- Manufacturer & Model
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Wireless Headphones
- MSRP
- $799
- Highlights
- Premium wireless headphones featuring a re-engineered 40mm carbon-cone driver, upgraded chassis, and fully overhauled internal signal chain. Supports Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless via Qualcomm QCC3084 chipset. Resolution support expanded to 24-bit/96kHz. Features include 30-hour battery life, rapid charging (15 minutes = 7 hours), a five-band custom EQ, True Sound reference mode, and an eight-microphone ANC array with ADI Pure Voice call-processing. High-end materials include Nappa leather, die-cast aluminum arms, and a refined headband and earcup design. Future firmware updates to add Spatial Audio and Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast. Compatible with Bowers & Wilkins Music app for setup, EQ, ANC controls, and device management.
- Summary
- The Px8 S2 is a luxury upgrade that refines nearly every aspect of the original Px8, offering cleaner signal processing, improved call clarity, stronger ANC, and more customizable control. Compared to the step-down Px7 S3, the Px8 S2 introduces more premium build materials, a tighter sonic presentation, and a clearer mid-to-high frequency response thanks to its carbon-cone driver. After four weeks of real-world testing in diverse environments—including airports, cafés, and quiet living rooms—performance proved consistently impressive. The Px8 S2 delivers articulate, disciplined sound with excellent tonal balance and dynamic control. While background pickup during calls in noisy areas remains a mild drawback, the Px8 S2 otherwise earns its flagship status with beautiful build quality and an effortlessly refined listening experience.
Today on the bench sits Bowers & Wilkins’ latest flagship, the Px8 S2, another ambitious effort from one of Britain’s most iconic audio brands. Arriving a few years after the critically acclaimed Px8 and just months after the release of the more affordable yet highly capable Px7 S3, the Px8 S2 enters with weighty expectations.
So, does it represent an evolutionary step forward? And do its refinements justify the premium over the far more accessible Px7 S3?
Let’s find out.
Overview and Model Comparison
When the original Px8 landed in late 2022, fans were treated to an unmistakably upscale build with Nappa leather, die-cast aluminum arms, brushed metal accents, and a performance package that included Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), ambient transparency, app-based audio control, and Bowers & Wilkins’ first carbon cone driver.
At $699, the Px8 made a strong statement in both form and function. Now, priced at $799, the Px8 S2 arrives with a broad internal refresh. Both models share the same design DNA and premium materials, but the S2 refines the silhouette with slightly slimmer proportions and a marginal reduction in weight that you’re unlikely to notice in hand.
The real updates lie beneath the surface. The Px8 S2 upgrades to Bluetooth 5.3, using a Qualcomm QCC3084 chipset, replacing the Px8’s QCC5127. This change enables aptX Lossless support alongside aptX Adaptive, AAC, and SBC. An all-new signal chain with a dedicated DSP, amplifier, and DAC boosts resolution support from 24-bit/48 kHz to a full 24-bit/96 kHz.
Equalization and user controls also receive a thoughtful expansion. Where the Px8 offered simple bass and treble sliders, the S2 introduces a five-band customizable EQ and a True Sound reference mode that bypasses user adjustments entirely.
Microphone architecture and noise control have seen similar attention. The original Px8 used six microphones, with four dedicated to ANC and two for calls, while the Px8 S2 employs eight. Six are now tasked with monitoring the outside world, and two track driver output internally. Together they handle both voice and noise management through ADI Pure Voice, Bowers & Wilkins’ latest call processing algorithm, which improves pickup clarity and, supposedly, suppresses environmental noise.
Future-proofing also plays a role here. Future firmware updates will add spatial audio and Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast. The latter could extend battery efficiency beyond the Px8 S2’s already impressive 30 hours of playback, as it promises better efficiency and quality with lower bit rates. Auracast also introduces a new level of shared listening convenience, allowing two or more users to listen to the same source simultaneously.
Sounds incredible, right? If you have any designs on being social with your wearables, Auracast is something you’ll want access to in the years ahead.
All of that sets the stage for the one component that technically carries over, though now in a completely re-engineered form: the Px8’s 40 millimeter carbon cone dynamic driver. While size and material remain the same, the Px8 S2 surrounds these drivers with a newly developed chassis, suspension, voice coil, and magnet assembly, all designed to further reduce distortion and improve imaging.
That makes this a good point to pivot our comparative focus to the step-down Px7 S3, which I reviewed this past July. At first glance, the Px7 S3 and Px8 S2 look almost interchangeable. Their dimensions, case design, and even fit are effectively identical. They even ship with the same road case and cable accessory kit.
But a $300 difference needs justification, and Bowers & Wilkins delivers it in materials and functional detail. The Px8 S2 replaces plastic and fabric with Nappa leather and aluminum, and adds open swivel arms with exposed braided cabling (which, I might add, is a small but striking visual touch). These refinements aren’t strictly necessary, but once you handle the S2, the sense of craftsmanship is undeniable. The tactile feel of leather in place of cloth, and metal where there once was plastic, leaves a lasting impression of refinement.
