Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: The Best Headphones They’ve Ever Made

When a company like Bowers & Wilkins claims it has created “a new benchmark for performance and design in the wireless over-ear category,” it’s definitely worth paying attention. After all, both the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 and the newer Px7 S3 upon which the Px8 S2 is built, are already stunningly good headphones.

So how has B&W outdone itself with the Px8 S2? In other words, what’s their chief bid for entry into our best headphones buying guide?

Not Just Minor Tweaks: Key Upgrades in the Px8 S2

Often, new headphone iterations come with minor tweaks and incremental gains, but the Px8 S2 introduces some notable improvements:

• Bluetooth 5.3 Chipset: The Px8 S2 features an updated Bluetooth 5.3 chipset (up from 5.2), offering a “true 24-bit/96kHz audio connection” over USB along with aptX Lossless and Adaptive support at 24/96. This is an upgrade over the older aptX HD codec in the previous Px8.
• Eight-Mic Array: The latest Px8 S2 has eight microphones — six external and two internal — all used for telephony, while six contribute to active noise cancellation (ANC). This is a significant upgrade from the Px8’s six-mic array, where four mics handled ANC and two were for call handling.
• New Voice Call Algorithm: B&W has introduced a refined voice call quality algorithm to enhance telephony performance.
• Upgraded Chassis and Driver Motor: Although each ear cup still houses the same 40mm dynamic cone driver, the chassis and motor that power it have been upgraded, delivering greater nuance and precision in your music.
• Sound Customization: You now get a five-band EQ for fine-tuning the sound signature, a notable step up from the two-band bass/treble tweaks available in the original Px8.

Design and Build

The Px8 S2 maintains a luxurious feel with Nappa leather covering much of the stylish design. A new aluminum arm mechanism with an exposed cable detail adds a fresh touch. Despite these metal accents, the headphones are actually a bit smaller and lighter than the original Px8. Plus, Bowers & Wilkins has slimmed down the carrying case, making it easier to fit in your bag.

Battery and Performance

Battery life remains at a solid 30 hours, which is consistent with the older Px8 model. While this doesn’t match the impressive 100-hour battery life of the Cambridge Melomania P100, it still offers plenty of use for most listeners.

Importantly, B&W emphasizes that the Px8 S2 includes a high-performance audio processing setup with a dedicated DSP and amplifier/DAC—not relying on the chipset’s built-in digital-to-analog converter. This bespoke solution underlines Bowers & Wilkins’ commitment to crafting what they believe to be the best-sounding headphones in the world.

Availability and Pricing

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 launched on September 24 and is available in two elegant color options: Onyx Black and Warm Stone. The headphones are priced at $799 USD / £629 GBP, which roughly converts to around AU$1,289.

Final Thoughts

We’ve had the opportunity to test a pair (see images attached) and are currently working on a full review. Stay tuned for our detailed verdict on whether Bowers & Wilkins has achieved its ambitious goal with the Px8 S2.

For now, if you’re looking for premium wireless over-ear headphones that push boundaries in design, audio performance, and build quality, the Px8 S2 is definitely worth considering.

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