Inside, the new dynamic 40mm carbon cone drivers have been updated with a new chassis and motor. These components are powered by 24-bit DSP (digital signal processing) with a dedicated amplifier and digital-to-analog converter (DAC). There’s also a more robust five-band EQ with True Sound bypass, which lets you disable all EQ settings to quickly return to Bowers & Wilkins default settings. The company has added support for aptX Lossless in addition to the existing availability of aptX Adaptive, and you can get “true” lossless (24-bit/96kHz) audio quality via USB-C.
Compared to the previous model, the Px8 S2 has two additional microphones, for a total of eight. Six of them are used for external ANC monitoring, while two monitor the audio in the headphones. All eight are used in calls, plus an updated “Pure Voice” algorithm to improve performance there. In addition, you will feel better in transparency mode, which gives maximum charge to calls.
What else is great about the Px8 S2?
Bowers & Wilkins has long excelled in creating a warm, inviting and engaging sound profile for its headphones. This is still the case with the Px8 S2, as the sound quality is rich and detailed, with a wide soundstage that envelops you, almost to the point of bombarding your ears. While I don’t think the base settings are suitable for softer genres, there’s a lot here that I could like. On albums like Jason Isbell’s foxes in the snow, For example, it’s incredible how much texture and subtle nuance there is, with the only instruments being the singer’s voice and a single acoustic guitar.
Reliable battery life has been a strong point for the company in the past, and it remains the case with the Px8 S2. The 30-hour battery life (ANC on) is the same as the previous model, and I was able to easily achieve that life during my tests. With a combination of active noise cancellation, high-resolution music tracks and a transparency mode for business calls, the headphones easily deliver the numbers promised by Bowers & Wilkins.
What don’t I like about the Px8 S2?
The biggest downside to the Px8 S2 is the price. These headphones are much more expensive than the price most companies ask for their high-end models, which are currently around $500. Of course, $799 is just $50 more than the Px8’s adjusted price (originally $699), and there are several improvements here, but that price will be out of reach for many, making the S2 harder to recommend despite its strengths.
Despite the improvement in sound, I think Bowers & Wilkins went too far with the bass tuning. There’s an absolutely booming low-end sound here, especially for bass-heavy genres like rock, metal, EDM and hip-hop. For example, on Spiritbox’s “Perfect Soul,” the kick drum comes dangerously close to drowning out the lead guitar and bass. A little more restraint would have added a lot of power and depth, something that is far from straining to listen to. Sometimes the boosted bass is good, but other times it’s good, like Ruston Kelly. Pale, through the window, This can really be too much for the style of music.
For its latest headphones, Bowers & Wilkins has moved the physical controls from the edge of the headphones to the outer edge. The company has also significantly reduced the size of the buttons. As I mentioned when testing the Px7 S3, this makes it harder to find the controls with your thumbs and also requires more precision when pressing. This is especially true of the group of three buttons on the right, which handle volume changes and playback controls.
As with previous headphone models, Bowers & Wilkins has not added any advanced features to the Px8 S2’s specifications. While you get some basic features (multipoint Bluetooth and automatic play/pause detection), things like voice recognition, hands-free assistants or automatic sound profiles aren’t there. This is one area where companies like Sony, Bose and Sennheiser outperform Bowers & Wilkins, although products like the Px8 S2 generally offer superior sound quality.
Summary
So how well does Bowers & Wilkins walk the line between luxurious and ridiculous? I would say they are a luxury headphone at a ridiculous price. I fully understand that Bowers & Wilkins is a premium audio brand and their products generally cost more than most competitors. But like I said, the price makes these great headphones unaffordable. Given the price and lack of advanced features, it’s hard to recommend the Px8 S2. But for those who can afford it, an enticing symphony of sounds awaits.