Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review: headphones heaven

Bowers & Wilkins is on a roll of late, having already delivered my favourite headphones of 2025. Mere months on, the brand's top-tier version, the PX8, is back for its second-generation release – and what an upgrade it is.

Having worn the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 for various listening sessions for nearly two weeks for this review, I'm mightily impressed. While the second-gen version brings a savvy redesign – including exposed cabling, a nod to 2010's PX5 – it also tweaks the sonic delivery with various new internal upgrades.

The word 'luxury' is synonymous with Bowers & Wilkins, with the PX8 S2 confidently making material choices – Nappa leather earcups, aluminium earcup housings – for not only look and feel's sake, but audio and comfort enhancements too.

Which, inevitably, all comes at a pretty high asking price. But it's those seemingly subtle yet truly significant extras that make all the difference. Here's why they're a contender for the best headphones of the year and, frankly, probably next too.

Price & Availability

Did someone say £629 for a pair of PX8 S2? They sure did! Those in the USA can expect to pay $799. While European readers will need to shell out €729. I'm still awaiting Australian pricing information.

You're not surprised, are you? Don't even pretend to be. Compared to the now three-year-old PX8 original that's only a 5% price bump for the UK market. Sure, it's more like a 14% bump for the USA, but there's tariffs to blame for that.

What's New?

So just what are you getting for your money? I've highlighted a list of the newest features in the PX8 S2 compared to the PX8 original.

There's quite a list, some of it subtle, some more significant – but these are no 'small upgrade' headphones on account of their design alone, let alone the rest of the spec.

• New design is slimmer than previous model: 177mm versus 189mm of old
• New case is also more compact, accommodating that new design
• Exposed cable detailing is new for this model, referencing Px5
• Ear cushions and headband are replaceable via servicing
• Drivers have new chassis, voice coil, suspension, magnet
• Headphone amplifier (ADI SMM6515) now integrated
• aptX Lossless – to 24-bit/96kHz, previous was 24/48
• Bluetooth 5.3 is the standard, up from version 5.2
• New 5-band EQ in app (was bass/treble before)
• Noise-cancelling uses more mics (6, up from 4)

In addition to that summary, however, there's the promise of some future additions for the PX8 S2. However, exactly when isn't known at this stage.

At a later date, Bowers & Wilkins promises that spatial audio will be added, which the brand is developing in-house. There will also be LE Audio support.

Design

At first glance, I thought the PX8 S2 looked rather similar to my other go-to headphones, the PX7 S3. Upon closer inspection is when those differentiating new details come to the fore, though, with that exposed cabling a real visual highlight.

And the PX8 S2 and PX7 S3 aren't one and the same at all: the former has less angled earcups, is slightly thicker, and those material finishes provide a more refined look overall – one that you can feel both in hand and when worn.

There are two finishes at launch, described as Onyx Black and Warm Stone. You can call one 'black' and the other 'off-white', really, not that the marketing names are in any way offensive. Keep your eyes peeled in the future, too, as I'm informed there'll be other limited colours being added.

Whichever of the two you pick, there's Nappa leather appointed for the earcups and headband. The kind of luxury you get in a high-end Japanese car. Not everyone will want leather, granted, in which case you'll want to refer to the PX7 S3 instead, I would think.

Comfort is key, though, and I've found the PX8 S2 to wear beautifully. As ever when I test important headphone releases, such as these, I really go to town in putting them through their paces. Thus far, I've used these cans in the gym, on short- and long-haul flights, in high temperatures (it was 38C in Arizona when I passed through), and beyond.

That Nappa finish, for me, is actually preferable. As it won't be exposed to sunlight whilst wearing, and therefore won't heat up, the natural quality of leather has actually proven good for heat-wicking – so it's done a goob job in keeping me cool, not just super comfortable for many hours at a time.

Elsewhere, the headband adjustment mechanism and arm structure are made from cast aluminium, and the edge of the logo plate has a bright, diamond-cut edge. It's pristine-looking design, akin to its predecessor, with the metal's stiffness also having an impact on the rigid fit and, therefore, perceived sound quality.

I've quite often reached out to feel the finish, when seeking to find control buttons on the device. There's a simple volume up, play/pase, and volume down selection on the right earcup – and no touch-controls to speak of – which have a pronounced finish to help define one from the next.

The left earcup, meanwhile, houses two buttons: one cycles through the Mode – i.e. noise-cancelling on, 'Aware' passthrough for voice, or off – while the other is there for pairing Bluetooth devices as you wish. You can bypass wireless with a wired USB-C connection, but you will need to leave the headphones on.

