Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Review
Table of contents
With the recent surge in the popularity of wireless Bluetooth headphones, Bowers & Wilkins is looking to make a strong impact in this category. Not only did it release the Px7 S2 earlier this year, which are also great headphones, it has recently released the Px8 as the flagship addition to its headphone line.
Design
The most notable difference between these headphones and their less expensive sibling is a change in cone material for the 40mm driver on each side, which now includes carbon fiber. This carbon cone is lighter, more rigid, and more precise in its behavior, resulting in less distortion and more transparency. B&W also fine-tuned the drivers to perfectly hit your ear. This opens the soundstage considerably and allows for more precise imaging, giving a true feeling of direction and distance to the instrumentals and vocals.
The Px8 is an experience for the senses, from the luxurious Nappa leather on the headband and memory foam ear cushions to the smooth finish of the metal sliders and pivots. It comes in two colors: black and tan, both stunning options. The fit and finish are exceptional with a comfort level that is truly hard to beat. After listening on and off for a couple weeks for hours at a time, I’ve yet to run into that throbbing ear pain that we all know too well from most over ear headphones.
A single, programmable Quick Action button is located on the left earcup which cycles through ANC On, Pass Through, and Off by default. This button can also be used to activate your device's voice assistant. The power and pairing switches, as well as a three-button control array, are located on the right earcup. The center button controls playback and track navigation (one touch for play/pause, two for forward track, three for backward track), as well as call handling. Designated volume controls or located on either side of the center button.
Features
The noise cancellation on the Px8 is significantly more responsive than on older generations of B&W headphones. Six high-performance microphones collaborate to offer the best results, with two monitoring the output from each drive unit within the earcup, two reacting to outside noise, and two assisting to provide voice quality for calls while also dampening sounds. The built-in microphones have been relocated and the noise-canceling algorithms and circuits have been improved, creating an ideal environment for the upgraded drivers to produce a strong, pure sound.
Music is played wirelessly from your phone using Bluetooth 5.2 which is a better, more dependable version of Bluetooth. aptX Adaptive technology is included for enhanced quality streaming. This adaptable wireless audio codec analyzes competing Bluetooth signals and optimizes either dependability or sound quality appropriately. In terms of battery life, the B&W Px8 headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours. As someone who often decides to sit down and relax to some music or a new movie, only to find that the headphones have 10% battery life, the fact that a quick 15 minute charge can give you 7 listening hours is a significant selling factor.
The Bowers & Wilkins Music app now features changes for bass and treble tone settings, as well as the wear sensor's sensitivity. This software can now connect directly to music streaming services like Tidal, Qobuz, and Deezer, allowing you to control everything from a single location. It also provides a more seamless user experience if you have other network-connected Bowers & Wilkins devices that can all be operated within the app.
A USB-C to USB-C cable allows direct connection to your computer, as well as a USB-C to 3.5mm option. When using the 3.5mm option, performance suffers, but this is expected given the additional processing in the signal route. When connected to my MacBook Pro, the all-USB-C link sounds superior and that’s the route that I would recommend. The headphones also come with a convenient zip-up hard shell carrying case.
Sound Quality
Despite its closed-back construction, the Px8 does an excellent job of portraying a wide soundstage. Listening to Nora Jones' "Come Away With Me'' provides a strong sense of presence. Detail is also excellent, bringing the listener along for the ride as you can hear the faint sound of background vinyl static, piano keystrokes, and tight guitar strings being played. The vocals on this track have a pretty bright tone and these headphones portray a superb, natural sound signature.
Moving on to something entirely different, "Flights Booked" by Drake demonstrates that these headphones can truly dig deep and provide plenty of punch to the thumping bassline. This blends nicely into the song rather than overpowering the vocals and background music, further emphasizing separation between the drivers.
Switching over to a more upbeat song, Paramore's "This is Why" makes these headphones sound three dimensional and extremely energetic. From the detail, in the glockenspiel to the vibraphone, each instrument is unique, textured, and profound.
The Px8 also does an excellent job of removing the music from your ears and relocating the instruments and singers in front of you for a wider and more immersive presentation. The only downside is the detail in these headphones can certainly uncover flaws in the source or recording, so make sure the signal sent into them is clean enough for the headphones to perform to its capability.
Conclusion
Bowers & Wilkins manages to build headphones with a luxurious aesthetic that are also some of the most engaging wireless headphones I've heard. Retailing at $699, a moderate amount for wireless headphones, the Px8 has an amazing sound and is worthy of the premium.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Exceptional Build Quality | Premium Pricing |
Comfortable While Wearing | Noise Cancellation Can Be Beaten By Rivals |
High Quality Sound |
FAQs
Do Bowers & Wilkins Make Good Headphones?
Absolutely. The beautiful, sophisticated Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones have a lot going for them. They look and sound terrific, are really comfortable due to the NAPA leather headband and memory foam ear cushions, support up to 24-bit audio, and are compatible with a wide range of Bluetooth codecs.
How do I connect my Bowers & Wilkins headphones to my iPhone?
Navigate to the Bluetooth screen in Settings on your source device. Your Bowers & Wilkins headphones will display in the discovery list if Bluetooth is enabled. To begin pairing, choose your headphones.
Which is better: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 or Focal Bathys?
They are both excellent wireless headphones but each have a different sound signature. The Focal Bathy’s have a little bit more detail in vocals and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 have better bass and are a tad more comfortable.
