Dear reader, this week I have the pleasure of bringing you a review of a brand-new pair of headphones from Bowers & Wilkins, which I had the chance to receive a few weeks ahead of their official launch date. These headphones are called Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 and they replace the previous Px8 model, positioning themselves as the current flagship in Bowers & Wilkins’ headphone lineup. According to the manufacturer, the Px8 S2 are “the best headphones we have ever created.”
The moment I received the Px8 S2 coincided with a trip to western Germany, more precisely to the Sauerland region, so it felt only natural to take the Px8 S2 with me and test them on the move—on the plane, along the trails winding through the German hills. A bit further down, I invite you to take a look at a photograph of a sculpted bust I discovered while walking toward Küppelturm, an observation tower overlooking the entire area, especially the village of Freienohl and the town of Arnsberg. As soon as we reached this clearing, from where the whole region opened up in front of us, Lucia gave me a hint: “Why don’t you put the headphones on the gentleman’s head so we can take a few photos?”
Of course, I couldn’t let such a moment pass and went along with the idea. Later on, I found out that the gentleman in question is an important figure in the administration of Freienohl, so we take this opportunity to thank him for allowing us to take these photographs. I can’t help but notice how wonderful these small German towns are—deeply shaped by civilization, yet still preserving a genuine passion for a quiet, unhurried way of life. This photograph captures my better half, Lucia, at the top of the tower I mentioned earlier:
UNBOXING AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Just like the Px7 S3, the Px8 S2 arrive in a similar, refined and distinctive carrying case, where the headphones rest perfectly, surrounded by soft fabric and accessories. The case is not bulky, yet it is rigid enough to protect the headphones properly when placed in a bag or a backpack.
There is also an accessories compartment, where you’ll find a USB-C to USB-C cable—for charging or digital connectivity—as well as a USB-C to 3.5 mm stereo jack cable for connecting the headphones to an analog source.
When you first lay eyes on the Px8 S2, you are immediately impressed by their build quality, with genuine Nappa leather present on all surfaces—soft to the touch, yet highly durable when it comes to scratches and everyday wear:
The level of detail is remarkable, and the way the Px8 S2 feel on your head and to the touch makes it immediately clear that, compared to the previous generation, we are dealing with a higher level of quality and ergonomics. The headband mechanism is a true technological sculpture made of aluminum, different from the previous generation and now visibly exposing the cables that carry the signal from one earcup to the other. The Px8 S2 are available in two color options—Onyx Black and Warm Stone:
The setup process went smoothly, without any issues. I downloaded the “Music | Bowers & Wilkins” app, which made it very easy to immediately access all the headphone settings, adjust the EQ, and perform a firmware upgrade:
From the app, you can also adjust the Wear Sensor settings—the function that determines how sensitive the Px8 S2 are when automatically pausing playback as you take them off your head. From here, you can also enable or disable the Auto Standby function and make EQ adjustments according to your personal taste. To my ears, they sounded the most balanced with the EQ set to “flat.”
TECHNICAL DETAILS
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are equipped with two optimized and improved Carbon Cone drivers compared to the previous generation, delivering audio resolution of up to 24-bit/96 kHz. The Carbon Cone units feature a completely new mechanical design, allowing the earcups to be slimmer than those of the previous generation. Below, you can see an image of these drivers:
A total of eight microphones ensure excellent call quality, along with a Noise Cancellation system that has been significantly improved over the previous generation. I should also mention the Pass-Through function, which has seen a notable upgrade as well. Battery life is rated at around 30 hours with all features enabled (the same as the previous model), and with certain functions disabled—especially Noise Cancellation and Pass-Through—it can last considerably longer. A full charge takes approximately 15 minutes.
Bluetooth connectivity includes aptX Adaptive 24/96 wireless, as well as Qualcomm’s latest innovation, aptX Lossless. Combined with a powerful DSP developed by Bowers & Wilkins, the result is outstanding—true 24-bit/96 kHz high-resolution playback. Analog 3.5 mm connectivity is also supported, alongside high-resolution USB-C connectivity, a major advantage for both computer users and compatible mobile devices, including the latest generation of iPhones. Both cables are included in the carrying case that comes with the headphones.
Some users may miss touch controls, as the Px8 S2 rely exclusively on physical buttons, but I personally appreciate this approach. There are dedicated buttons for every function—volume, on/off, play/pause, power/pairing, and more.
WHAT MUSIC DID I LISTEN TO ON THE PX8 S2?
The Px8 S2 have a special kind of magic, a distinctive way of presenting the soundstage—large and holographic—very much in line with the signature of Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers. That’s why it was easy for me to choose one of my favorite albums for this test: Moon Safari, released by the French duo AIR in 1998.
The album feels both classic and modern at the same time, rooted halfway in classic electronic music, while the other half points toward a more modern direction of the genre. I therefore believe it’s important to see Moon Safari as a cornerstone of the transition electronic music went through in the 1990s—shifting from classic to modern, from Kraftwerk to Aphex Twin. It was precisely through this attempt to understand that transition in electronic music that I arrived at Air, and, quite unexpectedly, I ended up completely falling in love with Moon Safari and choosing it for this review.
