Verdict
first-class sound , marvelous wireless performance , great esthetics and effective noise cancellation – the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones improve upon the PX7 in a number of ways . Sony and Bose flap them for randomness cancellation , but the Px7 S2 offer one of the finer listening experiences at their terms .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
In terms of when and how you announce your latest headphones , an trope at the bottom of another ship’s company ’s Sir Frederick Handley Page is n’t the pomp and ceremony you ’d be after .
But that ’s precisely hap to Bowers & Wilkins ’ Px7 S2 , which were come out earlier in 2022 on Qualcomm ’s website . But little did we recognize that B&W had another card to take on , with the promulgation of the more expensive andhigher - remnant Px8coming later .
That might lead some to think that the Px7 S2 are the entrée to the independent course , but that is n’t how B&W is treating them . These earpiece gambol a sleeker , slimmer look over thePX7 , benefit from a retool noise cancellation algorithm and a new app . But they face contest , chiefly from theSony WH-1000XM5 .
Design
Classy and deluxe are adjectives this website has often used to describe Bowers & Wilkins headphones , and the Px7 S2 do n’t return far from the tree diagram . Fromthe PXthere ’s been a consistent through dividing line : the grave metallic element branch , and earcups with fabric finish with aluminium Deco plate and ellipse shape . As a silhouette , the Px7 S2 take on an elegantly styled human body .
I ’d say they have more in common with the PX than the PX7 , but since the latter is their immediate precursor , the changes made bear rewarding yield . The fit is less cumbersome ; the clamp force is better . The headband is in reality wider , a change I think will help the Px7 S2 conform to a wide chain of mountains of heads . Despite the changes , the Px7 S2 weigh only 3 g less .
But it ’s more about how they feel , and these earpiece are less taxing to wear over long period . They ’re more visually arresting than the WH-1000XM5 ’s minimalist looks – the blue colourway with gold trim is streamlined and premium .
They ca n’t be crumble inwards but can be folded monotonic and place in the accompany storage casing . B&W says the case is slim than that of the PX7 – it ’s slightly svelte , but also slightly marvelous . There ’s at least a better integrated sac for storing cables .
B&W stick with physical button , but they ’re not quite as obvious as they were on the PX7 . The right earcup is home to a ability / Bluetooth pair release – flick up to power the headphones , or push in further and hold to place the headphones inBluetoothpairing musical mode . There ’s also a mass and multi - function button that covers playback and track skipping . The button have a shallower profile ; and while the multi - function button is n’t kick upstairs , it has a dissimilar texture which I have found makes it easier to settle .
The Quick Action clit toggles through the environmental mode ( Noise Cancelling , Passthrough and Off ) , and within the Bowers & Wilkins Music app , it can be configured to bring up your machine ’s voice help . Annoyingly , you have to make a selection between the two – a recollective keep would have puzzle out that issue .
Like Master & Dynamic’sMW75 , the Px7 S2 ship without a 3.5 mm porthole , packaging a USB - C cable television service for charging and a 3.5 millimetre transcriber for plug away the earpiece into a pumped-up source .
Features
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 ’s barrage life twin the PX7 , which matches the WH-1000XM5 – a form B&W feels is more than enough . advance have been establish in the charging speed : two hours to fulfill the battery from zero outpaces the PX7 ’s three , and a 15 - minute debauched - commission reaps seven hour compared to the older simulation ’s five .
B&W has brought the Px7 S2 under the Music app umbrella , the same app used by theZeppelin wireless speakerandPanorama 3 soundbar . Functionality for the Px7 S2 is limited as you ca n’t pullulate medicine directly from the app to the headphones ; but that ’s expected to be added later in 2022 .
The app offers the ability to switch noise cancelling modality , and customise treble and bass part options from -6dB/6dB : the Px7 S2 can be paired to , and switch between , two devices simultaneously . Quick Action customises the left earcup ’s clit , with a selection between “ Environmental Control ” ( interference cancellation ) and “ Voice Assistant ” .
Other features include Auto Standby and outwear Sensor Control . This latter align the sensor ’s sensitivity from humble , normal and gamey . Resumption of playback works in practice , whether I was lift up an earcup or taking the headphones off and repose them on my shoulders .
There have have been moments where the Px7 S2 hesitate playback when I looked to my left or right , even on low predisposition – and then it takes a few shakes of the head to get music play again . It ’s an area that could use improvement .
The Bluetooth 5.2 monetary standard is patronize with SBC , AAC , aptX , aptX - HD and aptX Adaptive as the codecs for streaming . The wireless stability is very good , almost to the level of Master & Dynamic ’s MW75 , and good than my experience with the WH-1000XM5 . Over several daylight of use , walk through busy signaling area and crowded home , I only a detected a stutter at a busy Waterloo post , and an even briefer pip at another place .
Noise cancellation is n’t up to the level of theBose QuietComfort 45 , Sony WH-1000XM5 orTechnics EAH - A800 , as it does n’t provide the degree of equanimity of those wireless cans . The sensory faculty is a focus on the sound first , without the noise cancellation touch the Px7 S2 ’s audio frequency .
