Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: What’s Impressed Us So Far
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 have officially arrived, and they're already shaping up to be one of the most exciting wireless headphone launches of the year.
Positioned at the very top of B&W’s headphone lineup with a premium £629 price tag, this second generation model takes what was already one of the most luxurious pairs of headphones on the market and makes them even better.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: SHS 60-Second Summary RRP: £629.00 See Latest Pricing The original Px8 set a high bar when they launched in 2022. The new Px8 S2 builds on that legacy with a series of meaningful upgrades, and the best part is that they stay true to everything that made the original so popular while pushing performance that little bit further. This second-generation model feels like Bowers & Wilkins doubling down on what it does best. Wearability has been improved with a slimmer, more comfortable fit, while new materials and finishes make them look and feel even more premium. Sound quality has also taken a noticeable step forward, with greater clarity, more controlled bass and a more detailed, hi-fi-inspired presentation that feels perfectly in line with the brand’s heritage. There's smart tech upgrades too, including support for aptX Lossless up to 24-bit/96kHz, Bluetooth 5.3, and a new 8-microphone array that improves both call quality and ANC. Add in a new five-band EQ for more precise tuning and you have a flagship headphone that’s better equipped than ever. | |
| Pros: ✓ Rich, detailed sound with impressive control ✓ Sleek, upgraded design ✓ Slimmer build with premium touches everywhere | Cons: ✖ £629 price puts them firmly in the premium category ✖ No folding design which limits portability for travel ✖ ANC is improved but not class-leading |
In this first look, we’ll share our early impressions, explore how the Px8 S2 compares with both the Px7 S3 and the original Px8, and consider whether they justify their higher price tag.
Watch: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Unboxing
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: What's New?
If you’re wondering what’s changed this time around, the answer is quite a lot. Some upgrades are easy to spot, others are more subtle, but together they add up to a much more capable and polished pair of headphones than the original Px8.
Design & Comfort
- Slimmer, lighter build: Now more comfortable for longer listening sessions.
- Redesigned carry case: Smaller and easier to pack, ideal for travel.
- New exposed cable detailing: A subtle visual change that gives them a more premium, distinctive look.
- Replaceable ear pads and headband: Both can now be serviced or swapped out, helping the headphones last longer.
Sound Performance
- Reworked driver components: A new chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet all help deliver more precision, control and clarity.
- Integrated amplifier: The ADI SMM6515 provides cleaner, more controlled sound reproduction.
Connectivity & Features
- aptX Lossless support: Now streams up to 24-bit/96kHz (previously 24/48) for better hi-res audio performance.
- Bluetooth 5.3: Faster pairing and a more stable wireless connection.
- New 5-band EQ: A big upgrade over the previous bass and treble sliders, giving you much more control over the sound.
ANC & Call Quality
- Eight-microphone array: Six mics now handle ANC (up from four) for more adaptive noise cancellation, while the additional mics and enhanced PureVoice tech deliver clearer, more consistent call quality.
And that’s not all. Bowers & Wilkins has also confirmed that spatial audio and LE Audio support are coming in a future firmware update, meaning the Px8 S2 should only get better with time.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: Price & Availability
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are available now with an RRP of £629 / $699 / €699. That places them firmly in the premium tier of wireless headphones, sitting above rivals like the Sonos Ace, Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, and Sony WH-1000XM6.
There’s no getting around the fact that this is a serious investment, but that price reflects exactly what the Px8 S2 are built to be: a true flagship product that combines luxury build quality, premium materials and hi-fi-grade sound performance.
They’re not trying to compete on price. Instead, they’re aimed at listeners who want one of the very best wireless headphone experiences available right now, both in how they sound and how they feel.
You can order the Px8 S2 today from Smart Home Sounds. We also offer a Lowest Price Guarantee and free next-day delivery, so you can enjoy your new headphones as soon as tomorrow.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: Design & Build
One of the first things you’ll notice when you put on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is how much more comfortable they feel. The slimmer build sits more naturally on your head and spreads the weight better, so you can wear them for longer without that heavy, clamping feeling kicking in.
They still don’t fold, which is a bit of a shame if you’re often travelling with your headphones, but the lighter design and slightly smaller carry case definitely makes them easier to carry around and use every day.
We're big fans of the mix of Nappa leather, aluminium detailing and that new exposed cable detailing adds to that classic B&W look we’ve come to expect, understated, premium and properly well-made. Everything you touch feels high quality, which is exactly what you want (and expect) from a pair of headphones at this price.
We’re also glad to see Bowers & Wilkins sticking with physical buttons instead of jumping on the touch-control bandwagon. They're super easy to find by feel and much more reliable when you’re on the move, so there's no risk of any accidental skips or missed presses here.
Overall, the Px8 S2 look and feel like a proper flagship pair of headphones. They’re premium but still practical, stylish enough for a work desk or café table, and tough enough to take on the commute. Sure, they don’t fold, but this feels like a confident upgrade on the original Px8, without moving too far away from what made them great in the first place.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: Sound Performance
Even from these early listening sessions, it is clear the Px8 S2 are built for serious music listening. The original Px8 already had a beautifully balanced, hi-fi-inspired sound, and this new version feels like a meaningful step forward based on what we have heard so far.
