Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have owned and reviewed multiple different "high end" brands/models of over-the-ear noise cancelling headphones with a focus on the out-of-the-box experience, tweaking the sound, noise cancelling ability, comfort/fit, battery life and app features. In each case, I focus on listening to music, specifically a mix of grunge, metal, modern indie/alternative, old school rap/hip hop, pop/club, 80s college alt, and classic rock. The short version of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7S3 is that these are premium, comfortable over-the-ear noise cancelling headphones. :-) Nothing stands out as spectacular or better than other brands/models aside from COMFORT. These "cans" feel just a bit more comfortable and lighter than others on my head. I do not know that they necessarily are or are not, but they fit my dome very comfortably and are a joy to wear for hours. SOUND QUALITY: Out of the box, "True Sound" (the EQ set flat) sounds good across all the genres I listen to. Obviously certain genres can benefit from a bass or even treble boost, but if you skip the app and just use the headphones "flat," you'll still have a quality listening experience. I tend to "V" my EQ pushing the bass and treble high, leaving the mids relatively flat. *NOISE CANCELLING: Honestly, I have had better noise cancelling. While not scientific, I use my riding mower to judge noise cancelling. Upon first use, I was surprised that I was still hearing mower noise when compared to my $ony noise cancelling cans. To prove it wasn't all in my head, I pulled out my s0ny cans, kept the music and mowing the same, and would guestimate the sohneez cut about 10% more noise. Not a huge difference, but noticeable given the B&W cans are new to me and I wore the others almost daily. The real test for me will be my next airplane ride. I have seen mixed reviews from users who took these cans on airplanes. I hope to make these my travel cans because of their comfortability and battery life, but if they don't cancel as well as my others, the B&Ws may become my "office" headphones. APP: The app is just "meh" but does offer an EQ and options to switch from Noise Cancelling to Pass Thru to Off via your phone...but you can also turn the noise cancelling off via a switch on the left cup. The app also lets you set up voice assistance (i.e. "Hey Google"). If apps aren't your thing, you don't need it to pair with your devices. Honestly, the EQ is probably the primary reason to install the app (which does require you to create and register a free account with B&W). COMFORT/BUILD QUALITY: As mentioned, I find these cans very comfortable...and, while my ears still sweat in hot environments (i.e. lawn mowing in the middle of summer), I sweat less in these than others. The top band is well padded and the overall fit looks smaller on my bald head than some other high-end models. My big ears fit in the cups well. I wish, however, that B&W used touch technology on the cups instead of buttons and switches. I fumble a bit for the very small buttons and forget what controls are on which ear cup. Plus, they put the buttons/switches on a very narrow bevel next to a wider, textured part of the cup so I am constantly fumbling to find the controls. They appear to be 100% plastic, which has me a bit concerned. Nonetheless, they feel sturdy. The included hardcase for headphone storage is very nice. Much better than nothing or a drawstring bag. CALL QUALITY: I have taken several calls with these cans and both I and the other end of the call have been happy with the quality and volume. BATTERY: I have to take them at their word for 30 hours as I have not had a chance to run them that long...nor the desire to. That being said, like any quality, modern, battery operated product, they do charge pretty quickly via a USB-C cable (included) but you will need your own power source to juice them (i.e. your phone charger). B&W claims 7hrs of charge in 15 minutes which gets most of us through the day. OTHER PROS: I kind of like the "weird blue" color; very easy to pair out of the box with my Pixel 9 phone; relatively "slim" for over-the-ear ANC cans; automatically pauses music when you take a cup off your ear--then automatically restarts when you put it back on. OTHER CONS: Aside from the ANC being average, the plastic (but sturdy and lighter weight) build, having to "sign up" for an app that I don't feel I need, and the tiny manual controls, I EXPERIENCED DROPOUTS between my phone and the headphones multiple times while mowing the lawn. As best I can tell, it seems to have coincided with alerts from my phone (security cameras noting a person seen in yard, new