The battle of the flagship headphones is getting interesting, and the end user will benefit hugely in terms of the product they are getting. Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Bowers & Wilkins PX8, and AirPods Max already prove where the audio accessories market is heading. Blending perfectly with modern lifestyles and bringing reference quality sonic audio to your ears was never better, and now Bowers & Wilkins has upped the ante with another pair of headphones that look good to edge the competition.
The luxury British audio brand has released Px8 S2, a good-looking pair of cans that should improve on the performance of the Px7 S3. They call them the fresh take on “flagship statement headphones,” and we couldn’t agree more. Their premium appeal is proven by the use of Nappa leather and CNC CNC-machined aluminum frame. They’ve a $799 price to match the looks, which is $100 more than the predecessors. So, does the extra bring more to the table?
Designer: Bowers & Wilkins
It was three years ago that B&W released the Px8 with a sound profile that was unmatchable; still, some kinks needed to be fixed. The second generation of the model fixes irons out all these nitpicks to make them nearly perfect. Achieving studio-grade sound on closed-back headphones is an art, and the British audio expert knows their craft. Being backed by Harman’s sonic expertise, B&W has created the cans in a carbon fiber housing. The in-house engineers have redesigned the 40mm Carbon Cone drivers, right from the voice coil to the suspension system. Each of the drivers now has a dedicated amplifier, which should result in a wider soundstage and better dynamic range. The difference should be clear in busy music tracks that feature numerous instruments or chaotic electronic beats.
Active Noise Cancellation tech has also been improved with the eight-microphone setup. Four of these analyze the ambient noise, and two of them take care of calling needs. This brings them on the same level as Bose or Sony, which was a little bit of complaint by the community with the earlier model that struggled in crowded spaces. For visual detailing, the aluminum frame features exposed cables, and the Nappa leather adds to the luxury quotient. The ear cushions and headband are now replaceable, meaning you can keep them for a long time if the sound signature is to your liking.
The Px8 S2 gets 24-bit/96kHz wireless playback with the aptX Adaptive codecs, which should make good use of the acoustic housing of the drivers. B&W has added USB-C and 3.5mm connectivity options, so you need not worry about the wired source the music needs to be sourced from. They’ve engineered a True Sound mode which promises audio that’s the closest to the one intended by the music composer, still, if you prefer your own profile, the five-band equalizer has you covered. The battery on these pair of cans is impressive, with 30 hours on ANC turned on. A 15-minute quick charge provides you with 7 hours of playback, which is impressive. The headphones are available in Onyx Black and Warm Stone, both of which are strikingly cool.
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