Should you’re on the lookout for proof that the Trump administration tariffs are impacting shopper electronics costs, look no additional than Bowers & Wilkins’ new flagship PX8 S2 noise-canceling headphones. The unique model carried an inventory value of $699 after they launched, however this 2nd-gen mannequin comes out of the gate at $799. Is that an excessive amount of to pay? For most folk, sure, however the PX8 S2 are simply amongst my favourite over-ear headphones. Not solely do they sound even 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 prime premium wi-fi headphone choose for these with deep sufficient pockets to afford them.
Learn extra: Finest 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 identical improve script to 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 truth, the the 2 fashions look very related and have nearly 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 prolong the lifetime of the headphones, Nevertheless, a “skilled service engineer” does have to put in the brand new ear cushions and headband (I sort of want the ear cushions adhered magnetically and have 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 models (the PX7 S3 has 40mm bio-cellulose drivers), however Bowers & Wilkins says the PX8 S2’s drive models function “a comprehensively redesigned and improved chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet, and are fastidiously angled to the listener’s ears to make sure a constant distance from each level throughout the floor of every driver to every ear, guaranteeing 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 what Bowers & Wilkins did with the PX7 S3 to degree it up, however even with its design and efficiency enhancements, its sound simply would not have fairly the wow issue that the PX8’s sound does (whether or not that sound high quality achieve is value an additional $320 is debatable, after all).
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 simply actually clear, well-balanced headphones which have a reasonably 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, neither too ahead nor recessed. That is a kind of headphones that makes you need to return and hearken 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 manner.
The headphones do not have 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 assist 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 hearken to music and watch motion pictures (the battery life is rated for as much as 30 hours at average 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 assist 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 Extremely Headphones, which could have their very own 2nd-gen model releasing shortly, it is undoubtedly 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 8 microphones (4 in every ear cup) in comparison with 6 microphones within the unique. All 8 microphones are used for telephony. I nonetheless should do some extra testing on this division however with the handful of calls I made, callers mentioned my voice sounded fairly clear and a lot 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 a couple higher-end fashions that I ought to. The PX8 S2 provide extra refined sound than the XM6s and in addition a extra premium design, however the XM6s additionally sound wonderful, 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’s going to roll out a collection of firmware updates later this yr, the primary of which can embrace assist for spatial audio listening. Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast broadcast performance can be added later.
I’lll put up my full evaluate within the coming days, however suffice to say, my preliminary impressions are fairly optimistic other than 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
- 8 mics whole — 4 mics per ear cup
- 5-band customizable EQ + TrueSound mode
- Bluetooth 5.3 with Qualcomm aptX Lossless expertise (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
- Coloration choices: Onyx black and heat stone
- Value: $799
Bowers & Wilkins headphones comparability chart
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Bowers & Wilkins is proud to introduce the brand new flagship assertion in wi-fi headphones: the Px8 S2. Elevating the model’s iconic design DNA to new heights within the premium headphone class,
the Px8 S2 delivers the final word illustration of Bowers & Wilkins’ revered efficiency, consolation and magnificence.
Px8 S2’s thoughtfully developed design and profile has been engineered for comfy, prolonged listening, with a notably slimmer type than the outgoing Px8 – even the brand new carry case is extra compact and simpler to suit into your bag. As you’ll count on for a flagship Bowers & Wilkins product, the brand new Px8 S2 has been trimmed and completed to the best attainable requirements. Luxurious Nappa leather-based covers each main floor, whereas the aluminum arm mechanism with its new, uncovered cable detailing, produces the right mixture of sunshine weight, optimized mechanical stiffness and beautiful design.
Px8 S2 is out there in two refined Nappa leather-based finishes: Onyx Black and Heat Stone, every with
color-coordinated leather-based and aluminum detailing. To make sure long-term satisfaction of possession, Bowers & Wilkins has engineered the brand new design in order that each ear cushions and headband are replaceable by skilled
service engineers.
Px8 S2 is one of the 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 models ship a transformational listening expertise by combining exceptionally low coloration and distortion with mild weight, guaranteeing beautiful element and readability plus easy, highly effective dynamics, no matter you are listening to.
These drive models function a comprehensively redesigned and improved chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet, and are fastidiously angled to the listener’s ears to make sure a constant distance from each level throughout the floor of every driver to every ear, guaranteeing 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 expertise and the most recent Qualcomm innovation, aptX Lossless. Each applied sciences can routinely optimize wi-fi music transmission from suitable telephones, tablets and computer systems, guaranteeing the absolute best sound high quality with high-resolution music streaming companies resembling 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 important profit for each laptop customers and homeowners of suitable cell gadgets, together with the most recent technology of iPhone. Each cable sorts are included within the carry case that accompanies the headphones.
Bowers & Wilkins engineers are assured that the brand new energetic noise cancelling applied sciences developed for the Px7 S3 and Px8 S2 are essentially the most highly effective and efficient the model has ever developed. As is all the time the case, the chosen method fastidiously 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, fastidiously situated across the periphery of every earcup and dealing collectively to ship one of the best outcomes. Two of them measure the output of every drive unit, 4 – positioned at reverse ends of every earcup for the absolute 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 expertise, ADI Pure Voice. All eight microphones work together with the noise cancelling and voice-processing applied sciences to make sure excellent name readability wherever you’re.
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 extra listening time.
As with all different present generations of Bowers & Wilkins headphones and earbuds, the Px8 S2 may be configured and managed utilizing the model’s Music app. You possibly can activate or disengage the noise-cancelling transparency mode to let in kind of 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 way of an adjustable five-band EQ, full with the choice to retailer their most popular settings as simply accessible presets. If most popular, the EQ possibility may be bypassed by deciding on the True Sound mode, which represents the popular audio tuning chosen by the acoustic staff on the Southwater Analysis Institution (SRE).
As with Px7 S3, bodily controls on every earcup are additionally included, guaranteeing full management even with out the Music app. The revised button structure, which reshapes the quantity 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 shortly cycle by way of the Px8 S2’s noise-cancelling choices – Off, Go-By means of and On – or seamlessly launch their telephone’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 yr, the primary of which can embrace assist 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, one of the best headphone now we have ever created. After we launched the Px8 in 2022, it redefined what was attainable 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 deliver 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 out there from twenty fourth September from bowerswilkins.com and choose third-party retailers for $799.