Moon Safari immediately impressed me with a very large sound, extraordinarily well crafted, with remarkable attention to detail, a fully realized holography rarely found in music, and a living soul that somehow managed to be captured in the mix—most likely a small piece of the soul of the two members of Air, Nicolas and Jean-Benoît.
The Px8 S2 presented this entire special symphony of synthesizers and vocoders flawlessly, drawing me into the trance of classic electronic music, adding air and space where many other headphones simply cannot.
HOW DO THE PX8 S2 SOUND, AND HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO THE PX7 S3?
The very first impression the Px8 S2 make is one of superb build quality, but the real surprise comes the moment you connect them to your phone and start listening to a few tracks. The sound is deeply immersive, with a large, holographic soundstage that wraps you in a bubble of sound, a round and sweet bass, all beautifully complemented by the detailed highs so characteristic of Bowers & Wilkins—this time perfectly tuned, with no trace of aggressiveness.
Given that we’ve had the lower-tier Px7 S3 at home for quite some time, it was very easy for me to compare the two directly, switching back and forth between them. Physically, they look extremely similar, sharing the exact same dimensions, with the real differences lying in the finishes and materials—where the Px7 S3 use fabric, the Px8 S2 feature Nappa leather. I was already very pleased with the Px7 S3; they sound good, complete, beautiful, and detailed. However, the Px8 S2 go noticeably further, offering the same familiar sound signature I was used to from the Px7 S3, but improved in every direction—better bass, a larger soundstage, more detailed highs, and an overall presentation that truly feels like a genuine upgrade.
So, if the build quality of the Px8 S2 is impressive and clearly feels like an evolution over the previous generation, the sound—when compared to the Px7 S3—brings improvements across the board as well. I consider the Px8 S2 a true flagship, one that is hard to beat by other brands and headphone setups, even those involving separate amplification and DACs.
THE AUDIOPHILE HINT — DO BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES NEED BURN-IN?
You’ll understand, dear reader, that I’m speaking now from an audiophile’s perspective, being used to amplifiers and DACs that cost thousands of euros and are so complex that they sometimes need months of burn-in before fully settling into their parameters. For example, Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers are well known for their long burn-in periods, sometimes requiring up to six months to fully open up.
From this perfectionist audiophile point of view, the question naturally arises—do Bluetooth headphones also need burn-in? Well, the answer is yes. Even these require a burn-in period, despite being simpler and far smaller than full-size loudspeakers. Any electronic device benefits from a period of stabilization.
That said, in the case of Bluetooth headphones—including the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2—the required burn-in time is generally short. The best practice is not to listen to them immediately after taking them out of the box, but instead to let them play on a desk for at least three hours. This is more than enough burn-in time for these headphones. Choose an album with steady, consistent bass lines and let it play on repeat during those three hours; after that, you can comfortably enjoy your favorite music.
TIPS & TRICKS
- When doing critical listening, try disabling Noise Cancellation and Pass-Through; listen in direct mode—the sound will be better.
- They do require burn-in, but it’s a short one; let them play on a desk for about three hours before listening.
- Make sure the device you connect them to supports the aptX HD or aptX Adaptive protocols—this is when the Px8 S2 sound their best. If your device doesn’t support these high-resolution codecs, the headphones will still work via AAC or basic SBC, but they won’t sound as good as they do in high-resolution modes.
THE BRIGHT SIDE
- Excellent build quality, true luxury feel, genuine Nappa leather.
- Very practical and comfortable to wear; they don’t feel bulky and don’t cause fatigue.
- Sound quality that matches the build—pure “B&W” sound.
- Improved Noise Cancellation and Pass-Through compared to the previous generation.
THE DARK SIDE
- The app is less feature-rich compared to other brands, offering only the basics.
- Genuine leather may be a plus for some, but a downside for others.
CONLCUSION
I remain deeply impressed by the refinement of these headphones. They truly feel like a luxury accessory, with the Nappa leather standing out as a superb detail alongside the sculptural aluminum. Just as important, their sound is outstanding—clearly superior to the Px7 S3 and a noticeable improvement over the previous Px8 generation. The presentation is holographic, placing you inside a bubble of sound in a way that only Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers know how to achieve. If I were to compare the sound of the Px8 S2 to B&W’s loudspeaker range, I’d say the Px8 S2 relate to the Px7 S3 in the same way the 805 D4 relate to the 606 S3—roughly two levels above.
When you put the Px8 S2 on your head, you feel like a gentleman. If you’re wearing a T-shirt and shorts, it suddenly feels as if that’s not quite enough for the Px8 S2, as if they demand something more to be worthy of them. More than once, I found myself tempted to set aside casual wear and reach for my tweed jackets, club ties, and loafers. In such a context, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 feel perfectly at home.
Silviu TUDOR
An article written in my sweet spot,
and this is what I’ve heard.