Technically, the Px7 S3 and Px8 S2 share a similar core architecture for performance. A quick glance at a feature matrix shows that both use the same chipset, DSP engine, headphone amplifier, Bluetooth platform, microphone array, and five-band EQ via the Music app.
So similar... yet completely different thanks to two driver technologies.
The Px7 S3 uses 40 millimeter biocellulose dynamic drivers, while the Px8 S2 employs carbon cone diaphragms. Biocellulose, made from naturally grown fibers, offers low mass and excellent damping, typically yielding a smooth and warm tonal character. The carbon cone, on the other hand, is a composite material engineered for rigidity and uniformity. That stiffness controls pistonic motion, minimizing distortion and sharpening transient response. The result, according to Bowers & Wilkins, is a cleaner, faster, and more detailed presentation across the entire frequency range.
Out of the Box
Much like the Px7 S3, the Px8 S2 arrives in style. The packaging for both products is identical, paper-based, and meticulously detailed. As I mentioned in the S3 review, Bowers & Wilkins deserves credit for using materials that can be recycled or, in the case of the included Velcro wire ties, reused.
Once opened, the inner box presents a rigid cloth-covered travel case that doubles as the headphones’ internal packaging. That same case features a compartment for cable storage, with a separate part of the primary packaging housing a small quick-start booklet and warranty information.
I’ve already discussed the Px8 S2’s physicality, but I want to emphasize that first impressions don’t disappoint. Beyond its luxurious materials, the headphone’s physical design is notably deliberate. Both single-sided arm mechanisms angle the earcups slightly backward while the headband rests comfortably on the crown of your head. The cups also swivel in two directions, one for compact storage in the case and another for resting the S2 around your neck.
The removable ear cushions combine silky soft leather with memory foam for a balance that feels supple yet supportive. The headband follows suit, offering slightly firmer padding that maintains comfort during long sessions.
Setup
Bringing the Px8 S2 to life is as easy as sliding a switch on the left earcup, waiting for the audible tone and LED indicator light to appear, and then pairing the headphones with the Bowers & Wilkins Music app.
The app provides access to charge status, ANC and pass through settings, paired device management, and the five-band equalizer. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the built-in wear sensor, which stops playback when either earcup lifts from your head. Additionally, you can disable an energy-saving auto standby mode that triggers after 15 minutes.
Once you’ve dialed in your sound and completed setup, the app can play a more minor role in daily use. ANC and pass-through modes can be toggled using the action button on the left earcup, while volume, playback, and call functions are handled by buttons on the right. To gauge battery life, a color-changing LED provides a simple visual indicator. So, in practice, you can use the S2 as a plug-and-play headphone with little need for app interaction.
Performance
Every time a new product arrives, there's a temptation to rush a review to print. Early bird gets the worm, right? But with headphones and earbuds, I prefer to live with them for a while, even if that means the review period is extended by weeks to months. I like to use these products in real-world settings and let impressions build naturally. In the case of the Px8 S2, that meant nearly five weeks of listening at home, on walks, in coffee shops, in airport terminals, on the noisy DC Metro system, and on several flights.
Like the Px7 S3, the Px8 S2’s clamping force strikes a smart balance. It is firm enough to stay secure during movement yet comfortable enough for extended sessions. The fit remains stable through bumps, head turns, and contact with headrests, and it adjusts easily when wearing hats or glasses. I wore it for hours without any sense of fatigue.
Active Noise Cancellation and pass-through both perform as expected. ANC takes the edge off mid and high frequencies, producing a calm and composed background. In noisy environments such as an airplane cabin, it performs well but not quite at the level of top-tier true wireless earbuds, which tend to seal more completely. The Px8 S2’s over-ear design naturally lets some low-frequency rumble and high-frequency hiss slip through. That's not a flaw, just a tradeoff between comfort, driver size, and isolation.
During outdoor use, I found wind noise was audible with ANC off or ambient mode engaged. Activating ANC, however, nearly eliminated any distracting wooshing sounds, which is something I hadn’t tested with the Px7 S3 and haven't found to be true with most in-ear buds.
Mark that up as a major positive for outdoor listening situations.
Call quality is also in line with what you’d expect from a high-quality pair of headphones. Conversation clarity proved to be excellent for both the caller and callee during testing. However, call quality for callers is impacted by environmental noise that infiltrates the audio stream. It's not as severe as some earbuds I have tested, but it is present, which isn't ideal for calls that require silence. If you have ANC engaged, your awareness of these sounds will be diminished, but your calling partner will still hear them clearly.
To hear how the Px8 S2 handles background noise and microphone pickup in a real-world example, watch the video embedded below.
