Are the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 Worth $800? I Tested Them to Find Out

This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.

As someone who’s tested earbuds and headphones for years, there’s one thing for certain: I know what a good pair of cans sounds like. I grew up in India, where the constant commotion of firecrackers had me hiding in the background with my ears plugged in. A good pair of headphones with stellar noise cancellation was the only thing that helped — and 15 years ago, the quality was nowhere near where it is today.

Back then, I was lucky if my noise cancellation blocked even some of the background noise, and if my headphones were actually comfy enough to wear for multiple hours at a time. Little me would probably love the latest Bowers & Wilkins headphone, and for good reason.

Bowers & Wilkins has done audio right for years, but their over-ear headphones are what I call luxury listening at its best. When I first tried the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 a few years ago, I was impressed with the sound quality and design, but wondered if it was worth the hefty $800 price tag. When I was offered the chance to test the PX8 S2s, then, I was skeptical, but also excited to see how they stacked up against other new releases from competitors like Bose and Sony.

One thing’s for certain — Bowers & Wilkins really upped their noise cancellation game and delivered a pair of headphones that don’t just look better, but sound better, too. Let’s dive into the full review of the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2.‍

Shop the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2: $799

Design and Detail

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2s look and feel sleeker. They have a sexy aluminum frame paired with plush leather earcups. There are now two colors available (Onyx Black and Warm Stone), and both have a polished finish, which sets them apart from their competitors.

The design is slightly lighter than the last generation, too, making it more comfortable to wear for longer hours. The cushioned headband features braided details, and the overall fit feels much more secure than the last generation.

Sound: Best Soundstage on the Market

Bowers & Wilkins’ first-gen PX8 already offered a great soundstage, although the noise cancellation was definitely lacking. Luckily, the PX8 S2 improves on the previous gen, delivering much stronger noise cancellation that can actually block out your surroundings. It’s still not the best on the market, but it’s definitely a step up.

As for sound, I stand by the fact that the PX8 S2s offer the best bass on a pair of headphones. The PX8 S2 comes with two 40 mm full-range carbon drivers, built to deliver full, booming sound. Bass is punchy and full without overwhelming your ear canal. Lows are crisp, and these headphones do a great job of making music sound “natural.”

Vocals sound particularly good on these headphones, and they truly shine on instrument-heavy sounds, with detail and clarity more enhanced. (I personally love hearing Nora en Pure tracks on these cans, as her music is a mix of ethereal soundscapes with deep bass — music like that is where you can hear the true performance of these headphones.)

Try listening to Adagio For Strings by Tiesto or Armin Van Buuren’s Intense on these headphones, too: Both songs feature decent bass, but also have a strong focus on multiple instruments — Bowers & Wilkins really makes these songs sound like a performance straight from the artist’s lens.

The accompanying app allows you to adjust EQ to your liking, as well as check the various noise cancellation modes. There are physical tactile buttons on the PX8 S2 as well, which let you manually adjust volume and listening modes, among other things. Unlike its competitors, the buttons are not "touch" controls but rather manual buttons you'll need to hit to play and pause songs.

Battery Life and Fit

You’ll get a decent 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, and charging for just 15 minutes gets you about seven hours of listening time — which means that, yes, you can use them straight out of the box. As for fit, the plush leather earpads are truly some of the most comfortable on the market. These headphones fit snugly and securely, and stay in place even if you’re walking around the house or running to the grocery store.

Unfortunately, given their high-quality build, you can’t wear these to the gym or in bad weather. That said, you wouldn’t want to anyway — these are the kind of headphones you wear when you’re having a bad day and need some music therapy. They’re immersive, full-bodied, and provide a listening experience that leaves you wondering why you didn’t think of purchasing them sooner.

Big Differences Between Px8 and Px8 S2

The final aspect I want to mention is how the PX8 S2s really differ from the first gen. First off, the base volume is louder on the PX8 S2s. When I tried the original gen, I was worried that the sound felt too muddled and dull — that’s not the case on the PX8 S2. The detail is also better, and the soundstage in general sounds crisper and clearer. You might not notice the nuanced differences if you’re not an audiophile, but one thing’s for certain — you won’t face audio fatigue with these headphones. I spent about seven hours with these headphones the other day, and didn't bother taking them off.

The design is slightly upgraded, too. As mentioned, the braided cable detail is subtle and elevates the simple monochrome look, and in general, the headphones look and feel more expensive. The new generation is also about 10 grams lighter than before, and features a big upgrade to the noise cancellation features. Bluetooth feels better here, too, with decent multipoint connectivity and no connection losses.

There are eight microphones on the upgraded PX8 S2s as well (compared to the first gen’s six) for better call quality during long meetings.

Verdict: An Audiophile's Best Friend

Why would you want to spend $800 on a pair of headphones? It’s a valid question, but compared to similarly priced headphones (I’m looking at you, Apple AirPods Pro Max), Bowers & Wilkins delivers the best sound out of any of them. These are not the headphones for a casual listener: These are the headphones you wear for your eight-plus-hour workdays, zoning out until there’s nothing between you and the music. That’s when these headphones become worth it.

Not to mention, they last for years. I still have my original pair from 2022, and they work just fine. If you’re an audiophile chasing the best sound, the Bowers & Wilkins are what you need. They’ll last you years, look beautiful on, and feature the most comfortable pair of earcups I’ve ever tried.

Shop the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2: $799

‍