Immerse Yourself in Authentic Audio Like Never Before Using the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Over-Ear Headphones

When it comes to wireless headphones, if you want high-end performance, an overall superior listening experience, a long battery life, and extreme comfort, go with a brand that’s known for its premium audio products. Brands like Sony, Bose, Bang & Olufsen, Apple, Master & Dynamic, and of course, Bowers & Wilkins, all immediately come to mind. 

Each year, Bowers & Wilkins releases a new generation of headphones that check all the boxes when catering to audiophiles and smartphone power users with high expectations. The company’s newest flagship headphones — the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2s — continue to live up to the company’s reputation and what users expect from high-end headphones. The Px8 S2s offer an upgrade from the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and more recent Bowers & Wilkins Px8s.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Headphones

$799.00 $749.00 from Amazon $799.00 from Bowers & Wilkins

Recently, the folks at Bowers & Wilkins provided me with a review unit of the latest Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones. I tested them by listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks, audio from TV shows and movies, and participating in hands-free phone calls (by pairing the headphones with an Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL). As expected, I was immediately impressed by what these over-ear headphones offer. 

Keep reading to learn more about the latest features baked into the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones. No, they’re not cheap, but as with other Bowers & Wilkins headphones and audio products, I discovered they’re worth every penny. 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2’s Best Features

Elegance is the word that comes to mind when unpacking and viewing the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones for the first time. The quality of craftsmanship, plush Nappa leather ear cups and head band, die-cast aluminum body, and the overall design is exactly what you’d expect from a premium brand’s flagship over-ear headphones.

Not only do these headphones look expensive, they feel extremely comfortable. In fact, the earcups are a bit thinner than previous models.

When you consider the up to 30 hour battery life of these headphones, along with their quick charge feature (a 15-minute charge provides an additional seven hours of playback), you know that you’re listening needs are covered for an entire day, extra-long flight, multiple commutes to and from work, or wherever you choose to tune out the outside world and focus on the audio you want to hear. 

These headphones are designed primarily for indoor use. They’re not at all water resistant or waterproof, so keep them out of harsh weather conditions. What’s really great about these headphones is their high-resolution audio quality, whether you’re using them wirelessly or connecting them to an audio source using the supplied USB Type-C to 3.5mm audio jack cable or USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable (which is also used for charging). 

Thanks to a total of eight microphones (four associated with each earcup), not only can the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones provide excellent noise cancellation, they also make you sound crystal clear when engaged in a hands-free phone call, video call, or virtual meeting. The ambient noise from the outside world is removed, without compromising the audio quality of what you’re listening to or saying to the other party.

What makes the sound impressive? Bowers & Wilkins combines 24-bit digital signal processing with custom-designed 40mm carbon cone drive units. This technology generates clear, robust, and authentic sound. And to further enhance your listening experience, using the Bowers & Wilkins Music app allows you to manually adjust the noise cancellation and tinker with the five-band EQ. Of course, you can also kick back and allow the technology built into these headphones to deliver excellent clarity on its own.

These are the first Bowers & Wilkins headphones to rely on “reference audio,” as opposed to “high-performance” audio. What this means is that the headphones use a flat frequency response. As a result, they’re able to reproduce sound more accurately, without altering it by boosting certain frequencies. This allows you to hear music, for example, exactly how the recording artists and music/audio producers intended.

This audio quality extends to hands-free phone calls, too. As a result, not only do the microphones do a great job picking up your voice and maintaining its volume and clarity (regardless of the ambient noise that surrounds you), but while wearing the headphones, you’ll clearly hear whomever you’re communicating with.

I also like that the Bluetooth pairing function works seamlessly with Apple and Android devices. It’s also a simple process to pair the headphones with other Bluetooth audio sources, such as your computer or most smart TVs. Up to two devices can be paired with the headphones simultaneously. And if the audio source offers a 3.5mm audio or USB port, you can plug the headphones in using one of the two supplied cables for even better sound quality. The audio cable comes in handy if you want to use the in-flight entertainment system on an airplane, for example.

In addition to adjustable active noise cancellation (ANC) you get an ambient pass-through feature that allows you to enjoy audio, but maintain situational awareness based on what’s happening around you. Plus, if you remove the headphones, the audio you’re listening to will automatically pause, and then pick up where you left off when you place them back on your ears.

When I reviewed these headphones, one feature they lacked was spatial audio. That said, this feature will be added shortly via a firmware update slated for release in late-2024 or early-2026. Spatial audio will add an even greater sense of immersion when watching an action-oriented TV show or movie. The action will sound as if it’s happening all around you. Or, if you’re listening to music that was recorded during a live concert performance, for example, you’ll feel as if you’re sitting in the best seat of the concert hall with the music surrounding your head.

Who Will the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones Appeal To?

If you’re going to spend $799 on wireless headphones, you’re probably someone who’s pretty serious about the quality of the audio you listen to, and someone who appreciates being seen using high-end products from premium brands. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones look and feel expensive, and perform exactly how high-end headphones should.

Whether you’re listening to any genre of music (at any volume), enjoying a podcast or audiobook, streaming a movie or TV show and using the headphones to hear the accompanying audio, or participating in a hands-free call, what you’ll hear is robust sound that’s extremely clear, with just the right amount of bass. And when you use the headphones with the proprietary Bowers & Wilkins Music smartphone app, you can personalize the audio even further.

I’d recommend these headphones to an audiophile who wants to experience premium sound from consumer-oriented headphones. Yes, they’re expensive, but to hear even higher-end audio, you’d need to upgrade to professional level headphones that can cost in the thousands.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones Include a Luxury Case and Cables

When not in use or when transporting the headphone in a briefcase, backpack, or bag, be sure to place them in the included hardshell case. This case offers crush protection and has a zipper to everything inside well protected. Inside the case, the soft lining perfectly cradles the headphones, while an integrated compartment safely stores the included cables and makes them readily accessible when they’re needed. The solid color case is well made and custom-designed specially for these headphones.

My Experience Using the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones

I tested these headphones in both quiet and loud environments by listening to a variety of different types of audio. As expected, the active noise cancellation worked nicely. Whatever audio I was listening to continued to sound clear and distortion-free. Their overall performance was excellent on their own, but being able to tweak the EQ settings and ANC adds a nice touch when it comes to creating a truly personalized listening experience based on what you’re listening to and your personal taste as an audiophile.

The Nappa leather used on the earcups and headband is incredibly soft and comfortable, but not vegan-friendly. But, for the majority of people who can overlook this and have the bank account that can handle this size purchase, my overall experience using these headphones was every bit as good as I expected from a premium audio brand, like Bowers & Wilkins. Compared to the Px7 S3 and original Px8 headphones, the Px8 S2s deliver overall improvement for those who demand the best of the best.

My Final Thoughts: Are the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones Worth It?

Out of all the highest-end, consumer-oriented headphones currently available – including the Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), Master & Dynamic MW75, Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95, Audio-Technica ATH-WP900, Sennheiser HD 490 Pro, and Apple AirPods Max to name just a few – the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones are as good, and in some cases better than these and other competitors when it comes to things like design, comfort, battery life, and audio quality.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Headphones

$799.00 $749.00 from Amazon $799.00 from Bowers & Wilkins

For the average consumer, what you get with the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones might be more than you really need for everyday use. There are certainly many cheaper options. However, for someone looking for the best in its higher price range, you can’t go wrong with Bowers & Wilkins’ top-of-the-line Px8 S2s.