If you are 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 authentic model carried a listing worth of $699 once 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 high premium wi-fi headphone decide for these with deep sufficient pockets to afford them. Read extra: Best noise-canceling headphones of 2025A number of 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 analogous improve script to PX7 S3, which was additionally trimmed down and obtained some efficiency enhancements whereas changing into slightly extra comfy to put on. Updated drivers and a brand new, uncovered cableIn truth, the the 2 fashions look very comparable and have virtually equivalent specs and options, however the PX8 S2 has superior drivers and a few swankier design components, together with a Napa leather-based end and new, uncovered cable that peeks out from the aluminum arm mechanism.You’ll 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, However, a “trained service engineer” does have to put in the brand new ear cushions and headband (I form of want the ear cushions adhered magnetically and had been simply replaceable like these of Apple’s AirPods Max). The headphones fold flat however do not fold up. David Carnoy/CNETBowers & Wilkins says the PX8 S2 are the best-sounding headphones it is ever created. The earlier mannequin had 40mm Carbon Cone drive items (the PX7 S3 has 40mm bio-cellulose drivers), however Bowers & Wilkins says the PX8 S2’s drive items characteristic “a comprehensively redesigned and improved chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet, and are carefully angled to the listener’s ears to ensure a consistent distance from every point across the surface of each driver to each ear, ensuring better imaging and stereo spaciousness.” They’re additionally powered by a devoted, discrete headphone amplifier that brings extra the “scale and energy” to the sound.I like what Bowers & Wilkins did with the PX7 S3 to stage it up, however even with its design and efficiency enhancements, its sound simply does not have fairly the wow issue that the PX8’s sound does (whether or not that sound high quality acquire 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 fairly 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. This is a type of headphones that makes you wish to return and take heed to all of your favourite tracks in your music library since you really feel such as you’re listening to them in an entire new manner. The headphones haven’t got a 3.5mm headphone port, however they arrive with a USB-C to 3.5mm cable that permits you to plug them right into a headphone port, whether or not it is on a pc or inflight leisure system. They additionally assist USB-C audio for high-resolution digital wired listening. The two included cables stow properly in a compartment within the headphone’s carrying case that has a door that magnetically clasps shut. In their carry case, which has additionally trimmed down and is extra compact. David Carnoy/CNETI examined their noise-canceling on a planeI used them on a aircraft trip from New York to San Francisco, carrying them for nearly 5 hours straight to take heed to music and watch films (the battery life is rated for as much as 30 hours at reasonable quantity ranges and a 15-minute cost will get you 7 hours of playback). I had the headphones paired to each an iPhone 16 Pro and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 (they assist Bluetooth multipoint to pair with two units concurrently). While their noise canceling is not fairly as much as the extent of what you get with with Sony’s WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 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 permits you to hear the skin 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 exchange them your self. David Carnoy/CNETThe 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 authentic. All 8 microphones are used for telephony. I nonetheless need to do some extra testing on this division however with the handful of calls I made, callers stated my voice sounded fairly clear and many 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 supply 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). They additionally value round $350 much less. While the PX8 is not filled with options, Bowers & Wilkins says it’s going to roll out a sequence of firmware updates later this 12 months, the primary of which is able to embrace assist for spatial audio listening. Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast broadcast performance will likely be added later.I’lll submit my full assessment within the coming days, however suffice to say, my preliminary impressions are fairly optimistic apart from the excessive price ticket. PX8 S2 key optionsWeight: 310 grams (10.9 ounces)Slimmer design than predecessor with barely extra comfy fitRedesigned 40mm dynamic full-range carbon driversHigh-performance DSP with devoted amplifier/DACTrue 24-bit audio connectionImproved noise-cancelingQualcomm QCC3084 chipset8 mics whole — 4 mics per ear cup5-band customizable EQ + TrueSound modeBluetooth 5.3 with Qualcomm aptX Lossless expertise (AAC and SBC codecs are additionally supported)Multipoint connectivityUSB-C audioUp to 30 hours playback15-minute cost for 7 hours playbackColor choices: Onyx black and heat stonePrice: $799Bowers & Wilkins headphones comparability chart
