Danny Weber
16:51 09-11-2025
© Bowers & Wilkins
Read our Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review: luxe build, 40 mm carbon drivers, aptX Lossless, 8 mics and 30‑hour ANC. Superb sound, but $799 and sparse features.
Bowers & Wilkins is once again aiming to set the ultra-premium bar—and the Px8 S2 are clearly built for those willing to pay for luxury. There’s one catch: that luxury costs $799. That’s $100 more than the original Px8 and $200–300 above most rivals’ flagships. The real question is where excellence ends and excess begins.
The Px8 S2 are more than a minor refresh. The model adopts a redesigned look: the earcups are slimmer, and the headband now reveals exposed cables—an artisanal touch that underscores the hand-built feel. The materials are familiar, yet the “high-ticket” impression is stronger than before: supple leather and metal in equal measure.
Inside, the overhaul is serious. There are new 40 mm drivers with carbon diaphragms and a native 24-bit DSP with a dedicated DAC and amplifier. You also get an expanded 5-band equalizer and a True Sound mode that restores the factory tuning with a single tap. A notable addition is support for aptX Lossless and the option to play true hi-res audio (24-bit/96 kHz) over USB-C.
The microphone array now totals eight: six dedicated to external noise analysis and two inside. All eight are engaged on calls, and paired with the updated Pure Voice algorithm, voice clarity gets a marked lift.
If B&W are known for anything, it’s sound. The Px8 S2 deliver a presentation that’s rich, expansive, and highly detailed. The signature is open, warm, and atmospheric—the recognizable audiophile flavor the brand is prized for. On calmer tracks, the level of nuance can be striking: delicate string resonance, a performer’s breath, microdynamics—everything is rendered with finesse.
Battery life holds its own. The advertised 30 hours with ANC on proves accurate in real use, even with frequent transparency mode and hi-res streaming.
Price is the main drawback. At $799, we’re no longer talking premium but edging into high-end territory. It’s well above the comfort zone for most buyers and pricier than almost all competing flagships.
As for the sound, the bass is plentiful. In rock or electronic music, the low end lands with authority; on more delicate material, it can dominate. On certain tracks, drums nearly crowd out other instruments, shifting the balance.
Controls are another sticking point: the buttons are smaller and moved to the rim of the cup, making blind operation trickier. Ergonomics aren’t their strong suit.
The company again skips advanced conveniences: there’s no voice-assistant hotword, no smart sound profiles, no automatic adjustment to surroundings. Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser are ahead on that front.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are expensive, yet they sound superb. They show how luxury can be both magnificent and a little impractical. Yes, they outclass most in pure audio, but the price and pared-back features make them a purchase for the few. If budget isn’t a concern, expect truly sumptuous sound. If you want a tighter blend of cost and capabilities, it’s worth thinking twice.