Bowers & Wilkins, the esteemed British premium audio brand, released their flagship wireless headphones, the Px8 back in September 2022. They set a new benchmark in the active noise cancelling wireless headphone market, with unparalleled sound quality, sophisticated design, and cutting-edge technology.
In 2024 they continue to be held up as one of the gold standards in personal sound, and if you’re looking for a pair of premium headphones, here’s why you should definitely consider a pair of Px8s:
Premium Design and Feel
It’s not everyday headphones get noticed, but in the great mass of over ears, Px8 stands out by being sleek and cool. Available in black, tan or royal burgundy, the first impression of Px8 is one of sophistication and luxury.
Px8 features diecast aluminium arms and diamond-cut bright metal detailing, enhancing both aesthetics and durability.
Earcups, memory-foam cushions, and headband are all trimmed in soft Nappa leather for maximum comfort during prolonged use. When you place these on your head you will be amazed how comfortable they feel, and they don’t feel burdensome or overly heavy like some premium headphones.
Unmatched Sound Quality
Px8 features all-new bespoke 40mm Carbon Cone drive units, inspired by Bowers & Wilkins' acclaimed 700 Series loudspeakers. These cones deliver ultra-fast response and exceptionally low distortion, ensuring reference-quality audio. In our extensive trialling they handle all day listening effortlessly with great out of the box EQ.
The Carbon Cones are meticulously angled within each ear cup to maintain a consistent distance to the listener’s ear, resulting in a highly accurate and immersive soundstage.
Additionally technology like Qualcomm aptXTM Adaptive utilises advanced wireless technology for the best possible sound quality from compatible devices.
Advanced Noise Cancelling and Pass Through
Honestly, we’ve tried them all and the noise cancelling on the PX8s are very impressive. The technology has come so far now and these just create this incredible personal sound space to help you focus or lower unwanted external noise without negatively affecting the music experience.
This is accomplished with six high-performance microphones working in unison. Two measure output, two react to ambient noise, and two enhance voice clarity and noise suppression.
Additionally the pass-through is one of the more natural sounding we’ve tried, where often pass-through can not be as effective or easy to listen to.
Improved microphone placement and angling for better voice capture and reduced wind noise interference also make for better phone calls.
Exceptional User Experience
While the Px8s do just fine without it, the Bowers & Wilkins Music App gives you a deeper range of options to enhance your experience.
One great benefit of the app is you can connect two devices to Px8, so you can seamlessly switch from your computer to your mobile phone with ease.
There are physical controls accessible on each earcup, ensuring full control even without the app. The tactile feel of a proper on/off switch, which also doubles as a bluetooth connection switch if you hold it, is an elegant and simple way to interact with the unit. Power on time is fast and is as simple as flicking a switch.
Px8 also includes the ability to launch the phone’s Voice Assistant with a single button press.
Auto ear detection is also a standout, simply pausing and playing your media (music and video) when you remove or replace your headphones in the middle of a session. The best bit is you can change the sensitivity of this in the app with three strength settings.
Superior Connectivity and Battery Life
When it comes to battery life the Px8 is astonishing, offering up to 30 hours of playback on a single charge. In testing we’ve had these running all work day for at least 4 days, without much of a break and with ANC on, until we felt the need to give them a top up.
The best thing is they recharge super quickly with a quick 15-minute charge providing around seven hours of listening time.
Overall the Px8 headphones are a testament to Bowers & Wilkins' commitment to quality in sound, build and innovation. The word premium gets bandied about in the headphone space a lot, but Px8 are the real deal. With such a great range of headphones within the market including new players at similar prices, these should absolutely be on your consideration list.
Whether you're an audiophile or a casual listener, the Px8 promises to elevate your audio experience to new heights.
The standard colour ways are also enjoying a reduced price at the moment. A great opportunity to upgrade your personal listening experience.
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