Bowers & Wilkins Challenges Itself with Px8 S2: Are These Its Best Headphones Yet?

Explore how Bowers & Wilkins pushes audio boundaries with the Px8 S2, their newest wireless headphones boasting premium sound and design.

Bowers & Wilkins Raises the Bar with Px8 S2 Wireless Headphones

If you're anything like me, a true audio enthusiast, you know how exciting it is when a brand you trust announces a new flagship headphone model. Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, a company known for its serious devotion to sound excellence, is setting out to redefine the wireless full-size headphone category with their latest Px8 S2 headphones.

Replacing the beloved five-star-rated Px8 from a few years back, these new headphones promise to elevate every aspect—sound, noise cancellation, comfort, and premium usability. As a fan who’s lived through the Px8 era, I’m curious and a bit nostalgic, but also ready to be wowed.

Sound That’s Truly Next Level

The heart of the Px8 S2’s promised magic lies in a fresh 40mm Carbon Cone driver. Bowers & Wilkins touts this as their most sonically refined headphone yet, thanks to this driver’s “exceptionally low distortion and coloration” paired with “stunning detail and clarity.” Imagine hearing your favorite tracks with a pristine clarity that feels like the artist is right there in the room.

But it’s not just the drivers that make these impressive. The entire chassis, voice coil, suspension, and magnet have been redesigned and improved. What’s clever is the angled positioning of the driver components, ensuring every point on the speaker surface maintains an equal distance to each ear—this means a perfectly balanced stereo image. As a longtime headphone lover, this kind of engineering detail is music to my ears!

Each driver gets its own dedicated headphone amplifier, delivering sound that’s reportedly bigger and more powerful than the original Px8. For die-hard audiophiles craving premium wireless streaming, Px8 S2 supports aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless codecs, letting you enjoy high-res 24-bit/96kHz audio over Bluetooth. Prefer wired? You’re covered with both a 3.5mm input and USB-C connection for even higher fidelity.

Noise-Cancelling That Aims to Impress

Noise cancellation is a make-or-break feature for many headphone buyers, myself included. The Px8 S2 packs eight high-performance microphones—four per ear cup—to tackle ambient noise. I’ve tested Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 S3 earlier this year and found their noise-cancelling a bit behind leaders in the field, so these Px8 S2s have big shoes to fill.

The real question: Does the Px8 S2 deliver a tighter, quieter cocoon? Time will tell, but the specs and mic array look promising.

Battery Life & Convenience for Long Listening Sessions

One of the most crucial factors for wireless headphones is stamina, and the Px8 S2 promises a solid 30 hours of playback with active noise cancellation enabled. That’s enough to last through several cross-country flights or marathon music sessions at home.

Additionally, a quick 15-minute charge will net you approximately seven hours of listening—great for last-minute juice before heading out.

Future-Ready Features and Upgrades

Bowers & Wilkins clearly has an eye on the future. Later this year, they plan to roll out wireless updates that will bring spatial audio support, Bluetooth LE Audio, and Auracast audio sharing tech. This proactive approach means your Px8 S2 can grow with evolving sound technology without needing a hardware upgrade.

Comfort and Style: Perfect for All-Day Wear

The Px8 S2 isn’t just about sound; it’s designed for comfort and elegance. Sporting a slimmer profile than the original Px8 and a more compact carrying case, these headphones are ideal for long listening sessions without fatigue.

The materials scream premium—nappa leather ear cups paired with aluminum headbands and an open cable design come together in what Bowers & Wilkins describes as the “perfect balance of optimized mechanical rigidity and refined style.” As someone who values both how headphones feel and look, this is music industry craftsmanship at its best.

What the Brand Says

“We are incredibly proud to launch the Px8 S2 — the best headphones we have ever created. The Px8 S2 sets new standards, redefining expectations around sound quality, design, and craftsmanship.”
— Giles Pocock, Vice President of Marketing, Bowers & Wilkins

Price and Availability

The Px8 S2 launches on September 24, available in Warm Stone and Onyx Black finishes. The price tag? $799 USD—a premium step above the first-generation Px8’s roughly $200 cost, reflecting the extensive upgrades and refined engineering.

The Verdict?

Bowers & Wilkins is no stranger to raising the stakes, and with the Px8 S2, they are clearly challenging themselves to lead the wireless headphone pack. For fans of pristine sound, sleek design, and future-forward features, these headphones seem worth every penny. Whether or not they truly crown themselves king of the wireless audio hill is up to the listener, but the signs are promising.

FAQ

• Are the Px8 S2 headphones compatible with all Bluetooth devices?
  Yes, the Px8 S2 supports Bluetooth and is compatible with devices that use standard Bluetooth protocols, including support for aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless on compatible sources.
• Can I use the headphones wired?
  Absolutely. The Px8 S2 offers both a 3.5mm jack and USB-C input for wired listening, perfect for audiophiles seeking the highest audio fidelity.
• How effective is the noise cancellation on the Px8 S2?
  The headphones use eight microphones to reduce ambient noise actively. While previous models had mixed reviews, Bowers & Wilkins has worked to improve this feature for the Px8 S2.
• What colors do the Px8 S2 come in?
  You can choose between Warm Stone and Onyx Black finishes to match your style.
• Is there a software update planned for these headphones?
  Yes, by the end of the year, Bowers & Wilkins plans to release wireless updates adding spatial audio support, Bluetooth LE Audio, and Auracast audio sharing.

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