A big part of that improvement comes from changes inside the headphones themselves. Bowers & Wilkins has redesigned the 40mm Carbon Cone Driver with a new chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet, all of which help deliver a cleaner, more precise performance.
The result is improved control across the frequency range and a sound that feels tighter and more dynamic, with better separation and focus than before.
Clarity is the first thing that stands out in these first impressions. Vocals sit cleanly in the mix, instruments have more space to breathe and there is a real sense of depth and separation across the soundstage.
The tuning still feels classically Bowers & Wilkins: detailed, natural and focused on accuracy rather than artificially boosted frequencies.
The bass also feels slightly more controlled. It is not about hitting harder or adding unnecessary weight, but about delivering tighter, more defined low-end response.
From our initial experiences it feels like a mature, audiophile-focused tuning aimed at listeners who want to hear every nuance in their music.
One thing we have been particularly impressed by so far is how the active noise cancellation works with the sound rather than against it. It doesn't just reduce background noise, it actually helps the audio feel cleaner and more focused in busy environments. That is a big plus if you are planning to use these in everyday.
Compared to the Px7 S3, the difference is immediately noticeable. The Px8 S2 sound more open and more detailed overall. Versus the original Px8, the upgrade is more subtle, but there is still a touch more resolution and finesse. Whether that will justify an upgrade is something we will explore in more depth once we have spent more time with them, but for now, the early signs are very promising.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: Extra Features
When it comes to extra features, it's clear Bowers & Wilkins has focused on meaningful improvements that make a real difference in everyday use with the Px8 S2.
One of the most useful updates is the move to Bluetooth 5.3, which gives faster, more stable connections compared to the previous 5.2 standard.
Hi-res streaming support has also had a significant boost, with aptX Lossless now supporting up to 24-bit/96kHz audio. The previous model topped out at 24/48, so this is a welcome jump for anyone using services like Qobuz or Tidal and wanting to hear their music at its best.
Noise-cancelling performance has also been stepped up. The Px8 S2 now uses an eight-microphone array, with six dedicated to ANC instead of four, which helps the system adapt more intelligently to your surroundings.
From our first experiences, It still doesn’t go quite as far as some of the most aggressive competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM6, but it feels natural and, most importantly, doesn’t compromise the sound. If anything, it helps the presentation feel cleaner and more focused in noisy environments.
The Bowers & Wilkins Music app has also seen some useful upgrades too. The EQ now offers five adjustable bands instead of the simple bass and treble controls from before, giving you much more freedom to shape the sound the way you like it. It’s a small but meaningful improvement for anyone who wants more control over their listening.
Battery life is unchanged at around 30 hours, which is still more than enough for a good few days of mixed use. Quick charging means a short top-up of 15 minutes gives you an extra 7 hours of playback, and USB-C keeps recharging fast and straightforward before a longer trip.
Our first impressions are that Bowers & Wilkins has concentrated on the details that matter. The result is a headphone that feels more capable, more versatile and more suited to serious listening without adding any unnecessary complexity.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: Who They’re Right For
From our early testing, it’s clear the Px8 S2 are built for people who care just as much about how their headphones sound as how they look and feel.
They’re not trying to compete on price, and they’re not pretending to be the budget-friendly choice. Instead, these are designed for listeners who want a beautifully made pair of headphones that deliver a high-end, hi-fi-inspired listening experience every time you hit play.
If you’re the type of person who spends hours listening to music and values clarity, detail and refinement, the Px8 S2 should definitely be on your shortlist.
If you want something a little more affordable while staying within the Bowers & Wilkins ecosystem, the Px7 S3 are still a brilliant choice and deliver a lot of what makes these headphones special for less money.
Alternatively, models like the Sonos Ace or Sennheiser Momentum 4 are also strong picks, although they’re designed with slightly different priorities in mind and may suit different listening styles or needs.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: Our Early Verdict
After spending some time with the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, our first impressions are very good. This feels like a confident evolution of what was already one of the most premium pairs of wireless headphones you could buy.
Comfort is improved, the sound is more refined, noise cancellation is more effective, and the overall feature set feels more capable than before.
Most importantly, though, the Px8 S2's still feel unmistakably Bowers & Wilkins. Premium, beautifully made and focused on delivering the best possible listening experience.
That said, £629 is a serious investment, and we're not ready to crown them the best in class just yet. We still want to spend more time with them, run more tests, and compare them closely against their closest rivals before we deliver a final verdict.
For now, though, it is safe to say that if you are looking for a luxury pair of wireless headphones that prioritise audio performance, build quality, the Px8 S2 are shaping up to be one of the strongest options out there. And if these early impressions are anything to go by, Bowers & Wilkins might just have another flagship hit on their hands.
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