text message, garage door just opened, etc.) and the drops would come about 20-30 seconds AFTER my phone "dinged" for the notification. The phone was in my pocket the whole time, just as it would be when using my $ony, $ennheiser, or B&O ANC cans. No aux port either. I would 100% recommend these if the following are your primary concerns: Out-of-the box audio quality and balance (i.e. no EQ tweaking); ANC in office/cafe or other "mild noise" environments; battery; comfort and fit. I feel less confident about their performance in higher noise environments and again, find the tiny on-cup controls problematic. I am hoping the "dropouts" 30 seconds after a phone notification are an anomaly that either "fixes itself" or is addressed as part of a firmware update. Because I am not overly impressed by the ANC and the controls...and because I have had some dropouts I don't experience with other ANC over-the-ear headphones...I give these only 3 stars. If I was rating audio quality/performance/satisfaction by itself: 4.5 stars

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 elevates over-ear headphone performance with remarkably refined sound quality, thanks to its dual 40 mm full-range bio-cellulose drivers and high-performance DSP, amplifier, and DAC setup. With support for aptX™ Lossless, aptX™ Adaptive, aptX™ HD, AAC, and SBC codecs over Bluetooth 5.3, it delivers dynamic, studio-grade audio wirelessly. Its premium noise-cancellation system—boasting eight microphones and adaptive tuning—effectively silences ambient distractions, while the crystal-clear call performance powered by ADI Pure Voice technology ensures sharp communication in any setting. Comfort hasn’t been compromised: slimmer earcups and a refined headband design bring extended usability into focus, further enriched by a sleek, ergonomically tested silhouette. The intuitive Bowers & Wilkins Music app grants control over five-band EQ adjustments, TrueSound™ mode, and noise-cancellation preferences, seamlessly blending tech with user-centric functionality. At around 30 hours of playback and rapid charging (7 hours from just a 15-minute charge), it suits modern on-the-go lifestyles. The current reviews and compliments are widely obvious when you google search these headphones vs other top dollar premium brands. Also, on top of all the praise, I would give these a double thumbs up for overall comfort when using them. They fit snug without too much pressure and the comfortable foam utilized in the construction feels like pillows. The tech included in the noise canceling functionality is top notch and that goes both ways, even almost full volume nothing escapes and nobody would know how loud you are jamming to tunes. The Px7 S3 has garnered top-tier acclaim from leading review outlets: What Hi-Fi? hailed it as “Beautiful headphones that make a stunning sound,” while Tom’s Guide (2025) declared they are “the best sounding headphones for the price.” TechRadar (2025) praised its “impeccable” build and “significant pride of ownership.” Most notably, it clinched T3’s “Best Headphones 2025” award—highlighting its excellence in design, performance, and overall value. Highly recommend downloading the mobile app to maximize the functionality of these headphones. *One minor gripe is I already have a B&W app for a prior generation headphone that will need to be maintained in parallel. Both headphone generations won’t use the same app. Carry case is also extremely high quality. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 asserts itself as a real upgrade over the PX5—delivering razor-sharp detail, an authoritative midrange, and bass that’s both potent and nuanced. What Hi-Fi’s 5-star acclaim reflects the refined sonic control and wider, more immersive soundstage compared to the PX5’s somewhat boxed and punchy presentation, which earned 4 stars for bringing energy but little finesse. Meanwhile, I also own the JBL Live 675NC headphones and how I would compare these is the JBL present a more budget-conscious alternative—lightweight, travel-friendly, with bold bass and up to 30 hours of playback. It offers decent ANC and solid call clarity, but its plastic build, lack of immersive soundstage, and absence of high-fidelity Bluetooth codecs make it clear that the PX7 S3 is in another league for sound accuracy, noise reduction, and premium craftsmanship. If your goal is richly musical, noise-free listening with top-tier accuracy and design, the PX7 S3 takes the trophy—while the PX5 while a few years old and still available in secondary markets still delivers good warmth and energy, and the JBL lives up to comfort and portability at a more modest audio promise. These headphones simply ROCK!

