Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless  Headphones Review

Reviewed May 02, 2023 at 08:19am
Test bench update Mar 24, 2026 at 10:57am
Tested using Methodology v2.1 
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless

Track

0.0
Sports And Fitness 
0.0
Travel 
0.0
Office Work 
0.0
Wireless Gaming (In Development) 
0.0
Wired Gaming (In Development) 
0.0
Audio Reproduction Accuracy 
0.0
Noise Isolation 
0.0
Microphone (In Development) 

Track

 14
Notice: These headphones were replaced by Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
  1. Recommended in:
  2. USB-C

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless are the next generation of the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless and the model below the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless. Entering the market with a sleek, high-end build and features like aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codec support for a high-quality audio experience, these over-ears offer a versatile performance for users looking for a more elevated sound from Bluetooth headphones. That said, their noise cancelling (ANC) performance falls short compared to similarly priced over-ears like the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless, and they aren't as customizable, which is a drawback if you're not into their default sound.

Our Verdict

0.0
Sports And Fitness 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are satisfactory for sports and fitness, though over-ears aren't usually the best choice for this use since they're bulky and can fall off your head with more intense head movement. Over-ears also tend to lack IP ratings for water resistance. On the upside, they have a well-built design that's comfortable and stable enough for light exercise. They also support Bluetooth connections, so you can lift weights without worrying about cables getting caught on equipment.

Pros
  • Comfortable and premium design.
Cons
  • ANC has trouble blocking out bass-range noise.
0.0
Travel 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are very good for commuting and travel. These very well-built over-ears have a comfortable fit and are equipped with an ANC system to help block out sound around you. While the ANC has some trouble reducing the low rumble of bus and plane engines, they do a better job of isolating you from chatty passengers. With the ANC on, they last over 37 hours continuously.

Pros
  • Comfortable and premium design.
  • ANC can block out mid to treble noise well.
Cons
  • ANC has trouble blocking out bass-range noise.
0.0
Office Work 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are good for office use. These comfortable over-ears have an ANC system that easily cuts down ambient chatter and have a long continuous battery life that won't die on you during your shift. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can connect them to your work PC and smartphone simultaneously. Their mic also renders your voice decently well, too, which is great for meetings in controlled environments.

Pros
  • Comfortable and premium design.
  • ANC can block out mid to treble noise well.
  • Supports multi-device pairing.
Cons
  • Mic not supported via wired connection.
0.0
Wireless Gaming (In Development) 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are Bluetooth headphones, and their latency on PCs is too high to be suitable for gaming.

0.0
Wired Gaming (In Development) 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are decent for wired gaming if you don't need mic support. These headphones can connect to a console via analog or, in some cases, like with PC or PlayStation, via their analog to USB-C cable. They have a comfortable fit suitable for long gaming sessions, and their bassy sound can help immerse you in explosion-filled cutscenes. That said, you can't use their mic while wired, so no voice chat or comms.

Pros
  • Comfortable and premium design.
Cons
  • Mic not supported via wired connection.
0.0
Audio Reproduction Accuracy 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 have impressive audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response deviates minimally from the headphones' bass-boosted sound signature. However, the treble range is subject to fluctuations that can render sibilants alternately dull and sharp. That said, your experience may vary, as the headphones' treble delivery can fluctuate based on placement and head shape. The headphones also don't exhibit significant issues in stereo matching, group delay, or harmonic distortion, so you have little to worry about with stereo imbalance or timbral inconsistencies. While the over-ears interact with your pinna, they don't quite match the natural immersiveness of a stereo speaker setup.

0.0
Noise Isolation 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 have very good noise isolation. The headphones attenuate noise from whirring PC fans, chatty coworkers, and revving engines relatively easily thanks to their mix of passive and active noise isolation. That said, noise from rumbling plane engines isn't blocked as proficiently. If you're in a public place, the headphones don't leak much audio, so you can listen at fairly high volumes without distracting anyone nearby.

0.0
Microphone (In Development) 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 have a decent microphone. The mic reproduces your voice as natural, but lacking in body. In most situations, the microphone system keeps your voice separated from background noise. That said, overwhelmingly loud noise, like train cars arriving, can mask your voice entirely.

0.0
Frequency Response Consistency 

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 have alright frequency response consistency. Most people will find their bass and mid performance fairly consistent with our measurements and between subsequent reseatings. However, the treble experience can vary substantially from our measured frequency response.

  • 0.0
    Sports And Fitness
  • 0.0
    Travel
  • 0.0
    Office Work
  • 0.0
    Wireless Gaming (In Development)
  • 0.0
    Wired Gaming (In Development)

  • Performance Usages

  • 0.0
    Audio Reproduction Accuracy
  • 0.0
    Noise Isolation
  • 0.0
    Microphone (In Development)
  • 0.0
    Frequency Response Consistency
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Mar 24, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test, and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
    2.  Updated Jan 20, 2026: 

      The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 was mentioned in the Popular Headphones Comparisons and PlayStation Compatibility boxes.

