Bowers and Wilkins, known for their elegant audio products and stunning design, released the Px7 S2e headphones as the next evolution of the Px7 S2 headphones. They look similar to the Bowers and Wilkins Px8 headphones we reviewed earlier but come at a lower price point. I’ve used these for a few weeks.
DESIGN
As expected, the Px7 S2e headphones are clean. We are reviewing the Cloud Grey versions, but they are also available in Anthracite Black, Forest Green, and Ocean Blue. They have a premium feel with soft leather memory foam cushions, which are pretty comfortable with earrings and glasses. The top of the headband is wrapped in fabric, while the inner part is a tighter leather. The aluminum metal plates outside of the earpads have the Bowers & Wilkins logo engraved. These have physical buttons for volume, playback control, and a USB-C charging port. The refined look of the Px7 S2e definitely falls in line with the Bowers and Wilkins branding. The other cup has a quick action button, which you can assign toggle noise-cancellation or activate a voice assistant. While they do turn flat, these headphones don’t fold, and while they have a clean look, I fear the fabric getting snagged on something, so I keep them in their carrying case. In the carrying case, a pocket carries two cables: a USB-C to 3.5mm jack and a USB-C to USB-C.
Bowers & Wilkins Introduces New Colorways for Px7 S2e and Px8 Headphones
SOUND AND EXPERIENCE
I paired the headphones to both of my phones (iOS and Android) and streamed music to them via Tidal. The Px7 S2e has 40mm drivers, which are placed at an angle to help deliver sound directly. The PX7 S2e features Bluetooth 5.2, supporting aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, and AAC codecs for higher-quality sound. I also used the Bowers and Wilkins Music app to mess with the equalizer a bit for certain tracks. With the B&W music app, you can connect to streaming apps such as, Deezer, TuneIn, and Pandora. I find the Bowers and Wilkins sound very natural, with a decent amount of bass. It feels like the artist is singing in your ear. A very clean sound.
Active noise canceling on these isn’t as strong as I’d like, but they do the job. There is no adaptive noise canceling to change with your environment, so your only option is to toggle it on or off. These do have the wear sensor feature. Like on the Px8 headphones, I do not like using the wear sensor feature. It rarely works well. You can toggle this on the Bowers and Wilkins app. I keep it off.
When it comes to comfort, and weight, it’s not that bad. The longest I’ve worn these for, is a short flight of about 3 hours. When it comes to flights, I don’t wear earrings, but I do wear my glasses, and I didn’t feel much pressure or pinching until the last half-hour or so. Otherwise, I wear these when riding the New York City train for 45 minutes to an hour at a time and it doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
You can charge these up in about two hours, but if you don’t have the time, you can get seven hours of playback from a fifteen-minute charge. Great for those who are always charging things at the last minute.
VERDICT
The Bowers and Wilkins Px7 were already a good If you prioritize warm, natural soundstage of Bowers and Wilkins, the Px7 S2e headphones are a great entry to the brand. They are on in the same category with the Sony WH-1000XM5. The Px7 S2e feel more premium, but the XM5s have better ANC. Some may prefer the audio quality of the Px7 S2e over the Sony XM5s. The XM5s are also controlled through gestures, while the Px7 S2e’s have the buttons on the earcups. The price point will also be a deciding factor as the Sony XM5s can be found on sale, while the Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2e, rarely drop drastically in price. They can be found as low as $329.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Headphones
$399
Pros
- Crisp Sound
- Great Battery Life
Cons
- Noise canceling isn't great
- Don't fold in carrying case
