These days, we’re all using wireless headsets at some point in the day. Odds are, if you’re at a desk job, whether you’re hybrid, fully at home, or in the office, that headset is about the only thing you’re using the majority of the day (other than your laptop). Which, if you’re spending that much time with a device, why not opt for something engineered to go the distance? The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 look like a solid fit to that sort of thinking.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: the materials
If you want something - whether it’s electronics, consumer devices, or even pair of boots - to last a long time, you need to consider not just the construction, but also the materials used. Yes, you can get an inexpensive pair of over-the-ear headphones that will get the job done. Just about everything with them will be plastic, though, which is going to crack and break in the long term.
With the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, that should be much less of a concern. You’ve got an aluminum frame that everything is hanging off of - so it’s not just light, it’ll be durable. And what about the ear cups? These days, we’re used to thin layers of vinyl. Sure, it looks like leather, but eventually it flakes off, and then you’re looking for replacement ear cups (if that’s even possible for a given brand). With these, you’ve got leather. Which, with proper care and cleaning, can last a good long time.
The technical details
As we’d expect, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 work over Bluetooth (5.3 is the version it’s running), and can handle 24-bit audio. Whatever you’re sending to it will be helped along with on-board amp/DAC, and you can further tune/customize things with the 5-band EQ settings within the B&W app.
For keeping it so you can hear what’s coming through the 40mm carbon drivers, you do have active noise cancellation. When it’s time to get on a call (or send voice commands to your device), you’ve got 4 mics on each ear cup, so there should not be any problem with it picking up your voice.
Finally, yes, there are inputs on the headphones. Most importantly would be charging, and that’s done via USB-C. Fully topped off, they’ll run for up to 30 hours, and you can quick charge where 15 minutes will get you 7 hours. So, great for the work day.
The other input on the headphones would be the 3.5mm jack. Well, technically, that’s not on the headphones. Instead, what you have is a 3.5mm to USB-C cable that comes with them. The USB-C goes on the headphones, and then the audio connector goes into the device of your choosing. So, yes, you can go wired if you want to.
Wrapping things up
One other thing that hides in plain sight with the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is the fact that they’re actually a bit more compact than the previous version. Not only is that aesthetically pleasing, it’ll make it easier to travel with them, either on your head or in the carry case.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are available now for $799 in either warm stone or onyx black colorways. You can check them out (and the other headphones in the Px lineup), and order yours, directly at bowerswilkins.com
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Tech Specs
Technical Features
High-performance DSP with dedicated amplifier/DAC
True 24-bit audio connection
5-band customisable EQ + TrueSound™ mode
Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX™ Lossless technology
Multipoint connectivity
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
USB-C charging and audio interface
Fast charging support
Apple MFi Made For iPhone® support
Google Fast Pair
Wearing Style: Over-Ear Noise-Cancelling
Bluetooth Codecs
aptX Lossless
aptX Adaptive
aptX HD
aptX Classic
AAC
SBC
Microphones: 8 mics total - 4 mics per earcup
Voice Call Quality Algorithm: ADI Pure Voice
Drive Units: 2 × ø 40mm dynamic full-range carbon driver
Battery Life & Charging
30 hours playback
15-minute charge for 7 hours playback
Accessories
1.2m USB-C to 3.5mm stereo jack audio cable
1.2m USB-C to USB-C cable
Carry Case
Weight (Headphone): 0.31 kg
Dimensions (Carry Case): 177 mm (w) × 60 mm (d) × 234 mm (h)
Finishes
Onyx Black
Warm Stone