    3.  Updated Dec 16, 2025: 

      This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.

    4.  Updated Dec 15, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 come in three color variants: 'Black,' 'Blue,' and 'Grey.' We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.

    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 are the successor of the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless, and both have been surpassed by the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Wireless. There have been a couple of changes to their design: their build received an upgrade, so they feel even more premium and high-quality, and they support aptX Adaptive, which is good if you want to stream high-quality audio or if you want lower latency for streaming video. They're also compatible with a new companion app that offers bass and treble sliders to help you adjust the sound, although the customization features aren't as robust as those of competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. Then again, the subsequent Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 comes with a more granular five-band EQ in the app.

    Check out our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best closed-back headphones.

    Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless

    Track

    Depending on your preferences, you may enjoy either the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless or the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless. The Sony have a less bassy sound profile, although they're still warm-sounding, a virtual soundstage feature, and a better performing ANC system. They're also more customizable. In contrast, the Bowers & Wilkins are more comfortable and better built. They can also receive audio via USB-C, which some users may prefer. However, you can't EQ them as extensively as the Sony headphones if you like to tweak sound profiles.

    Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless

    Track

    The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless and the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless are both good headphones, but the Sennheiser have a slight edge. While both headphones are comfortable, the Sennheiser have more tools to alter their sound profile, better ANC, and a significantly longer continuous battery life. On the flip side, the Bowers & Wilkins are better built and more stable fitting, and their connectivity is similar, too. You might prefer button controls instead of the touch controls on the Sennheiser, though.

    Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless

    Track

    The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless are the more premium sibling of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless. Although both headphones have high-end build quality, the Px8 are made with different components like aluminum and Nappa leather in their frame as well as being equipped with a carbon diaphragm instead of a cellulose one used by the Px7 S2, which is advertised to help lower distortion. Both headphones perform similarly in this aspect, though. That said, the Px8 are more comfortable, and their sound profile is a bit more balanced, although it's still bass-heavy.

    Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

    Track

    The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless are better over-ears than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless. The Sony are more comfortable and have a virtual soundstage to help immerse you in your audio. Their ANC system offers significantly better noise isolation performance, and they have more customization features, thanks to their companion app. That said, the Bowers & Wilkins are better built and support aptX Adaptive codec so that you can stream high-quality audio or achieve lower latency for streaming video.

    Show more 
    How We Test Headphones: Over 800 And Counting!
    How We Test Headphones: Over 800 And Counting!

    Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.

    You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Sound
    Sound Profile
    Normalization Frequency
    LockedLock Hz
    Bass Amount
    LockedVery Emphasized (7 dB)
    Treble Amount
    LockedSlightly Emphasized (1 dB)
    Sound Signature
    LockedBoosted Bass

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    0.0
    Frequency Response Consistency
    Std. Deviation
    LockedLock dB

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    Raw Frequency Response
    0.0
    Bass Profile: Target Compliance
    RMS Deviation From Target
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    LockedLock Hz
    Low Bass
    LockedLock dB
    Mid Bass
    LockedLock dB
    High Bass
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
    RMS Deviation From Target
    LockedLock dB
    Low Mid
    LockedLock dB
    Mid-Mid
    LockedLock dB
    High Mid
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Treble Profile: Target Compliance
    RMS Deviation From Target
    LockedLock dB
    Low Treble
    LockedLock dB
    Mid Treble
    LockedLock dB
    High Treble
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Peaks/Dips
    Peaks
    LockedLock dB
    Dips
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Stereo Mismatch
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    LockedLock dB
    Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch
    LockedLock dB
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    LockedLock°

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    Cumulative Spectral Decay
    0.0
    PRTF
    PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)
    LockedLock dB
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    LockedLock dB
    PRTF Distance
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Harmonic Distortion
    WHD @ 94 dB SPL
    LockedLock%
    WHD @ 104 dB SPL
    LockedLock%

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    Electrical Aspects
    Sensitivity @1kHz-1V
    LockedN/A
    Bluetooth Max SPL
    LockedLock dB
    0.0
    Virtual Soundstage
    Head Modeling
    LockedLocked
    Speaker Modeling
    LockedLocked
    Room Ambience
    LockedLocked
    Head Tracking
    LockedLocked
    Virtual Surround
    LockedLocked
    Test Settings
    Firmware
    LockedLocked
    Power
    LockedLocked
    Connection
    LockedLocked
    Codec
    LockedLocked
    Test InstrumentLockedLocked
    EQ
    LockedLocked
    ANC
    LockedLocked
    Tip/Pad
    LockedLocked
    Microphone
    LockedLocked

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    Design
    Style
    TypeLockedOver-ear
    EnclosureLockedClosed-Back
    WirelessLockedYes
    TransducerLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Comfort
    WeightLockedLock lbs
    Clamping Force
    LockedLock lbs

