If you happen to’re in search of proof that the Trump administration tariffs are hitting shopper electronics costs, look no additional than Bowers & Wilkins’ new flagship PX8 S2 noise-canceling headphones. The original version carried a listing value of $699 after they launched, however this second-gen mannequin comes out of the gate at $799. Is that an excessive amount of to pay? For most people, sure, however the PX8 S2 over-ear headphones are simply amongst my favourite. Not solely do they sound higher than the unique PX8 however each the headphones and carrying case have been slimmed down and the noise-canceling and voice-calling efficiency has been upgraded, making them a high premium wi-fi headphone choose for these with deep sufficient pockets to afford them.
Learn extra: Best noise-canceling headphones of 2025
Just a few months again, Bowers & Wilkins, now owned by Samsung, launched the PX7 S3 ($479), a brand new model of the step-down to the PX8. This PX8 S2 follows an analogous improve script to the PX7 S3, which was additionally trimmed down and obtained some efficiency enhancements whereas turning into just a little extra comfy to put on.
Up to date drivers and a brand new, uncovered cable
In reality, the the 2 fashions look very related and have virtually an identical specs and options, however the PX8 S2 has superior drivers and a few swankier design parts, together with a Napa leather-based end and new, uncovered cable that peeks out from the aluminum arm mechanism.
You will discover no creaky plastic or hinges on these headphones, and whereas they appear sturdily constructed, Bowers & Wilkins says that each ear cushions and headband are replaceable, so you possibly can lengthen the lifetime of the headphones, Nonetheless, a “educated service engineer” does have to put in the brand new ear cushions and headband. I type of want the ear cushions adhered magnetically and had been simply replaceable, like these of Apple’s AirPods Max.
The headphones fold flat however do not fold up.
Bowers & Wilkins says the PX8 S2 are the best-sounding headphones it is ever created. The earlier mannequin had 40mm Carbon Cone drive items (the PX7 S3 has 40mm bio-cellulose drivers), however Bowers & Wilkins says the PX8 S2’s drive items have “a comprehensively redesigned and improved chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet, and are rigorously angled to the listener’s ears to make sure a constant distance from each level throughout the floor of every driver to every ear, making certain higher imaging and stereo spaciousness.” They’re additionally powered by a devoted, discrete headphone amplifier that brings extra the “scale and power” to the sound.
I like how Bowers & Wilkins leveled up the PX7 S3, however even with its design and efficiency enhancements, its sound simply does not have fairly the wow issue of the PX8. Whether or not that sound high quality achieve is price an additional $320 is debatable, although.
With the PX8 you get an additional little bit of depth and richness to the sound, together with a tad extra readability and element. They’re clear, well-balanced headphones which have an expansive soundstage for closed-back headphones. The bass is managed and well-defined but packs loads of punch. And the mids, the place voices stay, appear pure and intimate. They’re neither too ahead nor recessed. That is a kind of headphones that makes you need to return and take heed to all of your favourite tracks in your music library since you really feel such as you’re listening to them in a complete new means.
The headphones haven’t got a 3.5mm headphone port, however they arrive with a USB-C to three.5mm cable that lets you plug them right into a headphone port, whether or not it is on a pc or inflight leisure system. In addition they help USB-C audio for high-resolution digital wired listening. The 2 included cables stow properly in a compartment within the headphone’s carrying case that has a door that magnetically clasps shut.
Of their carry case, which has additionally trimmed down and is extra compact.
I examined their noise-canceling on a aircraft
I used them on a aircraft journey from New York to San Francisco, carrying them for nearly 5 hours straight to take heed to music and watch motion pictures (the battery life is rated for as much as 30 hours at reasonable quantity ranges and a 15-minute cost will get you 7 hours of playback). I had the headphones paired to each an iPhone 16 Professional and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 (they help Bluetooth multipoint to pair with two gadgets concurrently).
Whereas their noise canceling is not fairly as much as the extent of what you get with with Sony’s WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, which may have their very own second-gen version releasing shortly, it is positively improved and is now fairly respectable, as is their pass-through mode, which Apple refers to as “transparency” and lets you hear the surface world. The noise-canceling has come a great distance from Bowers & Wilkins’ earlier ANC.
The ear cups and headband are replaceable however you possibly can’t change them your self.
The voice-calling efficiency has additionally improved, because it did with the PX7 S3. Like that mannequin, the PX8 S2 has eight microphones (4 in every ear cup) in comparison with six microphones within the authentic. All eight microphones are used for telephony. I nonetheless should do some further testing on this division however with the handful of calls I made, callers mentioned my voice sounded fairly clear and many of the background noise was filtered out.
I did some sound comparisons to Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones and the PX7 S3, however have not in contrast them but to some higher-end fashions that I ought to. The PX8 S2 supply extra refined sound than the XM6s and likewise a extra premium design, however the XM6s additionally sound glorious, have nice noise-canceling and voice-calling efficiency and are simply as comfy, if not barely extra so (they’re lighter). In addition they price round $350 much less.
Whereas the PX8 is not filled with options, Bowers & Wilkins says it should roll out a collection of firmware updates later this 12 months, the primary of which is able to embody help for spatial audio listening. Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast broadcast performance can be added later.
I’lll submit my full overview within the coming days, however suffice to say, my preliminary impressions are fairly constructive except for the excessive price ticket.
