Leader of the pack: The latest Bowers & Wilkins headphones are a masterclass in sound

These days, it feels like audio professionals deliberately mix sound the wrong way. Action scenes in movies are too loud, while conversations between characters are barely audible. And it isn’t just moving pictures that struggle; music also seems to suffer. Highs and lows feel either too strong or weak, and mids are adequate at best. What’s going on?

One reason this happens to you, the consumer, is because you use different audio equipment from the pros who mix the sound, which creates a barrier between the two worlds. Those sound engineers in Abbey Road Studios utilise the sound-reproduction capabilities of some of the world’s finest high-performance loudspeakers while you, dear reader, use cans that can just about produce sound.

To bridge the gap between audio professionals and consumers, you need a device that brings the reference-quality performance sound of the original recording to listeners wherever they are – and this is exactly what the new range of Bowers & Wilkins over-ear headphones, the premium Px7 S2e and the flagship Px8, do.

Bowers & Wilkins call this philosophy ‘True Sound’, and it applies to the whole lifecycle of sound, from conception to consumption. Some of the most iconic albums and movie soundtracks were first mixed and heard on Bowers & Wilkins speakers. The same technology and engineering expertise permeates every product the company makes, including the latest over-ears, putting Bowers & Wilkins in a unique position to deliver an audio experience true to the artist's intention.

Performance. Evolved.

One might think that adding more features is the best way to create world-class products. In reality, the real challenge is – what separates the average sound engineer from a master of audio reproduction – distilling a concept down to its essence. It’s the level where all the key characteristics that make the idea unique are still present, and all surplus, irrelevant features are trimmed away.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e is one of these products. Featuring evolved performance levels inspired by the company’s flagship headphones, Px7 S2e has been tuned by Bowers & Wilkins’ expert acoustic engineers to bring you closer to the original recording. It has unrivalled high-resolution audio, driven by 24-bit processing, powerful 40mm angled drivers and Qualcomm aptX™ Adaptive.

The drive units are carefully angled inside the earcups to ensure each beat hits your eardrums perfectly, cultivating a focused, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. Combined with high-resolution-capable wireless transmission, the result is a headphone that provides unrivalled sound quality in its class.

To ensure you can enjoy that quintessential Bowers & Wilkins sound no matter where you are, the headphones also feature advanced noise cancellation that you can turn on and off depending on your surroundings and six microphones for uninterrupted sound and pristine call performance no matter where you are.

Thanks to the 30 hours of total playback time and beyond-comfortable earcups, you won’t ever have to remove yourself from the soundscapes you’ve created, either. Not that you would want to, anyway, as the choice of bold or subtle finishes – including Anthracite Black, Cloud Grey, Ocean Blue, and the all-new striking Forest Green – will help you stand out from the crowd.

What does it take to make a class-leading wireless headphone? 

Px8 are the most advanced headphones Bowers & Wilkins has ever made. This statement shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it comes from the company that has accumulated over 55 years of knowledge, expertise and experience creating the world’s leading high-performance loudspeakers, used by discerning listeners and world-famous recording studios.

These sublime over-ears combine high-resolution 24-bit DSP with all-new 40mm Carbon Cones that deliver outstanding resolution. The Carbon Cone technology reduces distortion and improves high-frequency detail, capturing nuances in your music that other headphone drive units miss. You get to hear all the music, all the time.

As expected from ultra-premium headphones, the physical design matches the audio performance. The aluminium arms are supremely light and stiff for superior durability, while the sumptuous Nappa leather combines perfectly with the crafted memory foam earpads to provide effortless all-day comfort plus exceptional durability. Diamond-cut bright metal detailing adds a little extra luxury to the premium look of the Px8.

The finishes also reflect and amplify what the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 stands for. These include the brand’s classic Tan and Black models, as well as the all-new striking Royal Burgundy – a luxurious finish that complements the Px8’s exquisite sound quality. The McLaren Edition features stylistic cues from the world-renowned automotive company’s iconic vehicle design for those who love high-performance vehicles.

They might have a long history of creating awe-inspiring audio products, but Bowers & Wilkins are anything but traditionalists. Case in point, the Bowers & Wilkins Music app conveniently integrates your go-to streaming services, allows you to turn noise cancellation and transparency on or off, adjust your EQ preferences, and lets you customise your headphones so you can launch your phone’s voice assistant at the touch of a button. It also ties in seamlessly with other Bowers & Wilkins products, such as Zeppelin and Panorama 3, and offers personalised music recommendations to help you discover future favourites.

All that, plus 30 hours of uninterrupted playback time, six microphones for outstanding noise cancellation and pristine call quality, quick-charge support, and audio performance that goes above and beyond the call of duty – need we say more? Discover more at www.bowerswilkins.com.