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    0.0
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    LockedLocked
    Ease Of UseLockedLocked
    FeedbackLockedLocked
    Call/Music ControlLockedLocked
    Volume ControlLockedLocked
    Microphone ControlLockedLocked
    Channel Mixing
    LockedLocked
    Noise Cancelling ControlLockedLocked
    Talk-Through
    LockedLocked
    Additional ControlsLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Portability
    LLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    WLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    HLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    VolumeLockedLock in³ (Lock cm³)
    Transmitter RequiredLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Case
    TypeLockedLocked
    LLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    WLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    HLockedLock" (Lock cm)
    VolumeLockedLock in³ (Lock cm³)

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    0.0
    Build Quality

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    0.0
    Stability

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    Headshots 1
    Headshots 2
    Top
    In The Box

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    Isolation
    0.0
    Noise Isolation - Full Range
    Noise CancellingLockedYes
    Overall Attenuation
    LockedLock dB
    Bass
    LockedLock dB
    Mid
    LockedLock dB
    Treble
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
    Airplane Noise Attenuation
    LockedLock dB
    Airplane Noise Isolation Audio
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    Office Noise Attenuation
    LockedLock dB
    Office Noise Isolation Audio
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    Street Noise Attenuation
    LockedLock dB
    Street Noise Isolation Audio
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    Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
    Female Voice 1
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    Male Voice 1
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    Female Voice 2
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    Male Voice 2
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    ANC Wind Handling
    ANC Wind Noise
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    0.0
    Leakage
    Leakage Audio
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    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    LockedLock dB

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    Microphone
    Microphone Style
    Integrated
    LockedLocked
    In-Line
    LockedLocked
    Boom
    LockedLocked
    Detachable Boom
    LockedLocked
    MicLockedYes
    0.0
    Recording Quality
    Recorded Speech
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    LFE
    LockedLock Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    LockedLock dB
    HFE
    LockedLock Hz
    Weighted THD
    LockedLock
    Gain
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Noise Handling
    SpNR
    LockedLock dB
    Noise Gate
    LockedLocked
    Speech + Pink Noise Handling
    Locked
    0.0
    Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
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    Speech + Subway Noise Handling
    Locked
    0.0
    Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
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    Active Features
    0.0
    Battery
    Battery Type
    LockedLocked
    Continuous Battery Life
    LockedLock hrs
    Additional Charges
    LockedLock
    Total Battery Life
    LockedLock hrs
    Charge Time
    LockedLock hrs
    Power-Saving Feature
    LockedLocked
    Audio While Charging
    LockedLocked
    Passive Playback
    LockedLocked
    Charging PortLockedLocked

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    0.0
    App Support
    App NameLockedLocked
    iOSLockedLocked
    AndroidLockedLocked
    macOSLockedLocked
    WindowsLockedLocked
    Equalizer
    LockedLocked
    ANC Control
    LockedLocked
    Mic ControlLockedLocked
    Room Effects
    LockedLocked
    Playback Control
    LockedLocked
    Button MappingLockedLocked
    Surround Support
    LockedLocked

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    Connectivity
    0.0
    Wired Connection
    Analog Audio
    LockedLocked
    USB Audio
    LockedLocked
    Detachable
    LockedLocked
    Length
    LockedLock ft (Lock m)
    Connector
    LockedLocked
    Latency - Analog
    LockedLock ms
    Latency - USB
    LockedLock ms
    Recorded Latency
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    Recorded Latency ConnectionLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Bluetooth Connection
    Bluetooth Version
    LockedLocked
    Multi-Device Pairing
    LockedLocked
    Quick Pair (Android)
    LockedLocked
    Quick Pair (iOS)
    LockedLocked
    Line Of Sight Range
    LockedLock ft (Lock m)
    Latency - SBC
    LockedLock ms
    Latency - aptX
    LockedLock ms
    Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
    LockedLock ms
    Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
    LockedLock ms
    Latency - LDAC
    LockedN/A
    Recorded Latency
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    Recorded Latency CodecLockedLocked
    AAC Support
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Wireless Connection (Dongle)
    Line Of Sight Range
    LockedN/A
    Latency - Dongle
    LockedN/A
    Recorded Latency
    N/A
    PC Compatibility
    Analog
    LockedLocked
    Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked

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    PlayStation Compatibility
    PS4 Analog
    LockedLocked
    PS4 Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    PS4 Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Analog
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    PS5 Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked

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    Xbox Compatibility
    Xbox One Analog
    LockedLocked
    Xbox One Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Analog
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
    LockedLocked
    Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Base/Dock
    Type
    LockedLocked
    USB Input
    LockedLocked
    Line In
    LockedLocked
    Line Out
    LockedLocked
    Optical Input
    LockedLocked
    RCA Input
    LockedLocked
    Dock Charging
    LockedLocked
    Power Supply
    LockedLocked