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Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: two-minute overview
The third model of Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 wi-fi over-ear noise-cancellers is the costliest but. This cash does purchase a pair of extraordinarily well-specified headphones, thoughts you – between Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless compatibility and multipoint connectivity, chunky battery life and a bespoke noise-cancellation platform, the S3 have it the place it counts. And there’s extra to return, within the type of spatial audio and Auracast compatibility, by way of promised upgrades. It additionally buys barely much less, within the bodily sense. The profile of the S3 is a bit more discreet than any earlier Px7 mannequin.
It additionally will get you completely impeccable construct high quality and normal of end – there’s simple pleasure of possession included as a part of your outlay. Carrying them open air will reveal a bit of inefficiency the place suppression of wind noise is anxious, however at the least you gained’t really feel as self-conscious as you may need when carrying earlier Px7 fashions.
The brand new energetic noise-cancellation platform works nicely, and it brings Bowers & Wilkins into line with the best noise-cancelling headphones that aren’t Bose. And the place sound high quality is anxious, that is now one of the best ways to spend your money. In each respect, the Px7 S3 impress. They’re detailed and dynamic, they’re open and spacious, they’re punchy and rhythmically adept – and better of all, they’re partaking and entertaining.
Circumstances a good distance out of Bowers & Wilkins’ management signifies that a North American launch date, in addition to a North American value, are but to be confirmed. There are papers to be written about whether or not pricing People out of possession of merchandise like this can be a good factor, and there are clearly ramifications for firms like Bowers & Wilkins when the North American market is so tough to learn. However for these of us dwelling the place the Px7 S3 can be found and (comparatively talking) inexpensive, the information is uncomplicatedly good.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 overview: Value and launch date
- Launch date: April twenty fourth, 2025
- Value: $TBC / £399 / AU$699 (approx.)
The Px7 S3 launch at a really comparable value (within the firm’s native UK, at the least, the place tariffs aren’t fairly such a factor as they’re in another territories) to 2023’s £379 Px7 S2e – so Bowers & Wilkins is to be congratulated for growing and releasing a brand new product with out having to up the worth all that a lot. On the time of writing, although, Bowers & Wilkins remains to be not sure of a launch date in North America, and nonetheless much less of the worth when that launch lastly comes. This, apparently, is the form of uncertainty that can make America nice once more.
The Px7 S3 however discover themselves contesting the very higher finish of the ‘premium/mainstream’ best wireless headphones market the place the fearsome likes of Bose and Sony (to call simply a few high-profile options) roam. In different phrases, it’s going to take greater than a premium brand and a premium value to make a hit of the Px7 S3…
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 overview: Specs
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Weight: |
Not specified |
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Drivers: |
40mm biocellulose dynamic |
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Battery life: |
30 hours (ANC on) |
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Management: |
app; voice; bodily |
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Bluetooth: |
5.3 with aptX Lossless compatibility |
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 overview: Options
- Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless codec compatibility
- Redesigned 40mm biocellulose drivers with discrete amplification
- 30 hours of battery life
On the subject of an important stuff, Bowers & Wilkins has specified the Px7 S3 with out obvious compromise. This can be a comparatively costly pair of headphones, however don’t doubt that it’s acquired it the place it counts.
And whereas Bowers & Wilkins will inform you it’s concentrated its efforts on the bodily design of the Px7 S3 and on upgrading the energetic noise-cancelling system, that doesn’t imply the driving force association hasn’t are available for consideration. The corporate could, in public, declare itself very happy with the way in which the outgoing Px7 S2e sounded, but it surely’s made loads of modifications in an effort to liberate even higher sound.
So whereas the 40mm biocellulose cones themselves are unchanged over the earlier mannequin, the Px7 S3 includes a new chassis association, new voice-coil, reworked suspension and upgraded magnet. The intention is to decrease distortion and coloration but additional whereas providing superior dynamics. And for the primary time in a pair of Bowers & Wilkins over-ear headphones, these drive models are powered by devoted, discrete headphone amplification – improved sonic scale and vitality is the thought.
Getting audio data to the drivers will be achieved in a few methods. In addition to charging for the battery (which is, by the way, good for 30 hours of playback with energetic noise-cancellation switched on and might flip quarter-hour of charging into seven hours of motion), the USB-C slot can be utilized for information switch. Join it to the digital or analogue output of an acceptable supply of music and 24bit/96kHz high-resolution content material will be handled.