PX8 S2 key options
- Weight: 310 grams (10.9 ounces)
- Slimmer design than predecessor with barely extra comfy match
- Redesigned 40mm dynamic full-range carbon drivers
- Excessive-performance DSP with devoted amplifier/DAC
- True 24-bit audio connection
- Improved noise-canceling
- Qualcomm QCC3084 chipset
- Eight mics whole — 4 mics per ear cup
- 5-band customizable EQ + TrueSound mode
- Bluetooth 5.3 with Qualcomm aptX Lossless know-how (AAC and SBC codecs are additionally supported)
- Multipoint connectivity
- USB-C audio
- As much as 30 hours playback
- 15-minute cost for 7 hours playback
- Colour choices: Onyx black and heat stone
- Value: $799
Here is a headphone comparability chart supplied by Bowers & Wilkins:
Click on to enlarge.
The brand new reference normal in wi-fi headphone listening
Px8 S2 is the very best sounding headphone the model has ever created. Constructing on the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning pedigree of Px7 S3, the brand new flagship mannequin takes wi-fi headphone efficiency to all-new heights of decision and perception. Its 40mm Carbon Cone drive items ship a transformational listening expertise by combining exceptionally low coloration and distortion with mild weight, making certain beautiful element and readability plus easy, highly effective dynamics, no matter you are listening to.
These drive items function a comprehensively redesigned and improved chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet, and are rigorously angled to the listener’s ears to make sure a constant distance from each level throughout the floor of every driver to every ear, making certain higher imaging and stereo spaciousness. They’re powered by a devoted, discrete headphone amplifier offering notably extra scale and power to the sound.
Constructing on that high-quality acoustic platform, Px8 S2 consists of each aptXTM Adaptive 24/96 wi-fi know-how and the most recent Qualcomm innovation, aptX Lossless. Each applied sciences can mechanically optimize wi-fi music transmission from appropriate telephones, tablets and computer systems, making certain the very best sound high quality with high-resolution music streaming providers comparable to Amazon Music, Qobuz and TIDAL, which can be found to stream instantly from the Music app.
Supported by highly effective Bowers & Wilkins-developed DSP (Digital Sign Processing), the result’s excellent 24-bit / 96 kHz high-resolution sound high quality. 3.5mm analogue audio connections are additionally supported, as is high-resolution-capable USB-C – an incredible profit for each laptop customers and house owners of appropriate cell gadgets, together with the most recent technology of iPhone. Each cable sorts are included within the carry case that accompanies the headphones.
Block out the world
Bowers & Wilkins engineers are assured that the brand new lively noise cancelling applied sciences developed for the Px7 S3 and Px8 S2 are probably the most highly effective and efficient the model has ever developed. As is at all times the case, the chosen strategy rigorously balances efficient cancellation of undesirable noise whereas doing no hurt to the musicality of the efficiency – and on this new technology of headphones, the outcomes are merely distinctive.
As with Px7 S3, the brand new Px8 S2 options eight high-performance microphones, rigorously positioned across the periphery of every earcup and dealing collectively to ship the very best outcomes. Two of them measure the output of every drive unit, 4 – positioned at reverse ends of every earcup for the very best protection – monitor ambient noise from the surface world, and two extra present excellent voice readability. Cautious positioning and angling of these microphones enhances efficiency even within the noisiest environments. When making calls, undesirable noise is successfully suppressed by the most recent technology of voice processing know-how, ADI Pure Voice. All eight microphones work along with the noise cancelling and voice-processing applied sciences to make sure excellent name readability wherever you might be.
Enhanced options
Providing 30 hours of battery life with full noise cancellation on, Px8 S2 can play all day lengthy – and extra – on only a single cost, whereas a 15-minute fast recharge is enough to offer as much as seven hours of further listening time.
As with all different present generations of Bowers & Wilkins headphones and earbuds, the Px8 S2 might be configured and managed utilizing the model’s Music app. You possibly can activate or disengage the noise-cancelling transparency mode to let in roughly of the surface world, monitor the headphone’s cost ranges, choose the wear and tear sensor sensitivity and outline your most popular operation for the bodily ‘Fast Motion’ button on the headphones. Listeners can now decide to fine-tune the sound by an adjustable five-band EQ, full with the choice to retailer their most popular settings as simply accessible presets. If most popular, the EQ choice might be bypassed by deciding on the True Sound mode, which represents the popular audio tuning chosen by the acoustic crew on the Southwater Analysis Institution (SRE).
As with Px7 S3, bodily controls on every earcup are additionally included, making certain full management even with out the Music app. The revised button format, which reshapes the amount up, quantity down and play/pause buttons to enhance their tactile interplay and relocates the ability button to the left-hand earcup, is extra intuitive to
use than ever. The Fast Motion button permits customers to both rapidly cycle by the Px8 S2’s noise-cancelling choices – Off, Go-By and On – or seamlessly launch their cellphone’s Voice Assistant on the contact of a button.
Px8 S2 is future-proof, too. Bowers & Wilkins will roll out a collection of over-the-air updates later this 12 months, the primary of which is able to embody help for spatial audio listening. Bluetooth® LE Audio, full with AuracastTM broadcast performance, can be added later.
Commenting on the launch, Giles Pocock, VP of Model Advertising and marketing, mentioned: “We’re extremely proud to launch the Px8 S2, the very best headphone we have now ever created. Once we launched the Px8 in 2022, it redefined what was doable in wi-fi headphone efficiency. The Px8 S2 units the benchmark as soon as once more, recalibrating expectations for sound high quality, design, and craftsmanship. It is the final word expression of our mission: to convey listeners even nearer to the artist’s efficiency – and naturally, the gorgeous design and end solely provides to that actual satisfaction of possession.“
The all-new Px8 S2 is on the market from twenty fourth September from bowerswilkins.com and choose third-party retailers for $799.
