Headphones are practically an extension of me. So, when the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 landed on my desk, I was beyond excited to put them through their paces. B&W has a long-standing reputation for high-fidelity audio, and I was ready to see if these new over-ears lived up to the hype after my brief introduction to them weeks earlier.
DESIGN AND BUILD B&W Px7 S3 HEADPHONES
A follow up to the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e headphones, the Px7 S3 have some subtle but effective differences from their predecessors.
As expected with Bowers and Wilkins, right out of the box, the Px7 S3 headphones felt premium. From the packaging, to the sleek case, even the included cables everything screams top-tier quality. I opted for the Indigo Blue finish, they are absolutely gorgeous. The consistent emphasis on this premium feel and gorgeous design across various reviews highlights that B&W is strategically positioning the Px7 S3 as more than just an audio device; it’s a luxury lifestyle accessory. For those who value how their technology looks and integrates into their personal style, the B&W Px7 S3’s aesthetic appeal is almost as important as its audio performance.
The B&W Px7 S3 have a much slimmer their profile is compared to previous Px7 models. They redesigned the arm mechanism and refined headband contribute to a closer, more secure fit. They don’t pop out as much from your head, which is a helpful for maintaining an overall sleeker look while you’re out and about. The headband has nice woven fabric finish on the outer part. This ergonomic and aesthetic improvement, making them visibly slimmer and flatter, directly addresses a common concern with over-ear headphones: their bulkiness. Glad to see B&W paying attention to this.
They are lighter than the previous models too. The Px7 S3 weigh 300g. Of course, not the absolute lightest headphones on the market, but they definitely don’t feel heavy like some other premium over-ear headphones. The memory foam earcups feel plush and comfortable. Took longer than usual for me to want to take them off. They’re breathable and don’t clamp onto my head too tight. The band and earcups are angled to land better on the ears, for better sound; stereo spaciousness. As someone who always wears earrings and glasses, it feels comfy.
The button layout on the headphones was revised. The right earcup has textured buttons for volume up/down control and track control, play/pause. The left earcup has the power/Bluetooth pair button and the Quick Action button.
SOUND AND EXPERIENCE Px7 S3
The Px7 S3 have new 40mm biocellulose drivers. As for connectivity, they have Bluetooth 5.3 and codecs aptX lossless, aptX Adapative 24/96, aptX HD, aptX Classic and AAC for high resolution audio.
ACTIVE NOISE CANCELING (ANC) AND EQ
Active Noise canceling (ANC) could still be a bit stronger but they definitely get the job done. It’s not a full mute of the outside world, it’s more than adaptive ANC though. These have the wear sensor feature which while it mostly hits, it’s had enough misses to get annoying.
With the inclusion of codecs and open soundstage, the listening sessions were so great. The sound is balanced all around. Whether the music is more on the bass side or more of a focus on vocals, the sound was immersive.
I am looking forward to testing the spatial audio capabilities that is supposed to come with future updates to the headphones. LE Audio compatibility will also come with those updates.
The natural sound profile, with just enough bass on Px7 S3 play with incredible detail which can be adjusted to taste with the 5-band EQ on the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. Users can also pick the “TrueSound Mode” if they don’t want to mess with the EQ.
As for longevity and battery life, you can do a quick charge of 15 minutes and get up to 7 hours of playback. When it comes to phone calls, I’m usually self-conscious of handling calls with over-ear headphones on as I am afraid I’ll start yelling without realizing it. The Px7 S3 have eight mics located around the periphery of each ear cup. The other party heard me most of the time when I called them from busy city streets and while riding the train. The headphones use ADI Pure Voice designed to help crystal call quality. The other party barely heard the outside noise.
VERDICT
The slimmer build and elevated design of the Px7 S3 headphones was helpful in comfort and longer use. The sound is amazing. I enjoyed how loud they got without losing quality or sounding distorted.
Available in three colors, Indigo blue, Anthracite Black and Canvas White at $449, these are definitely in the premium headphone category. Bowers & Wilkins stayed on brand with the Px7 S3. The design and build are greatly improved, while still delivering amazing sound. If you prefer the natural, dynamic soundstage, the Px7 S3 will deliver.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones
$449
Pros
- Slimmer design and lightweight build
- Physical buttons on earcups for accurate control
Cons
- Headphones don't fold
- ANC isn't the best out of all headphones in this price range