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Click to enlarge. Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNETBowers & 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 elegance.Px8 S2’s thoughtfully advanced 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’d anticipate for a flagship Bowers & Wilkins product, the brand new Px8 S2 has been trimmed and completed to the best potential requirements. Luxurious Nappa leather-based covers each major floor, whereas the aluminum arm mechanism with its new, uncovered cable detailing, produces the proper mixture of sunshine weight, optimized mechanical stiffness and beautiful design.Px8 S2 is on the market in two refined Nappa leather-based finishes: Onyx Black and Warm Stone, every withcolor-coordinated leather-based and aluminum detailing. To guarantee long-term delight of possession, Bowers & Wilkins has engineered the brand new design in order that each ear cushions and headband are replaceable by trainedservice engineers.Px8 S2 is the most effective sounding headphone the model has ever created. Building 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 items ship a transformational listening expertise by combining exceptionally low coloration and distortion with mild weight, making certain gorgeous element and readability plus easy, highly effective dynamics, no matter you are listening to.These drive items characteristic 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, making certain higher imaging and stereo spaciousness. They are powered by a devoted, discrete headphone amplifier offering notably extra scale and vitality to the sound.Building on that high-quality acoustic platform, Px8 S2 contains each aptXTM Adaptive 24/96 wi-fi expertise and the most recent Qualcomm innovation, aptX Lossless. Both applied sciences can mechanically optimize wi-fi music transmission from appropriate telephones, tablets and computer systems, making certain the very best sound high quality with high-resolution music streaming companies corresponding to Amazon Music, Qobuz and TIDAL, which can be found to stream straight from the Music app.Supported by highly effective Bowers & Wilkins-developed DSP (Digital Signal 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 awesome profit for each laptop customers and house owners of appropriate cell units, together with the most recent era of iPhone. Both cable varieties are included within the carry case that accompanies the headphones.Bowers & Wilkins engineers are assured that the brand new lively noise cancelling applied sciences developed for the Px7 S3 and Px8 S2 are probably 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 era 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 the most effective outcomes. Two of them measure the output of every drive unit, 4 – positioned at reverse ends of every earcup for the very best protection – monitor ambient noise from the skin world, and two extra present excellent voice readability. Careful 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 era of voice processing expertise, ADI Pure Voice. All eight microphones work along side the noise cancelling and voice-processing applied sciences to make sure excellent name readability wherever you’re.Offering 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 will be configured and managed utilizing the model’s Music app. You can activate or disengage the noise-cancelling transparency mode to let in roughly of the skin world, monitor the headphone’s cost ranges, choose the damage sensor sensitivity and outline your most well-liked operation for the bodily ‘Quick Action’ button on the headphones. Listeners can now choose to fine-tune the sound by an adjustable five-band EQ, full with the choice to retailer their most well-liked settings as simply accessible presets. If most well-liked, the EQ choice will be bypassed by choosing the True Sound mode, which represents the popular audio tuning chosen by the acoustic group on the Southwater Research Establishment (SRE).As with Px7 S3, bodily controls on every earcup are additionally included, making certain full management even with out the Music app. The revised button format, 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 touse than ever. The Quick Action button permits customers to both rapidly cycle by the Px8 S2’s noise-cancelling choices – Off, Pass-Through 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 sequence of over-the-air updates later this 12 months, the primary of which is able to embrace assist for spatial audio listening. Bluetooth® LE Audio, full with AuracastTM broadcast performance, will likely be added later.Commenting on the launch, Giles Pocock, VP of Brand Marketing, stated: “We are incredibly proud to launch the Px8 S2, the best headphone we have ever created. When we introduced the Px8 in 2022, it redefined what was possible in wireless headphone performance. The Px8 S2 sets the benchmark once again, recalibrating expectations for sound quality, design, and craftsmanship. It’s the ultimate expression of our mission: to bring listeners even closer to the artist’s performance – and of course, the beautiful design and finish only adds to that real pride of ownership.”The all-new Px8 S2 is on the market from 24th September from bowerswilkins.com and choose third-party retailers for $799.
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