Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless Over Ear Headphones with Active Noise Cancellation - Space Grey

Product Information

Out of the box, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 is extremely bassy and has rather odd areas of under-emphasis leading to bizarre-sounding music. Bass emphasis is pretty consistently 10dB higher than it should be, making the sub-bass and bass twice as loud as they would on headphones that follow the SoundGuys headphone preference curve. Additionally, that peak between 6-9kHz does a decent job of making highs stand out in the cacophony of modern pop mixes, but it can make those sounds especially grating at times. Lows, mids, and highs

If you really want the best ANC this money can buy though, there are better, more personalized options out there, and here we might point you to the Sony XM5 or (likely to be discounted) WH-1000XM4 over-ears. The Bowers & Wilkins Music App is common to both models, offering users the chance to adjust their cans' EQ, activate the noise-cancelling transparency mode to let in more or less of the outside world, and provide direct access to music streaming services such as Deezer, Qobuz, Tidal and TuneIn. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 25th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) I see why B&W went with physical buttons over touch sensors. It makes sense from a design perspective: who wants to leave fingerprints on the side of these beauties? At the same time, many users find touch controls to be the more practical input method. Howbeit, the company did a noteworthy job of creating the buttons for simplified use. In between, the Px7 S2 bring all of their talents of detail retrieval and all their authority to bear on the midrange. As a result, singers of all types, all levels of competence and all levels of commitment are given complete expression. So much of the emotional impact of a song can rest in the vocal line, and when you hear it through these Bowers & Wilkins you’ll never be in any doubt as to a vocalist’s intentions.I must admit as I start to write this that I’m a Bowers and Wilkins fanboy. I have their speakers in my living room, a zeppelin in my office and several pairs of headphones. The in ear PI7 live in my bag and see regular use. Over the ear ANC headphones, I usually wear when travelling (planes and trains) and in winter to keep my ears warm. Elsewhere, the cables are now hidden within the band, and the earcup’s central oval badge is now flush against the new, softer fabric for a more streamlined aesthetic. The Space Grey finish survives, although the PXs’ Soft Gold has been swapped for a sophisticated Silver. We’re pleased to see big ‘L’ and ‘R’ graphics inside the respective ear cups, too. This is Bowers & Wilkins and, as you'd expect, these over-ears certainly look and feel the part –plus, the USB-C charger can also be used to listen to wired music if your phone sports a USB-C connection (we did this with our Samsung Galaxy S21, no Bluetooth required). You get a USB-C to 3.5mm cable in the box too, in case you want to use them with source devices such as MP3 players, all of which adds value at the level.

Bluetooth connectivity comes courtesy of version 5.2, multipoint pairing is present and correct, and codec support is extensive, with SBC and AAC complemented by aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive. Noticeable strides have been made in terms of their noise-cancelling performance, too, while the S2 charge faster, are more comfortable to wear and have better companion app support than the PX7. In absolute terms, the PX7s demonstrate a pinch more drive and clarity than the Sonys – even if they aren’t quite as refined in their delivery. Final verdict The Headphones app is a simple affair with options for noise cancelling and Ambient pass-through mode. You can also adjust the proclivity of the wear sensor, add another device for the multi-point pairing feature and listen to soundscapes from the natural world. I’m not sure how much use that will get, but perhaps people will use it for more relaxing moments. If the headphones require an update, you’ll receive a prompt in the app. In the more-than-a-decade that this storied loudspeaker brand has been involved in the headphones market, it has established quite a reputation for impressive audio performance, a luxurious aesthetic, and, all things considered, decent value for money. That's precisely what the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e represent: pure headphones perfection in many respects. One area in which the PX7 S2 don’t score quite as highly is audio customisation. You can increase and decrease bass and treble by up to 6dB but there are no EQ presets or manual equaliser. This isn’t an issue given how good the S2 sound, but those wanting to move away from fidelity into the realms of self-sculpted audio will be a bit put out.

Should you buy the Bowers & Wilkins PX7?

The hype and internet consensus is justified: the Px7 S2s sound phenomenal. I prefer the soundstage over that of my Sony WH-1000XM5s, which I use for calls and on flights (or in other noisy situations), since their noise cancellation and microphones are definitely better than those on the Px7 S2. Compared to the Px7 S2s, the XM5s sound muddy and condensed, whereas the Px7 S2s feel expansive and crisp, while maintaining a robust lower register of bass to fill out the overall soundstage.

SOUND LIKE NO OTHER: PX7 S2 uses custom-designed 40mm drive units, carefully angled inside each earcup for a truly focused, immersive listening experience. The result is headphone sound no rival can match. Bowers & Wilkins have received plenty of kudos for their headphones, from the P5 to P9 Signature and the original PX. As part of a refresh in 2019 it introduced four new headphones in the PI3, PI4, PX5 and PX7.You would think that such praise would earn these cans a perfect score? Not quite. The PX7 Carbon Edition isn’t perfect: there are issues with connectivity, as well as some bugs that hinder wireless performance. And, again, the carbon fiber design isn’t for everyone. I also understand that not everyone has B&W money to spend; the brand falls in the luxury audio category, whereas Bose and Sony are more consumer, sub-luxury. The Px7 S2e are masters at giving breadth to a full and wide frequency range, while retaining all of the details and clarity you need, yet keeping tonality even and convincing throughout, and delivering a soundstage as big and explicit as possible. Sold yet? In his review of the original PX7, my colleague Jonathan Bray described the noise cancellation on offer as “class-leading, five-star ANC”. The sound attenuation delivered by the high, low and auto settings may have proved very impressive at the time, but the PX7’s ability to cancel out environmental distractions has since been bettered by both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort 45.

Don't disregard the Px7 S2e, though. If you don't want to stretch to the sizeable asking price of the Px8, the S2e are a five-star alternative, especially if you crave the careful construction, tasteful aesthetic and supreme sound profile that has helped B&W make its name. While elegant design and premium looks are a big part of Bowers & Wilkins’ appeal, sound quality is the UK manufacturer’s lifeblood. Its intention is not to blow your mind with ear-shattering bass or hyperbolic hi-hats but to instead reflect the artist’s original creative vision as faithfully as possible. This is something that’s been reinforced whenever I’ve met with Bowers employees and is undoubtedly one of the key factors behind its loyal following. They both use the newly refreshed Bowers & Wilkins Music app, which lets you access streaming services without loading their respective apps, while also tweaking bass and treble tone controls and the sensitivity of the wear sensor. ANC on the original PX “ performed well against the never-ending din of city living,” and the PX7's is a slight improvement. Sure, the Bose 700 and WH-1000XM4 are still the more powerful options, but the noise neutralization on these cans should not be understated. Even though I have yet to test the PX7 Carbon Edition on an airplane (thanks, COVID-19), I have worn it in many loud settings to get a feel for the sound-silencing capabilities, and wasn’t disappointed. Not only are the PX7s insightful, but their sonic character also prioritises entertainment – they are the headphone equivalent of that friend with seemingly inexhaustible supplies of energy.In terms of wireless resolution, Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive tech is supported, coupled with Bowers & Wilkins' newly-developed DSP to automatically optimize your wireless music transmission from compatible phones, tablets and computers.