Multipoint wi-fi connectivity is dealt with by Bluetooth 5.3 and, in addition to aptX Adaptive, the S3 are appropriate with the aptX Lossless codec. This know-how will mechanically optimize transmission decision, and can let you hear what that top-tier Presto, Qobuz or Tidal streaming service subscription is definitely shopping for you (Qobuz and Tidal are each out there for direct streaming within the Bowers & Wilkins ‘Music’ management app). The corporate additionally intends to make the Px7 S3 appropriate with Bluetooth LE Audio (which incorporates the LC3 codec) and Auracast by way of a free firmware replace ‘quickly’. Help for spatial audio gained’t be all that far behind.
In addition to the power to combine (a few of) the perfect streaming providers round, the ‘Music’ management app additionally provides entry to a five-band EQ with reminiscence to avoid wasting settings, in addition to presets together with the corporate’s most well-liked ‘True Sound’ settings. It means that you can swap noise-cancelling on or off, have interaction ‘transparency’ mode, regulate wear-sensor sensitivity, verify on battery standing, and extra apart from.
Voice management is accessible by way of your supply’s native assistant, and there are some bodily buttons organized on every earcup. On the correct facet there’s ‘quantity up/down’ and ‘play/pause’ – these buttons have been reshaped to assist with operation – and on the left there’s a ‘energy on/off/Bluetooth pairing’ slider and a ‘fast motion’ button. You should utilize the app to change its perform between ‘cycle by means of ANC choices’ and ‘summon voice assistant’. Actually, all that’s lacking is a bodily management for ‘skip forwards/backwards’.
Optimizing energetic noise-cancellation with out impacting on the sonic efficiency of the headphones isn’t a straightforward trick, in fact, however Bowers & Wilkins has given it a really thorough go. It’s developed a brand new ANC platform from scratch, and has deployed a complete of eight mics to watch the output of the drivers in addition to outdoors noise in an effort to supply its best-ever ANC in addition to excellent name high quality.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 overview: Sound high quality
- Large open and but tightly unified
- Nice tonal stability
- Detailed and dynamic in equal measure
I’ll as nicely get proper to it: the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are a terrific pair of headphones in purely sonic phrases, and symbolize the easiest method to spend £399 (or thereabouts, as soon as worldwide pricing is sorted) if outright sound high quality is an important factor to you.
Tonally, they’re actually properly judged – even and just about impartial, with simply the tiniest trace or heat to stop issues sounding austere or chilly (until you’re listening to one thing like Kraftwerk’s Trans-Europe Categorical, in fact, which sounds simply as draughty and frostbitten as is acceptable). The highest finish has chew that’s balanced in opposition to substance, and on the reverse finish there’s weight and ample variation. Within the midrange, the character and talent of singers as dissimilar as Mark E Smith and Aretha Franklin is made completely specific. In addition to the impeccable tonal stability, the Px7 S3 retrieve and contextualize an enormous quantity of high-quality element, which contributes no finish to the feeling of a whole and unexpurgated account of recordings.
Frequency response is equally convincing – there’s no suggestion of any space of the frequency vary getting understated or overplayed. And whereas the Bowers & Wilkins can hit with greater than sufficient objective to make Holy Calamaf*** by Run the Jewels sound as assertive and uncompromising as something, management of bass sounds is such that rhythmic expression is pure and coherent. The form of dynamic variation that’s obvious on this recording is given free expression, too – there’s an considerable quantity of distance between essentially the most and least intense passages.
The soundstage on which all of this happens is massive and correctly outlined. Regardless of the width and depth to the Px7 S3’s presentation, although, and even though each factor of a recording enjoys a good quantity of house during which to function, there’s a unity and singularity to the general presentation that makes recordings sound of a complete. Even one thing like Aphex Twin’s Alberto Balsalm, which by no means was a efficiency, sounds in some way collectively.
The place energetic noise-cancellation is anxious, Bowers & Wilkins has made nice strides with the Px7 S3. The headphones deal decisively with nearly all of exterior sounds, and might accomplish that with out affecting their sonic signature within the slightest. That these headphones can’t do as full a job on ambient noise as an equal pair of Bose will come as no shock, as a result of no different headphones can both, however now the Bowers & Wilkins ANC wants no excuses made for it. It’s a match of any of these ‘not fairly Bose’ contenders from Sennheiser, Sony and so forth.
