Bowers & Wilkins has just rolled out the Px8 S2, a fresh update to its premium wireless headphone lineup. At $799, this new model builds on the original Px8’s blueprint with upgrades in sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC), design, and future connectivity. Available in Onyx Black or Warm Stone, the Px8 S2 aims to strike a balance between luxury, performance, and day-to-day usability.
The core of the Px8 S2 is its 40mm Carbon Cone drivers—familiar from the first-gen Px8 (read our review), but now reworked from the inside out. B&W has redesigned everything around them: the chassis, voice coils, suspension system, and magnets. Even the angle of the drivers has been tweaked so that sound reaches your ears more evenly, which helps with imaging and the overall sense of space.
Each driver is driven by its own amplifier, separate from the chipset’s built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Instead, B&W uses its own audio processing to keep things clean and detailed. Whether you’re listening over Bluetooth or plugged in with the included USB-C or 3.5mm cable, the Px8 S2 supports up to 24-bit/96kHz playback, so you’re not losing resolution on your high-res tracks.
One of the biggest changes is in the wireless setup. The Px8 S2 supports both aptX Adaptive and Qualcomm’s newer aptX Lossless codecs—great news if you stream music from services like TIDAL, Qobuz, or Amazon Music. As long as your device supports it, these headphones will automatically grab the highest-quality stream possible.
Bluetooth has also been upgraded from version 5.2 to 5.3, which should bring more stable connections and better power efficiency. And for those using devices that don’t support aptX (like iPhones), B&W includes both analog and USB-C cables in the box.
The noise-canceling system has also seen some thoughtful updates. There are now eight microphones in total—six for ANC and two for voice pickup. That’s up from six mics in the previous model. These mics work together to block out external sounds without messing too much with the way your music sounds.
A new call-processing algorithm and ADI Pure Voice tech help keep your voice clear during calls—even in louder environments. And if you want to toggle ANC modes or fire up your phone’s voice assistant, you can do that quickly with a dedicated button on the earcup.
Everything is customizable in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. You can adjust noise cancelling, tweak the EQ using a new five-band equalizer, check battery life, or just leave everything on the default "True Sound" tuning and enjoy it as is.
Design-wise, the Px8 S2 keeps the familiar luxury look but slims things down a bit. The Nappa leather padding is still there, but the headphones are a touch smaller and lighter (310g), which makes a difference for longer listening sessions. There’s also a new exposed cable detail along the aluminum yokes, giving it a bit more visual edge without adding bulk.
The case is more compact, too—finally something you can actually slide into a backpack without it eating all your space. If the ear pads or headband wear out down the line, they’re replaceable through authorized service.
Battery life holds steady at 30 hours with ANC turned on. That’s the same as the original Px8, but still plenty to get through a few commutes or a long-haul flight. If you’re low on juice, a 15-minute quick charge will give you up to seven extra hours of listening.
What’s interesting is that B&W isn’t stopping here. A firmware update later this year will add Spatial Audio support, and Bluetooth LE Audio (including Auracast audio sharing) is on the roadmap once devices catch up.
Technical Specifications:
At $799, the Px8 S2 sits below some other high-end models like the Focal Bathys MG, but aims to offer similar performance in a slightly more compact, travel-friendly form. It’s still a premium purchase, but one that includes support for high-res wireless streaming, two types of wired connections, solid ANC, and a design that doesn’t scream “plastic.”
If you're in the market for wireless headphones that can do a bit of everything—and look good doing it—the Px8 S2 is definitely worth checking out.
Available now from Amazon, Crutchfield, and other authorized retailers.
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