Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Review: Premium Wireless Headphones for Audiophiles

Explore the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones, where style meets exceptional sound quality in a premium wireless package.

Introduction to Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

We’ve pondered quite a bit about it, and maybe the idea of advertising Bowers & Wilkins wireless headphones with David Beckham makes sense. After all, Beckham has always been known for bringing a certain glamour to the modern game, mixing effortless charm and refined style with genuine football talent. You don’t get over 100 matches for the England national team just for your good looks and high cheekbones.

The best Bowers & Wilkins headphones remain the same. The current flagship model, the Px8, continues to delight listeners, while the five-star Px7 S2e boasts an incredible blend of style and performance. The latest iteration, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, undoubtedly inherits the same attractive features as its predecessors, but looks are nothing if you can’t score a goal or sing a decent tune.

If they can achieve the same impressive mix of style and substance, Bowers & Wilkins' latest offering might just become another Beckham-level hit for the iconic brand.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: Price

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones are priced at approximately $450. They are premium wireless headphones facing serious competition, as all the headphones listed below rank among the best wireless headphones available.

Currently, the five-star in-ear headphones Dali IO-8 retail for about $675, while Apple AirPods Max are around $650. If you're looking for something more budget-friendly, the excellent Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones can be found for about $300, and the top-rated active noise-cancelling headphones, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, are currently priced at approximately $455.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: Build and Design

It may just be us, but the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are so stunning that we almost don’t want to take them out of their case and put them on. B&W has always known how to make headphones look chic and stylish, and they continue to do so with these sleek third-generation headphones.

We previously thought the Px7 S2e had a high perceived value, but their successors look and feel even better than ever.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: Specifications

• Bluetooth: 3
• Codec Support: SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Classic, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive
• Noise-Cancelling Feature: Yes
• Battery Life: Up to 30 hours (with ANC on)
• Finishes: x 3 (Anthracite Black, Indigo Blue, White)
• Weight: 300 g (without case)

Using the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 is an absolute joy. Every design detail appears to have been crafted with genuine effort and attention, from the hinges connecting the ear cups to the textured fabric of the headband and the almost invisible metallic accents that shimmer in the light. While this may be subjective, it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful pair at this price point.

In response to feedback that some users found the Px7 S2e too bulky and heavy, B&W has put their new headphones on a strict diet, making them lighter at 300 grams and giving them a slimmer profile when folded. This makes the new model more comfortable to wear and transport, and although the S3 doesn’t fold, the included carrying case is flatter and more compact, making it easy to fit into a backpack or suitcase.

This new lightness, combined with a familiar form factor that has never been uncomfortable for us, ensures a snug fit. The clamping force is well-regulated, and the combination of firmness and pliability in the ear cushions (which feel a tad softer than their predecessors) doesn’t have our ears pleading for mercy after just a few minutes of use, even if we experienced a bit of heat during testing. With environmental consciousness in mind, various components of the S3—ear cushions, headband, and even internal drive mechanisms—can be replaced if they wear out.

If you’re not a fan of touch controls on the ear cups and prefer not to rely on a series of swipes and taps to operate the headphones, Bowers & Wilkins offers a more traditional approach with a few physical buttons on the Px7 S3. On the back of the right ear cup, there’s a play/pause button, flanked by longer volume controls, while the left ear cup features a sliding switch for Bluetooth/power and a customizable “Quick Action” button that we currently use for toggling between noise-cancelling modes on our test pair.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: Features

What you see here is a spec sheet with checks in all the right places and checkmarks rated with flying colors. Battery life is a very decent 30 hours with ANC on (just like the Px7 S2e), and a 15-minute charge provides an astonishing seven hours of playback. Even if we wish the overall battery life were a bit longer, this quick charge capability is simply astounding.

The Bluetooth codec support is extensive: the standard AAC and SBC codecs work alongside higher-quality options. aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless are available in the menu, and if you want to achieve maximum audio fidelity, there’s a USB-C cable and a 3.5mm cable included for listening at up to 24-bit/96kHz.

These headphones keep up with the times, supporting Auracast, which means the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 can receive audio signals from compatible broadcasting sources. However, in the future, as reported by B&W, this feature will be available along with support for LE Audio and the higher-quality LC3 codec.

In another wireless update coming this year, spatial audio will be introduced in Bowers & Wilkins headphones for the first time.

The good news is that the always-useful Bluetooth Multipoint feature is available right away, making it easy to listen to and switch between multiple connected devices.

The Bowers & Wilkins Music app is what you need to customize the user interface, adjust the equalizer, or check the main parameters of the headphones. It’s a professional and multifunctional platform that also offers direct access to the libraries of music streaming services you subscribe to, including Tidal, Deezer, and Qobuz. However, as we noted when testing the Px7 S2e, we don’t think many users will use the integrated Tidal interface instead of their preferred platform's built-in interface.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: ANC and Call Quality

The noise-cancelling capabilities of the Px7 S2e were certainly worth shouting about, and the same can be said for the third generation of the British brand's premium over-ear headphones. With a thoughtful arrangement of eight microphones, Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 effortlessly and seamlessly block unwanted sounds and distractions, making it a natural and pleasant experience.

