If you're looking for evidence that the Trump administration tariffs are impacting consumer electronics prices, look no further than Bowers & Wilkins' new flagship PX8 S2 noise-canceling headphones. The original version carried a list price of $699 when they launched, but this 2nd-gen model comes out of the gate at $799. Is that too much to pay? For most folks, yes, but the PX8 S2 are easily among my favorite over-ear headphones. Not only do they sound even better than the original PX8 but both the headphones and carrying case have been slimmed down and the noise-canceling and voice-calling performance has been upgraded, making them a top premium wireless headphone pick for those with deep enough pockets to afford them.
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A few months back, Bowers & Wilkins, now owned by Samsung, released the PX7 S3 ($479), a new version of the step-down to the PX8. This PX8 S2 follows a similar upgrade script to PX7 S3, which was also trimmed down and received some performance enhancements while becoming a little more comfortable to wear.
Updated drivers and a new, exposed cable
In fact, the the two models look very similar and have almost identical specs and features, but the PX8 S2 has superior drivers and some swankier design elements, including a Napa leather finish and new, exposed cable that peeks out from the aluminum arm mechanism.
You'll find no creaky plastic or hinges on these headphones, and while they seem sturdily built, Bowers & Wilkins says that both ear cushions and headband are replaceable, so you can extend the life of the headphones, However, a "trained service engineer" does have to install the new ear cushions and headband (I kind of wish the ear cushions adhered magnetically and were easily replaceable like those of Apple's AirPods Max).
The headphones fold flat but don't fold up. David Carnoy/CNET
Bowers & Wilkins says the PX8 S2 are the best-sounding headphones it's ever created. The previous model had 40mm Carbon Cone drive units (the PX7 S3 has 40mm bio-cellulose drivers), but Bowers & Wilkins says the PX8 S2's drive units feature "a comprehensively redesigned and improved chassis, voice coil, suspension and magnet, and are carefully angled to the listener's ears to ensure a consistent distance from every point across the surface of each driver to each ear, ensuring better imaging and stereo spaciousness." They're also powered by a dedicated, discrete headphone amplifier that brings more the "scale and energy" to the sound.
I like what Bowers & Wilkins did with the PX7 S3 to level it up, but even with its design and performance improvements, its sound just doesn't have quite the wow factor that the PX8's sound does (whether that sound quality gain is worth an extra $320 is debatable, of course).
With the PX8 you get an extra bit of depth and richness to the sound along with a tad more clarity and detail. They're just really clean, well-balanced headphones that have a pretty expansive soundstage for closed-back headphones. The bass is controlled and well-defined yet packs plenty of punch. And the mids, where voices live, seem natural and intimate, neither too forward nor recessed. This is one of those headphones that makes you want to go back and listen to all your favorite tracks in your music library because you feel like you're hearing them in a whole new way.
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