The Px7 S2 have a six - strong microphone frame-up – four for ANC and two for vox pick - up . The revised noise cancelling algorithm commingle with the tighter Navy SEAL of the earpads delivers a 30dB cut to environmental audio , and in my experience the ANC has proved very just in most environments .
It reduces sound with more efficiency than the MW75 , and copes better in busy surroundings such as the Underground . That is n’t to say the Px7 S2 were whole comfortable ; when it get tacky , the noise on the Tube drench the can ’s adaptive ANC . Whether it was the auditory sensation of the wind flying by on the Jubilee argument , or another train arriving on the opposite political platform , these B&W headphones struggled to keep those noise in check .
But the Px7 S2 take care of ambient noises well , from masses spill to traffic from vehicle small and large . This is also a flimsy improvement on the PX7 , suppressing noise with a few degrees more preciseness .
There is a strange anomalousness about the stochasticity cancellation , as turning my head seems to create holes in the phone ’ ANC that reserve sounds to poke through . The Transparency mode is self-colored , whip through enough sound to get a feeling of what ’s around , and doing so without noticeably affecting the quality of the sound ; but the WH-1000XM5 are clear and heroic .
B&W has repositioned the mike for added clarity and call lineament is very good . The person on the other end could hear my interpreter fine and absolved , although they did comment that my part sounded a little humble . The Px7 S2 pick up more background stochasticity than the WH-1000XM5 and MW75 , and this did contribute to ambient sounds mixing with my phonation . It ’s a acceptable enough performance nonetheless .
Sound Quality
The Crux Australis of the Px7 S2 ’s overall proposition is their audio . Bowers & Wilkins ’ marketing and electronic messaging has converged around the hope of truth and bide by aesthetic intent – the idea being that you ’re hearing the euphony as intended .
Assisting in this process of accuracy is a new Bio Cellulose 40 millimeter driver angled towards the ears to acquaint a wide soundstage and credible stereo effigy . This new number one wood frame-up has a lower THD ( Total Harmonic Distortion ) of 0.1 % for improved clarity , contingent and resolution over the outgoing PX7 .
And much like the PX7 , the Px7 S2 gas a lean sound without much blubber at the low-down - ending , copulate with an articulated brightness at the top - end of the frequency range . To get the best from these headphones requires a equal to source , and soTidaland Qobuz are preferred over , say , the Spotify gratis tier .
While I only have my notes and computer storage of how the WH-1000XM5 sound , the Px7 S2 take on a more inert approach than the richer - sound Sony . The introduction carries weighting , a soundstage painted in wide-cut terms with a smoothly described stereo image . There ’s a courteous degree of recoil and substance to humble - destruction in the percussive chemical element of Tune - Yards ’ Hynoptized , the reproduction of Merrill Garbus ’ classifiable outspoken stylings seems faithfully preserve .
The soundstage represent is spacious in its argument , with enough way for official document and vocals to reside together without stepping on each other ’s toes . The earphone do sense placid at their default listening horizontal surface , unshakable rather than gumptious in their flow and delivery of Henny from the Familiar Future album . However , a flick up on the volume breathe a sense of vigor and energy into the Px7 S2 , as well extend the soundstage ’s reach .
The saxophones in Rejuvenation Agenda – Live by Gerald Clayton are expressed with grain and richness . The forte-piano note discover a bright and twinkly inflect through the earpiece , with the push and pull of the orchestration render with a lively and fluid good sense of dynamism and flow . Son of Kemet and Kojey Radical ’s Hustle is given some punchy , weighty sea bass locked with good tonic balance , while there ’s a coursing flow and excellent level of control to Immanuel Wilkins ’ Grace and Mercy as it speeds to its last brandish , speak positively of these headphones ’ rhythmic ability .
Whatever you heed to on the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 , their sound is a consistently engaging one , neither overdone nor undercooked . They ’re one of the finer hearing experiences at their price .
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Should you buy it?
There are n’t many headphones that can hold a cd to the sound quality of the Px7 S2 at their cost . A oft expressive , innate and entertaining performing artist .
If you ’re after cloggy - tariff haphazardness cancellation then Sony , Bose and Technics are more thorough in their program .
Final Thoughts
The Px7 S2 improve on what come before , although they do n’t necessarily put the older PX7 model to shame . The improvement , elusive in some ways and detectable in others , make them a better overall experience .
Wireless performance is excellent , the interference cancellation very honest – but not up to the level of the class leader – and the audio is toppingly flow , expressive and versatile . For those who enjoy euphony , the Px7 S2 are among the advantageously - sound headphones of their ilk .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every headphones we review soundly over an extended period of sentence . We use manufacture stock tests to compare features in good order . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , take over money to review a mathematical product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy .
FAQs
There ’s no 3.5 mm labourer on the Px7 S2 but there is a USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate to 3.5 millimeter that facilitates wire hear .
The Px7 S2 does not feature IP protection .
Full Specs
Sustainability
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As part of this mission , whenever we review a product we send out the caller a series of questions to help oneself us guess and make diaphanous the impact the twist has on the environment .
We presently have n’t get answers to the questions on this product , but will update this page the moment we do . you could see a detailed breakdown of the questions we require and why in oursustainability information pageboy .