There’s a solid barrier between you and the outside world, and while you don’t experience the impenetrable “bubble” effect like in Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, B&W provide enough reliable protection. Road noise is muffled, voices come through softer, and sharp bangs and shouts aren’t jarring enough to make you jump when a door slams or a passing car honks loudly.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 menu includes two noise-cancelling modes, but there are no adaptive or “real-time” settings; however, the quality remains high regardless of whether we select full noise cancellation or the more permeable pass-through mode. Both modes function properly, with the latter transparency mode letting in enough information for us to stay aware of what’s happening on public transport or in a noisy office.

Voice calls are handled well. The positioning of the microphones and B&W’s “ADI Pure Voice” processing technology ensures “outstanding voice clarity,” and while we wouldn’t go that far with such lofty adjectives, calls are unlikely to feel taxing. Human speech sounds natural, not muffled or robotic, and background noises—barring a few minor disturbances—rarely interfere with our conversations during tests.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: Sound

Bowers & Wilkins has made bold claims about the sound capabilities of their latest headphones, calling them the most “advanced and feature-rich” wireless headphones ever released. Considering the pedigree of the five-star over-ear Px7 S2e and the more premium Px8, that’s a bold statement.

To achieve such impressive heights, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are equipped with upgraded 40mm dynamic drivers featuring new chassis, voice coils, magnets, and suspensions. All of this, according to B&W, provides “enhanced resolution and superior dynamics.”

While it’s always wise to approach hyperbole with caution, after exploring the sound capabilities of the Px7 S3, we found only a few weak spots in their defense. The Px7 S3 truly are exceptionally refined and detailed headphones that astonished us with their ability to surpass their predecessors and even the more expensive Dali IO-8 in terms of textural accuracy.

These wireless headphones dive deeply into your music, going beyond mere general sound to reveal instrumental timbres with the relentless curiosity and enthusiasm of a hound on a scent.

The Px7 S3 engulf you in the atmosphere of the performance, breaking down the barriers between you and your music and insisting that you become part of the experience, somewhat like that friend at the concert who nudges you closer to the stage. The Sony WH-1000XM5 deliver a more open sound, yet B&W possesses an intimate character that immerses you amidst the musical tempest, regardless of what you’re listening to.

This is far from criticism. The immersive effect of your favorite tunes is exhilarating, and the outstanding details revealed by the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 enhance it further. The earthy strings in Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’s “Song for Bob” possess genuine force and power, revealing the mournful heart of the composition, while the various components of John Williams’s “Duel of the Fates”—thundering drums, energetic brass segments, operatic vocals—combine authenticity with gripping drama.

The Px7 S2e and Px8 can hardly be called simple headphones, but their richness and thoughtfulness are simply on another level.

If the details are impressive, then the muscular nature of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 adds even more expressiveness—they are very powerful headphones, and this fact becomes apparent when we select “Left Behind” by Slipknot as our primary testing track. When the pulsating anthem transitions from zigzagging verses to the driving chorus, the Px7 S3 truly unleash those powerful industrial drums, adding enough weight and muscle for you to really let loose.

At the lower end of the spectrum, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 deliver more than enough power to satisfy bass enthusiasts. The booming waves of electronic instrumentation in “Risingson” by Massive Attack dip to deep levels, yet B&W remain restrained and controlled enough not to sound mushy or uneven. Powerful bass reproduction is one thing, but a potent low end with flexibility and nuance? That’s a much trickier task.

While the Sony WH-1000XM5 provide a lighter and freer sense of movement, playing “Burn The Witch” by Radiohead on Tidal, their B&W counterparts reveal the intricate rhythmic patterns of the track with greater skill. Yes, the Dali IO-8 set the benchmark at this level for capturing dynamic shifts in the song, but the combination of rhythmic perception and dynamic nuances in the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 still creates a powerful mix.

Bowers & Wilkins included a wired connection with their new headphones, and we’d recommend that if you’re seeking the highest sound quality, you should utilize the wired connection—just keep in mind that the headphones still need to be powered on. When connected to our player via USB-C, the sound in the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 becomes cleaner, deeper, and more detailed, but this doesn’t detract from their powerful and engaging sound.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: Verdict

Following the five-star Px7 S2e lineup from B&W, which became a resounding success, replicating the overall appeal of its predecessors wasn’t easy. However, the powerful and engaging sound of the Px7 S3 and refined design make them elite contenders in a crowded market.

In terms of sound, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 surpass their predecessors in nearly every aspect—it’s a combination of style and quality.

• What is the battery life of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3? The Px7 S3 offers up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC enabled.
• Are the Px7 S3 suitable for making phone calls? Yes, the call quality is clear and effective, thanks to the advanced microphone technology.
• Do the headphones support wired connections? Yes, the Px7 S3 includes a USB-C and a 3.5mm cable for high-quality wired listening.
• Is noise cancelling available on the Px7 S3? Yes, they come with effective active noise cancellation and a transparency mode.
• What are the color options for the Px7 S3? The headphones are available in Anthracite Black, Indigo Blue, and White.

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