Sound Quality

When the original PX8 were reviewed on T3, that article read: "Is it a spoiler to start by saying the PX8 sound great?" And it's the same sentiment here: the PX8 S2 take what was spectacular and, well, made it even more stupendous.

If you're a PX8 owner, however, then the difference is subtle. The 40mm drivers, which each utilise Carbon Cone design for a stiff and therefore heightened control, are the same scale – but the second-gen has redesigned how they operate and integrated a new headphone amp.

The S2 do cater for even higher-resolution files, with aptX Lossless enabling 24-bit/96kHz for audiophile listening.

Even if you ignore all the impressive codecs and specification, however, it's impossible to not be enamoured by the PX8 S2's sound profile. Whatever your music preference, however quiet or loudly you like to listen, these are deeply accomplished headphones that deliver deeply accomplished audio.

What you listen to is of no matter: a bass thumping underground cut will deliver just as much wallop as you could hope; yet a complex orchestra, a vocally-exposed singer, grungy rock ballads, whatever your preference – nothing's too big or varied for these headphones to handle. Everything, at whichever point in the frequency range, just sits so naturally together.

Bass is handled with aplomb. The Px8 S2 can hit very deep, very hard, yet very controlled low-end output. There's no dragging their heels in this department, merrily bounding along in an assured manner that never oversteps its bounds.

While Bowers & Wilkins says the drivers are perfectly angled to the listener's ears, however, there's a caveat to that – you need to be very distinct in how the headphones are positioned overhead, as these large earcups can be slid around easily. Position them perfectly for the best higher-frequency delivery and seal – and they're well behaved in staying there once placed – but I found a too far forward position wouldn't get quite the full sparkle from the higher frequencies.

Should you wish to dig in and adjust the sound further to your preference, then the Bowers & Wilkins Music app now caters for a five-band equaliser (EQ), which is progress beyond the basic bass/treble option of before. This was down to customer feedback, although I've found I've left mine flat and been very happy with the results – unlike with, say, the Sonos Ace that need a bit of extra assistance.

Noise Cancelling

Underpinning that audio delivery is the fact the PX8 S2 offer an active noise-cancelling (ANC) system, which has also been upgraded compared to the original, now using more microphones for greater control.

Now, there's ANC and there's ANC. Bowers hasn't ever really gone down the world-blocking or stuck-in-a-vacuum kind of angle with its systems – despite the PX7 S3 being a big improvement in that regard. It's an audio brand that likes the feature to complement the listening experience, rather than dominate it.

You'll need to keep that in mind, as I don't find the PX8 S2's ANC to be the most accomplished on the market. I've worn these on planes and been pleased by the diminishing of that airy 'hiss', sure, but there are given frequencies that can still cut through – people talking still being notable, for example.

With ANC active, however, is when the PX8 S2 sound at their best. For me, Aware just enhances a mid-range frequency curve unpleasantly, and leaving it off doesn't quite bring the same sense of engagement at every frequency level. It's enjoyable noise-cancelling, that does a decent job and, far as I can tell, delivers in the manner in which the brand intended.

I'm also not totally convinced that the PX8 S2 are designed to be direct Bose QC Ultra Headphones competitors, you know? These aren't plasticky, super-strong ANC headphones designed with travelling necessarily in mind. They're brilliant all-rounders – which, even in the context of this ANC offering, is exactly what they achieve.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review: Verdict

If you're prepared to spend extra for those seemingly subtle yet truly significant extras – the Nappa leather, the aluminium, the exposed wire detailing – then Bowers & Wilkins' PX8 S2 heapdhones are an absolute class act.

That sound quality is second to none is expected, of course, but the PX8 S2 really knock it out the park here – whatever genre, at whatever volume, the dynamic sonic delivery is never short of staggering.

Sure, you'll have to cope with active noise-cancelling (ANC) that's not as world-blocking and some competitors out there. But that's part and parcel of the Bowers & Wilkins' all-round approach, far as I see it.

Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 are the business class of headphones – and once you've settled in, you won't ever want to downgrade again. Those small differentiations can make a big difference, with these over-ears proving to be exceptional at every turn.

Also consider

Just on a cost basis, you may wish to peruse the original PX8 model, as the price is now even more appealing. You won't get the updated design benefit, or the internal tweaks, but you will still get a very accomplished pair of headphones.

There are plenty of other options in the market, but I don't think any quite hit the 'luxury' mark like the Bowers & Wilkins at this price level. Sure, you might prefer the Apple AirPods Max or the Bose QC Ultra Headphones for harder-hitting ANC, but neither have quite the same class in finish of the PX8 S2.