Although not a name that many people are familiar with, Bowers & Wilkins has been operating successfully for some time. Its most recent model, ($399), is an entirely revised version of. In addition to improving active noise cancellation (ANC) and readjusting the audio for new 40mm drivers, Bowers & Wilkins modified the design. This new model is a worthy improvement over the previous one in every way, and the upgrades won’t cost you any more money.
Design
Bowers & Wilkins used components from the Px7 S2 and the original PX to create the Px7 S2’s refined appearance. In addition to reducing the overall shape and choosing more padding for the earpads, the company also reduced the overall weight. The S2 has more luxurious details than its predecessor, like a silver rim where the earcup meets the earpads. The aesthetic is also improved by the textured surface that runs across the top of the headband and the earcups.
Pros:
- Stunning sound quality
- better battery life than advertised
- efficient noise reduction
- snug fit
- Fine design Drawbacks
- call excellence
- simple EQ customization
- Poor audio in Pass-Through mode
- Automatic pausing requires improvement
Physical controls are still in place, and I have no complaints about that. The truth is that touch controls are still less dependable than buttons, even on headphones that capture swipes and taps almost perfectly. Even the best touch controls are never perfect, but pressing a button always is. A power slider that also serves as the Bluetooth pairing control is located on the back of the right earcup. The volume controls and a multi-function button are located immediately below.
For play/pause, playing the next track, and playing the previous track, this center button can be pressed once, twice, or three times, respectively. When you receive a call, one press accepts it, while two seconds of press-and-hold time results in a rejection. You can also end a call by pressing this center button once.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 review gallery
Gallery: Review of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2
There is only one Quick Action button on the left. Noise cancellation, Pass-Through (ambient sound), and off are the default settings. You can reassign this button to your preferred voice assistant if you don’t mind using the company’s app to make that change. Holding the multi-function button down does not activate Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, in contrast to many other headphones.
The Px7 S2 are among the more comfortable headphones I’ve tested recently in terms of fit. I wear 7 5/8-size New Era caps because I have a large head. So it may be difficult for a pair of cans to continue to be comfortable after wearing them for a while. I had to wear the S2 snugly for the noise cancellation to work, but it never got uncomfortable. Thanks to the updated cushion on the earpads, I never once felt like the rim of the earcup was leaving a mark around my ears. It’s not always the case like this.
Software
The first pair of Bowers & Wilkins headphones to work with its Music app are the Px7 S2. The Headphones app works with older models, but it only provides access to basic settings, shows battery life, and offers a selection of calming soundscapes. The Formation line, Panorama 3 soundbar, and Zeppelin are just a few of the B&W speakers that are supported by the Music app, which has a lot more to offer.
First and foremost, the software enables you to modify the Px7 S2’s EQ settings. Unfortunately, there aren’t many options available. Treble and bass can be adjusted with sliders, but mids and other finer adjustments are not available. Similar to the Headphones app, this one still shows the battery level and gives you the option to choose between ANC and ambient sound or to disable both of them using the software.
The two devices that the Px7 S2’s multipoint connectivity enables you to sync with can also have their priorities managed. As I previously mentioned, you can choose to have the “Quick Action” button on the left earcup call your voice assistant rather than toggle through the noise settings.
Then there are a few useful options for managing power and audio. First, there is an automatic standby control that, after 15 minutes of inactivity, places the headphones in a “low power state.” The built-in wear sensor in the Px7 S2 also powers automatic pausing. According to the manufacturer, you can activate this by simply lifting one of the earcups, and it says three different sensitivity settings (Low, Normal and High). In order to get this to happen during my tests, I had to rotate the earcup down toward my neck. The headphones had to be completely taken off, which worked perfectly, but the other approach needed some tweaking. There’s no obligation to use either the standby feature or the automatic pausing; both can be disabled if you don’t want to.
The software will soon receive an update from Bowers & Wilkins that will include an in-app music player. The company’s speakers that work with the Music app already support this, but soon you’ll be able to connect to a variety of streaming services to control your audio from the same app that manages your headphone settings. Currently, Tidal, Deezer, Last.fm, TuneIn Radio, Qobuz, Soundcloud, NTS Radio, and Dash Radio are supported by the app.
acoustic quality
Among the significant upgrades to the Px7 S2, according to Bowers & Wilkins, is a “all-new acoustic platform” driven by new 40mm drivers. In order to maintain the most natural sounding reproduction possible, the company says that these specially designed units have low distortion and more accurate reproduction. Indeed, Bowers & Wilkins has created a soundstage that envelops your ears and is truly immersive. While highs add depth and vocals cut through even the most chaotic genres, the bass is nice and punchy.
Hard rock songs like Gojira’s Magma and Deftones’ Ohms sound great on the Px7 S2. Even when a band is giving it their all, you can still hear the finer details, such as the texture of the distorted guitars and the drum kit’s subtle nuances. And it never seems to be compressed down to a jumble of noise; it always remains a wall of sound. Softer genres suffer a similar fate because Chris Stapleton’s backing band is backed by a nice layer of southern rock growl and bluesy guitar picking. Even Jimmy Eat World’s 1999 emo classic Clarity sounds rich and atmospheric.
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar is a good example of how the S2’s bass response can provide some low-end punch while keeping vocals clear and crisp among synths, piano, snare, and other sounds. On songs like “N95,” the kick drum and deep synthesizer tones are given equal room to breathe. Given that what is already present is impressive, it will be interesting to see if Bowers & Wilkins further improves its sound profile on the upcoming Px8.
The Px7 S2 also performs admirably in terms of ANC performance. Although Bowers & Wilkins isn’t quite there yet, we’re not talking Bose or Sony levels. With its own technology, the company made significant improvements to noise cancellation on the S2 without degrading overall sound quality. Additionally, it updated the microphones that record both driver output and any outside noise. As a result, the blocking ability is quite impressive, even with things like human voices, which some headphones find difficult to block. When it was time to go to work, I had no trouble blocking out the noise of the two kids who were at home for the summer. The same is true of loud appliances like sound machines and dishwashers.
The company’s name for ambient sound or transparency mode, Pass-Through, does the job, but it could be improved. The Px7 S2 allows you to hear some of the outside world compared to the best natural sound for this feature, but it is clear that you are still wearing headphones. Even when there is no audio playing, the environment is muffled, making it difficult to have a conversation.
