Forget Sony, these 5-star headphones are my faves – and cheaper than ever

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e are now cheaper than ever before

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e in blue
(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)

I've tested stacks of the best headphones this year – and while the Sony WH-1000XM6 are incredible, it's actually Bowers & Wilkins' PX7 S3 that are my pick of the bunch.

Thing is, they're pricey headphones, which is why I reckon looking back to the previous gen – the 5-star-awarded PX7 S2e – is a very savvy bet indeed. That's because Amazon has cut the price of those to lower than ever before, at just £196 (or £199 at Very).

Bowers & Wilkins headphones use fine materials, with impeccable build standards, and audio that's to die for. That's frankly why you'd usually pay more – so this cut-price deal is the real thing.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e: was £379 now £199 at Amazon

The uprated 'e' version of the superb original over-ears from Bowers & Wilkins, complete with foam-filled leather earcups (yes, actual leather, how rare) and audiophile-grade sound quality that Hi-Res Audio fans will love. They sound stellar – and you can pick from four different colours to suit your look.

I've used the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e extensively – and the only downside, I'd say, is that their active noise-cancelling (ANC) isn't as 'strong' as you can get elsehwere.

If you want that to be ramped up to the max then, yes, the WH-1000XM models actually make more sense. But from a sheer comfort, materials and sound perspective, it's the Bowers that win for me – they're my faves.


That's all part of the reason these over-ears netted a 5-star review. They're really great for at-home listening, thanks to such high-level audio standards. The PX7 S2e have a DSP (digital signal processor) that can handle 24-bit files at up to 192kHz – so very high-end indeed and beyond your standard streaming services.

As noted in my review: "The Px7 S2e is a marvellous ensemble of sound quality, luxurious build, and sublime comfort. If pure sound quality is what you're after then these Bowers & Wilkins cans easily face up to the best Sony or Bose option out there."

So if that's your want – sound quality more than long-term wear or ANC ferocity – then they're a great pick. And now at a great price. Available in black, grey, red, or green – the choice is yours!

Mike Lowe
Tech Editor

Mike is T3's Tech Editor. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 years and his beat covers phones – of which he's seen hundreds of handsets over the years – laptops, gaming, TV & audio, and more. There's little consumer tech he's not had a hand at trying, and with extensive commissioning and editing experience, he knows the industry inside out. As the former Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for 10 years where he furthered his knowledge and expertise, whilst writing about literally thousands of products, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more.

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