B&W also offers three NC modes: With “Low”, the PX5 offers a slight noise reduction that works well in open-plan offices, bus shelters or train stations. You can withdraw without totally isolating yourself acoustically. “High” is the right choice if you’re in an aircraft, for example. In this setting, so little gets to the ear that even the famous frequent flyer sleep, i.e. slumbering without music, can be successful. Earplugs are so last week! Impressively, the “Auto” setting reduces very diffuse and almost imperceptibly disturbing noises without making you feel totally isolated from the world. The bass in these headphones is pretty good. It reaches deep, it’s a bit boosted (just a bit), and it’s tight. The overall sound of these headphones is warm, and that starts with the bass. There’s decent slam – decent, but not outstanding. Rather than the previous 'Headphone' app used by Bowers & Wilkins, the new models will connect direct to the company’s 'Music 'app which now lies at the heart of their wireless and multiroom products, from the latest Zeppelin to the wireless Formation series. We should note that we were using a beta version of the Music app to assess the Px7 S2’s facilities in the period just before its official launch, and – as always with apps – it’s possible things may vary in the final release, or later. Bowers & Wilkins say that they're designed for people who are constantly putting their headphones on and taking them off again – for example commuters who want to be able to stow their cans i n their bag at a moment's notice.

Noise-cancelling here is good, moderately intense but not quite to the point of creating imbalance in the ears or eyeballs, so we didn’t crave the different levels that were made available in the original PX7. The ANC was highly effective in banishing the rumble of a bus commute, and we have every confidence of it cancelling plane drone too, though we didn’t get in one to try. The noise cancellation has the use of four microphones, and there are two more for making calls, which in our trials came through rather quieter than the curtailed music, but very clear to hear on both ends of the conversation. Like other models in the new headphones range, the PX5s use Qualcomms' aptX Adaptive codec, which Bowers & Wilkins says delivers "robust, low latency high-resolution wireless" listening, switching seamless between video and audio optimization. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 28th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) If you're looking for a comfortable medium between over-ear and in-ear headphones, these on-ear cans could be the way to go. Improved responsiveness of automatic Bluetooth reconnection (after a power cycle or wake from sleep).On-ear headphones usually aren’t as comfortable as over-ear headphones, but they’re definitely more comfortable than in-ear headphones — and that seems to be true here. That said, there’s plenty of padding and the clamp isn’t too tight, so we were able to wear the headphones for hours without running into any major comfort issues.

Future Islands’ Waiting on You is similarly well-balanced, as tangy synth stab-chords punch through driving bass lines; vocals are rich and assertive. The Bowers & Wilkins Music app provides you with the ability to set-up and control your Bowers & Wilkins Formation-enabled products including Zeppelin and Panorama 3. It also supports the set-up and management of our Bowers & Wilkins wireless headphones. Ultimately, sound quality is the most important thing to consider — especially if you’re a music junkie and plan on using the headphones for that instead of things like podcasts or audiobooks. Thankfully, the Bowers & Wilkins PX5 headphones excel in all those areas. If your headphones do not respond to the power switch and are fully charged, you will need to attempt a Reset. If the headphones are recognised via the Bowers & Wilkins headphones app, instructions on how to do this can be found here. If they are not recognised via the app, press and hold the Volume +, Volume - and Noise Cancellation buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds until the LED indicator turns off, and let go when the LED indicator lights up again.

In Conclusion

Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test. The ANC button on the left ear switches through the various ANC modes, including high, low, auto, or off (we'll discuss these in the next section). Holding the button for a couple of seconds activates or deactivates the ambient listen-through mode. The headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 and support AptX (Adaptive, Classic, and HD), AAC, and Bluetooth codecs. There’s something slightly awkward about the PX5. By the standards of wireless active noise-cancelling headphones they’re an unusual size - the earcups aren’t big enough to encircle the wearer’s ears, so they’re not, strictly speaking, ‘over-ear’ headphones. But the earcups are quite a bit larger than most ‘on-ear’ designs. Perhaps Bowers & Wilkins has invented a whole new category of headphones with the PX5. Atop-ear? Against-ear?

Given that they feature no EQ adjustment, the PX5 stand or fall on their one, unalterable sound. So it’s just as well they’re an extremely enjoyable listen with an impeccably balanced sonic signature.The new Px7s sit for long periods just as comfortably as the previous model – the weight is almost unchanged from the previous model at 307g (down from 310g) but there has been a useful shaving of size, the headphones now some 3cm smaller in each dimension. The Bowers & Wilkins PX5 and PX7 have identical technical features. Both support all common audio codecs for Bluetooth, even the current aptX Adaptive. Only on the Sony Codec LDAC must be done without. For this purpose, an active noise cancelling function (ANC) has been integrated and the possibility to perceive the ambient noise via the outside microphones so that it is not necessary to take off the headphones. While these aren’t the priciest model in the new PX range, the PX5 look and feel very luxurious, with the attention to detail we’ve come to expect from premium Bowers and Wilkins headphones.