One of the most elite portable headphones available, the Bowers and Wilkins Px8 takes the curves of the Px7 S2 and pushes portable sound performance even further. Extremely comfortable thanks to its leather ear pads, these wireless headphones combine musical quality with all the latest technologies for listening outside the home, from active noise reduction to a control app to best suit individual preferences.
Like many high-fidelity manufacturers today, Bowers and Wilkins is also present in the world of mobile listening, which is important for more and more music lovers, often frustrated by the loss of sound quality when they leave their homes. The British brand entered this segment in 2010 with the P5, and it took another five years to introduce a Bluetooth version (P5 Wireless), which has since been updated several times, most notably with the Px in 2017.
Design
With slightly wider ear pads than previous versions – made of natural leather for the Bowers and Wilkins Px8 compared to fabric on the Px7 S2e – B&W’s best portable headphones retain and improve on the latter’s 40 mm angled carbon cone wide-band drivers. On this version, the magnet and motor as well as the contour have also been revised and optimised, with the aim of increasing sound clarity and precision in particular. The headband is covered in nappa leather over an aluminium frame, a material also used on the ear cups, resulting in a total weight of 320 g, which is in the lower range for portable high-fidelity headphones.
Technology
With its 24-bit DSP and no fewer than six microphones, the Bowers and Wilkins Px8 handles both the details of the music played through its diaphragms and the cancellation of ambient noise thanks to a customised active noise cancellation (ANC) system. Of course, these headphones can also be used for phone calls and video conferences, where the microphones ensure that voices are heard as clearly as possible. At £499, it is priced £200 more than the Px7 S2e, but stands out for its visual and acoustic elegance. It is available in four finishes: black, burgundy (royal burgundy), green (dark forest) and white (tan), and at £799 in a special grey and orange finish in partnership with car manufacturer McLaren.
The set up
Advertised and verified at around 30 hours of battery life, the Bowers and Wilkins Px8 is easily recharged via a USB-C cable, which allows it to continue operating even while charging. When switched on using the button at the top of the right ear, it is recognised by nearby Bluetooth devices. It can be controlled from Android and Apple iOS apps, allowing you to adjust the bass and treble by +/-6 dB, or switch between ANC, classic and transparent modes, which can also be set using the single button on the left earpiece.
Also suitable for streaming, the Bowers & Wilkins Music app allows you to connect directly to certain platforms, including Qobuz, Deezer, Tidal, SoundCloud and NTS. It also allows you to select the device to connect to and shows the battery level of the headphones.
The sound of the Bowers and Wilkins Px8
A true gateway to high fidelity, Bluetooth headphones have improved significantly in recent years, not only in terms of sound quality but also in their external noise cancellation (ANC) systems. At the top of the range and more expensive than the Px7 S2e, the Px8 features a superior membrane that makes it undeniably more refined in terms of tone and offers a wider soundstage.
High-performance, its ANC mode envelops the listener in the sound, even in noisy conditions such as aeroplanes or trains. This noise reduction system is not the most effective on the market, but it is combined with musical quality that is among the best. What’s more, switching between classic, ANC and transparent modes doesn’t significantly alter the sense of presence of the sound, whereas with some competitors, activating ANC can create a slightly disconcerting bubble effect.
Always pleasant, the Px8 stands out first and foremost for the quality of its timbres, particularly the natural mids, which are reminiscent of good hi-fi headphones. The bass is not to be outdone and allows for a versatility of musical styles that will suit almost everyone. For pure electronic music lovers, there may be a lack of firmness in the bass, but this is offset by a smooth listening experience, which, on the other hand, works very well with natural music and variety. The extreme high frequencies are also well contained without being distorted, again with a comfortable, non-aggressive feel that makes these headphones a suitable travel companion for all situations.
Our conclusion
One of the first hi-fi manufacturers to enter the portable headphone market, the brand has continued to improve its models, distinguishing the Bowers and Wilkins Px8 from the Px7 in recent years with added refinement and musicality. While the best of the two is not yet ready to replace a very high-end home headphone, it is suitable for all types of listening thanks to its great versatility, as well as being very effective for enjoying films or series and pleasant in noisy environments thanks to the quality of its noise cancellation system (ANC). We highly recommend it!
Author: Vincent Guillemin
Technical sheet: Bowers and Wilkins Px8
- Origin: United Kingdom
- Price: €499
- Dimensions: 233 x 63 x 189 mm
- Weight: 320 g
- Type: Closed Bluetooth headphones (ANC)
- Battery life: 30 hours
- Finishes: Black leather; beige and grey; royal burgundy; dark forest McLaren Edition
