi lossless audio to really get a feel for them and oh my word. These things are so far ahead of your typical middle of the pack headphones. Even with something like Spotify or YouTube there is a clear discernible difference. I can crank the volume up in the airport and there is zero loss of quality. I have even tried them for gaming when my dedicated gaming headset was dead and these 100% work. I have tried other ANC non gaming headphones for gaming before and had no luck. Either the audio was tiny, or I could do voice chat and audio at the same time. For whatever reason, these work. I can hear directional audio, and the clarity is amazing. I wouldn't recommend buying them FOR gaming, but if you are wondering if they can be part time gaming headphones? Yes, they can be. Finally, the ANC is very high end. It’s not the best in class, but honestly we are splitting hairs about ANC for the top brands/models at this point. 99% of people who buy these headphones will never complain or notice a difference in performance because it's so minimal. These are still top tier performers in ANC technology, and should be viewed that way.

These are luxurious headphones. The headphones are one of the more sleek looking electronics I have seen in a while. The over-ear headpieces are markedly slim compared to similar types of headphones. The design is clean. The quality lives up to the claim of being a statement. The headphones come in a durable, fabric case - which I have always been a fan of the Bowers & Wilkins cases. Inside the case are the headphones and a closable compartment with USB-C to USB-C cable and also a USB-C to headphone jack (which I appreciate having, will likely never use but just appreciate that they recognize not everything is Bluetooth). Set up is simple, just a flick up of the power/Bluetooth button. Bluetooth was quick to be recognized by both my phone and computer without delay. The B&W app quickly recognized the Px8 S2s - which enables some preferences to be set, which ended up being important to my use. When turning on the headphones, even without music, there is noise cancelling and it was instantaneously peaceful. Could not hear the white noise maker through the kiddos monitor immediately - oh no! But the baseline general noise cancelling is very solid - once music is going at 25% I can not even hear my obnoxiously loud mechanical keyboard 2' away from my ears. The sound quality is beautiful - this is often something difficult for myself to articulate and I am at a loss for words. I feel that music is more crisp with discernable depth. Sound appears to come from all directions in an immersive experience. I feel I could tune the instruments with the level of clarity. Battery life lives up to the claim and even if wearing for multiple hours remain comfortable. The app enhances the experience, having the ability to log into certain services (not either of the two I use though). You can toggle noise cancellation versus pass-through versus off. Pass-through is a nice medium. There is the ability to adjust EQ. The other important aspect is wear sensor, which will stop/pause music if you remove the headphones. I had to turn this to low for myself - it was stopping when I moved my head and sneezed while set to normal. Ultimately, a beautifully crafted set of headphones.