Actually, about the one method I can think about there may be scope for worthwhile enchancment is in suppression of wind noise. My a part of the UK’s south coast is windy extra usually than it isn’t, and the Px7 S3 show extra vulnerable to wind noise than fairly just a few different designs. It’s in no way a deadly flaw, but it surely’s noticeable however. And I assume it’s a measure of simply how completed the Px7 S3 are that my contractually obliged complaining consists of some tepid bleating about how they may cope with wind noise a bit of higher…
- Sound high quality rating: 5 / 5
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 overview: Design
- Selection of three finishes
- Slimmer profile, redesigned arms and headband
- Appear and feel costly (which is simply as nicely)
On first acquaintance you’d be forgiven for considering the Px7 S3 are the identical because the outgoing Px7 S2e the place design is anxious – actually that’s what my first look led me to imagine. However Bowers & Wilkins has had a little bit of a take into consideration this new mannequin’s design, and has made some very worthwhile changes with out in any method affecting its perceived worth.
For example, the earcups at the moment are appreciably slimmer in profile. Earlier Px7 fashions have made the wearer look a bit, nicely, Cyberman-y – the earcups and pads had been deep sufficient to extend the width of the wearer’s head greater than considerably. The Px7 S3 aren’t as slim as, say, the Sonos Ace, however they’re positively tidier, and it makes for a much less conspicuous look once they’re in place.
A brand new headband and redesigned arm mechanism makes the Px7 S3 ever really easy to get comfy inside – an all-in weight of 300g has a component to play on this – whereas the pleather-over-memory foam contact factors are properly padded and reluctant to return your physique warmth too quickly. And in a primary for Bowers & Wilkins, the interior part of the scarf and the earpads will be eliminated and changed (by a skilled service engineer, in fact).
The material across the outdoors of the scarf and the earcups appears to be like and feels good, and can show hard-wearing if earlier Px7 fashions are something to go by. The slim grille that separates the outer a part of the earcup from the earpads, first seen (on a a lot smaller scale) on the luxurious Pi8 true wi-fi in-ears, permits mics and Bluetooth aerials to function extra freely, however the truth that it’s a pleasant design flourish doesn’t do any hurt both.
The usual of construct and end is mainly impeccable, and the hid headband adjustment mechanism operates with well-damped precision. It doesn’t matter when you select the ‘anthracite’ black of my overview pattern, ‘indigo’ blue or ‘canvas’ white, you’ll end up in possession of a pair of headphones with considerable perceived worth, which is simply as nicely, given how a lot you’re paying.
The Px7 S3 will be stored in peak situation throughout transit because of a pleasant sturdy carry-case that’s just some millimetres smaller in every course than the case the Px7 S2e travelled in. In addition to defending the headphones, it includes a pocket behind a magnetically closing flap that conceals USB-C / USB-C and USB-C / 3.5mm cables.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 overview: Worth
- Intensive specification
- Wonderful normal of construct and end
- Class-leading sound
Simply because it’s doable to spend loads greater than £399 on a pair of wi-fi noise-cancelling over-ear headphones (not least with Bowers & Wilkins itself), that doesn’t imply it’s an insignificant amount of cash.
Fortunately, at each flip the Px7 S3 attempt their hardest to make it seem to be a wonderfully affordable asking value. The usual of construct and end right here is mainly impeccable, and a considerate little redesign has resulted in a extra discreet, but in some way no much less premium, look – pleasure of possession is critical.
Specification is nearly as good because it presently will get at something like this form of cash. And the place sound high quality is anxious, you’re getting what I’m assured is essentially the most full efficiency out there at something like this form of cash.
Ought to I purchase the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3?
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Part |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Options |
Made with out compromise, wonderful built-in app, strong battery life. |
5 / 5 |
|
Sound high quality |
Tightly unified with nice tonal stability, wonderful ANC, minor wind noise points. Class-leading. |
5 / 5 |
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Design |
Slimmer, redesigned headband and higher really feel, with three finishes. |
5 / 5 |
|
Worth |
Very good end and sound make the Px7 S3 definitely worth the outlay, after which some. |
5 / 5 |
Purchase them if…
Do not buy them if…
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 overview: Additionally take into account
How I examined Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
- Wi-fi connection to an Apple iPhone 14 Professional, wi-fi and wired connections to a FiiO M15S digital audio participant
- A wide range of music, quite a lot of file varieties and sizes
- Indoors and open air
Wi-fi listening used the AAC and aptX codecs (relying on the supply participant), whereas the wired listening was in a position to lengthen to 24bit/96kHz content material.
I listened at my desk, I listened whereas on the road and I listened on public transport, to all kinds of music of many various file varieties and sizes. I spent nicely over per week listening critically, and located myself listening merely for listening’s sake too.
First reviewed: April 2025