Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e: Have They Finally Beaten Sony and Bose at Their Own Game?
Bowers & Wilkins doesn’t treat headphones like tech gadgets; they treat them like musical instruments. The Px7 S2e is just that: classy, well-balanced, and full of great sound. While other companies focus on fancy apps and smart features, B&W just focuses on what’s most important—excellent sound, great comfort, and solid build quality.
After testing these for weeks on flights, during my commute, and while working, I’m sure of one thing: these are one of the best wireless headphones you can get this year.
Design & Build Quality
The Px7 S2e feels like it belongs in the same league as luxury audio gear. Everything — from the aluminum accents to the acoustic fabric finish — screams craftsmanship. It’s elegant, solid, and understated.
Weighing about 307 grams, the headphones strike a near-perfect balance between substance and comfort. The memory-foam ear cushions create a secure seal without clamping too hard, and even after four-hour sessions, there’s no fatigue.
Check Out: Skullcandy Hesh ANC Review
B&W keeps the same minimalist approach as before: tactile physical buttons instead of touch controls. It’s practical, reliable, and satisfying — especially for those tired of accidental swipes on other brands.
Connectivity
You won’t find gimmicks here. Instead, the Px7 S2e focuses on stable performance and meaningful convenience.
Highlights include:
- Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC
- Multipoint pairing (two devices at once)
- Google Fast Pair and “Find My Device” support
- Wear detection and auto-pause/play
- Control customization through the Bowers & Wilkins Music App
The app is smooth and refined — a rare compliment in this category. You can tweak EQ, switch between ANC / Transparency / Off, or even stream directly from Tidal, Qobuz, or Deezer. It feels integrated rather than bolted on.
Sound Quality
This is where the Px7 S2e truly separates itself from the pack.
The updated 24-bit DSP (borrowed from the flagship Px8) and angled 40 mm biocellulose drivers deliver sound that feels both alive and accurate.
Bass
Deep, powerful, but never bloated. The bass has texture — you feel the thump of a kick drum, not just a rumble. It’s more controlled than Sony’s XM5 and more natural than Bose’s QC Ultra.
Midrange
This is B&W’s magic zone. Vocals sound intimate and pure. Acoustic guitars and pianos have warmth and realism that many wireless headphones just smear over.
Treble
Smooth, detailed, and fatigue-free. There’s air and sparkle without harshness. You can listen for hours without wanting to turn the volume down.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage feels wide but coherent — you can point out instruments in space. Compared to the Px7 S2, the new S2e sounds cleaner and more open, especially on complex, layered recordings.
In short: it sounds expensive — because it is.
Noise Cancellation
B&W’s ANC isn’t trying to drown the world; it’s trying to preserve the music. The Px7 S2e cancels out low hums and background chatter effectively but doesn’t erase everything like Sony’s XM5 or Bose’s Ultra.
What it does do right is maintain consistent audio quality with ANC on — no compression, no tonal shifts. Transparency mode also feels natural, letting voices and ambient sound through clearly without artificial hiss.
If your top priority is total silence, go Bose.
If your priority is great music with smart isolation, stay here.
Battery Life
Battery life remains excellent: up to 30 hours with ANC enabled.
A 15-minute quick charge gives roughly 7 hours of playback — perfect for spontaneous trips.
One catch: they won’t play while completely dead, even via cable. But honestly, you’ll struggle to run them empty unless you forget to charge for a week.
Colors & Comfort
The Px7 S2e arrives in Anthracite Black, Cloud Grey, Ocean Blue, and Forest Green. All four finishes look refined rather than flashy.
Comfort is excellent. The ear cushions breathe well, the headband padding distributes weight evenly, and the snug fit enhances passive isolation without heat buildup.
This is a headphone you can actually wear all day — and want to.
Px7 S2e vs the Competition
| Model | What It Does Best | What It Lacks |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Best ANC and smart features | Sound feels less organic |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra | Light, ultra-comfortable | Slightly sterile audio |
| Sennheiser Momentum 4 | Great battery and clarity | Lacks warmth |
| B&W Px7 S2e | Most musical, best build | Fewer software tricks |
If you care about musical truth rather than features, the Px7 S2e is the obvious choice.
Technical Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
| Drivers | 40 mm angled biocellulose |
| DSP | 24-bit digital signal processor |
| Frequency Response | 10 Hz – 30 kHz |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 (SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive) |
| Battery | 30 hrs (ANC on), 7 hrs from 15-min charge |
| Weight | 307 g |
| Controls | Physical buttons, voice assistant |
| App | B&W Music App |
| Case | Hard-shell with USB-C & 3.5 mm cables |
Real-World Experience:
Over multiple weeks of daily use, the Px7 S2e impressed me with consistency. Pairing never failed. Battery drain was predictable. The sound never lost its charm — even switching from podcasts to orchestral pieces.
They feel like a product made by listeners for listeners. No feature fluff, no app frustration, just polished audio excellence.
Conclusion:
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e doesn’t try to win you over with noise graphs or software buzzwords. It wins you over the old-fashioned way — with craftsmanship, honesty, and sound that moves you.
It’s not the quietest, lightest, or smartest headphone on earth — but it’s one of the few that makes music feel human again.
If you value authentic tone, elegant design, and long-term comfort, this is a pair you’ll treasure for years.