Moving to music performance, the Px8 S2 lives up to its billing. Out of the box, it offers a balanced and articulate tonality. My personal preference leans toward a touch more weight in the lows and sparkle in the highs, both of which were easily achieved using the five-band EQ. For most of this review, I used a custom curve that produced a rich and controlled sound, mimicking my preferred presentation qualities. However, when comparing the Px7 S3 and Px8 S2 head-to-head, I placed both EQs in True Sound mode, which eliminates any curve adjustments.
With my EQ settings engaged, I spent time playing through a list of favorites, including Lorde’s Pure Heroine, Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me, Third Eye Blind’s Screamer, The Bleachers’ Gone Now, and Orbital’s Insides. The S2 can do no wrong, knitting sonics that are punchy and filled with impressive levels of detail. Vocals, like the smooth and raspy tone of Norah Jones, were spot on and sounded incredibly natural and textured. Highs and mids separated and revealed themselves, and bass was resoundingly controlled, even when pushed to be more pronounced.
I tested the S2 wirelessly over Bluetooth and wired with the included mini stereo cable into a THX Onyx headphone DAC and amplifier. Both sounded equally good; smooth and swirling with refinement. And refinement is exactly what the Px8 S2 offers when compared to the Px7 S3. The 7 is an excellent performer, and if you didn't have the 8 on hand, you'd likely never feel shortchanged. But the 8 takes everything the 7 does and tightens it up. Through quick A-B tests using Orbital’s “Petrol,” it became clear that the Px8 S2 delivers a more even-tempered presentation from lows to highs, with more detail in the mid to upper registers. “Crisp” might be the right word because the S2 presents a more resolved sonic character.
Low-end control is another strength. I found the Px8 S2's bass to be focused and disciplined, maintaining composure even at high listening levels. What Bowers & Wilkins has achieved here is simple to describe but hard to execute. They've taken very good performance and made it even better—a feat that must have been difficult to accomplish. Bravo.
Conclusion
If you consider yourself a casual listener, the Px7 S3 remains an easy choice. It delivers engaging sound, comfort, and app flexibility for $479. However, if you'd like to experience the next level of refinement, from the materials to sonic polish, the Px8 S2 is worth the upgrade.
My only concern remains call pickup in noisy environments, where background sound can intrusively interfere with a conversation. If that's a critical factor for you, then seeking out another option might be in your best interest. But if audio quality is a top priority, Bowers & Wilkins’ latest flagship sets a high standard. The Px8 S2 feels and sounds like the best version of itself. It is beautifully built, technically capable, and effortlessly musical.
Links
Below are links to products discussed in this review, provided for your convenience. If you make a purchase using a link, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting our forum!
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones on Amazon (Onyx Black): https://amzn.to/4orDsaz
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones on Audio Advice (Onyx Black):https://audioadvice.io/43eczOH
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones on Amazon (Warm Stone): https://amzn.to/3JlL3bs
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones on Audio Advice (Warm Stone): https://audioadvice.io/4qJhxx2
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones on Amazon (Anthracite Black): https://amzn.to/4qWYUWC
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones on Audio Advice (Anthracite Black): https://audioadvice.io/4nX4QMF
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones on Amazon (Canvas White): https://amzn.to/43fzUzD
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones on Audio Advice (Canvas White): https://audioadvice.io/4oy7YiX
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones on Amazon (Frost Blue): https://amzn.to/4ooquKs
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones on Amazon (Indigo Blue): https://amzn.to/4qJ3irW
- Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones on Audio Advice (Indigo Blue): https://audioadvice.io/43fA7CV
- Buy the Status Audio Pro X True Wireless Earbud on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hIFVdT
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Headphones Specifications:
Technical Features
• High performance DSP with dedicated amplifier and DAC
• True 24 bit audio connection
• Five band customizable EQ with True Sound mode
• Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless technology
• Multipoint connectivity
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
• USB C charging and audio interface
• Fast charging support
• Apple MFi Made for iPhone support
• Google Fast Pair
Wearing Style
• Over ear noise cancelling headphones
Bluetooth Codecs
• aptX Lossless
• aptX Adaptive
• aptX HD
• aptX Classic
• AAC
• SBC
Microphones
• Eight total, four per earcup
Voice Call Quality Algorithm
• ADI Pure Voice
Drive Units
• Two 40 millimeter dynamic full range carbon cone drivers
Battery Life and Charging
• 30 hours playback
• 15 minute charge for seven hours playback
Accessories
• 1.2 meter USB C to 3.5 millimeter stereo cable
• 1.2 meter USB C to USB C cable
• Carry case
Weight
• 0.68 pounds (0.31 kilograms)
Dimensions (Carry Case)
• 6.97 × 2.36 × 9.21 inches (177 × 60 × 234 millimeters)
Finishes
• Onyx Black
• Warm Stone
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