PROs: First, I’d like to say that the Bowers & Wilkins Px7S3 has a very soft sound. I don’t know how else to describe it. They are about the best headphones I’ve ever heard. Also, there are no exposed wires on these headphones. The Bowers and Wilkins engineers have managed to hide them very well. The Px7S3 has minimal controls on the headphones themselves. There are the standard volume Up and Down buttons. There is a Pause, Play, and Call button. And there is a Quick Action button which allows you to adjust the level of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to suit your environment and the button also doubles as a voice assistant. Of course there is the On, Off, and Bluetooth connection button. There is an awesome and unadvertised feature and maybe it exists on other headphones, but I’ve never seen it before. When you are wearing the headphones and listening to music, if you lift an ear cushion, even just a little bit, to partake in a conversation or for any reason, the headphones sense you lifting the ear cushion up off your ear and will pause the music. To me that’s simply an incredible feature. I found the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Wireless Headphones to have a wonderful sound in addition to an extremely powerful Active Noise Cancellation. But I wouldn’t wear these ANC headphones out in the public sector where you might be vulnerable to motorized traffic. They really do an exceptional job of canceling the environment around you. The Px7S3 headphones come in a very nice, zippered, protective hard case for storing and transporting the headphones. Very nice is an understatement because in my opinion this case is premium. The headphones are very comfortable to wear for long periods of listening. This is a very important feature to me because I will sometimes wear headphones for six or eight hours while I work in my home office. CON: This is the only negative I found, and it does not affect the quality of the headphones themselves. I did not downgrade a ratings star for this. I found the Bowers & Wilkins Music App to be very limited and frustrating to use. The word confounded comes to mind. For instance, the app would lock up and not resume playing a paused song streamed from Amazon Music. In order to resume a paused song, I would have to close the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, kill the Bluetooth connection on my Galaxy S22, restore the Bluetooth connection, and restart the app. Very frustrating! I eventually just streamed the music to the headphones straight from YouTube or Amazon Music and bypassed the app completely. I am sure the Bowers and Wilkins software engineers will be improving this app in the future, but right now it’s left wanting. Fortunately, you don’t need it to stream your music. SUMMARY: Overall, if you're in the market for a pair of premium headphones, don’t let the price scare you away, because they are worth the money. If you're looking for strong active noise cancellation these headphones are better than all the other ANC headphones I own. I can fully recommend these Bowers & Wilkins Px7S3 Wireless Headphones, and I truly believe you’ll enjoy them as much as I do.

When it comes to headphones, three key factors usually stand out: comfort, sound quality, and noise cancellation. The Px7S3s’ excel in all of these areas, making them a top contender for anyone seeking both high performance and long-term comfort. Comfort (9/10) The ear cups are generously cushioned, and the adjustable headband fits snugly but not too tightly, ensuring a secure yet relaxed fit. After a few hours of continuous use, you’ll appreciate the lightweight design, which helps reduce fatigue. Whether you’re wearing them for a long flight or a day packed with virtual meetings, these headphones are designed to keep you comfortable throughout. Sound Quality (9.5/10) The sound quality of the Px7S3 delivers a rich, clear experience. The highs are crisp and superbly clear, the mids are comforting and well-defined, and the bass, while not overly pronounced, is deep and stated. Regardless of your music genre, the sound profile can give you everything, from classical to bass-heavy electronic tracks. The True Tone EQ setting is where I left them after playing with the EQ a bit within the B&W app. If you have a Hi-Res audio streaming service, the Px7S3s’ will shine brighter. Call Quality (9/10) Thanks to the built-in microphones and noise-canceling technology, your voice comes through. Even in moderately noisy environments, like a coffee shop or office, the person on the other end of the call will hear you with minimal background interference. Noise Cancellation (9.5/10) Whether you’re in a noisy cafe or on a crowded subway, these headphones do an excellent job of blocking out background noise. Powerful yet natural, and it doesn’t produce the ‘hissing’ noise that you can experience in some other headphones. You can enjoy your music, podcasts, or calls without the distraction of your surroundings. I have used them on a few flights already and they are marvelous even if seated over the wing doing battle with the engine noise. Final Thoughts
If you fancy yourself a new pair of headphones with a vast array of features and superior sound quality. The Px7S3 from Bower & Wilkins should be at the top of your list.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7S3 are designed to deliver high-fidelity audio. The frame is lightweight and the ear cup cushions are made out of memory foam for comfort. There is also memory foam on the headband where the top of your head meets the headphone band. I will say I have a larger sized head and I experienced discomfort at the top of my head within 2 hours of using the headphones. The overall build quality is premium. There are metal accents everywhere and the ear cups are fabric wrapped. The headband adjustment is smooth and the ear cups rotate smoothly to contour to your head. The sound that comes out of the PX7S3 is very good. The soundstage is more robust than my Sonys. In an office environment where I want sound quality the PX7S3 beats out my Sonys and Bose headphones by far. Where the PX7S3 didn’t do as well as my other noise cancelling headphones was in high noise areas such as near an airport or public transit. The PX7S3 seems to sacrifice noise cancelling in an effort to retain excellent sound reproduction which puts it in a weird position for me and is the reason why they are great for an office setting. As for travel on an airplane these would do just fine but I much prefer the superior noise cancelling of other headphones. Overall, the PX7S3 combine accurate sound, long battery life, effective ANC, and premium materials. However the ANC is not strong enough for a long flight on a plane for me and the discomfort at the top of the headband is too great for me to wear on a plane. To reiterate, the sound reproduction is excellent but it doesn’t make up for the shortfalls in comfort and noise cancellation.