Back in 2013, when I was just a bright-eyed, upstart tech reviewer, I encountered a pair of headphones so stylish, sweet-sounding, and luxurious that I still think about them. The brand was Bowers & Wilkins, and the headphones the P7, a wired pair of leather-clad beauties with sparkling folds of chrome that marked the brand’s first step into the over-ear genre.
Everything has changed since then, especially the headphones market, but the fundamentals of special sound in a sleek and robust design have remained hallmarks of B&W. As with the previous Px7 iterations, the Px7 S3 offer modern features like wireless connection with aptX lossless support, noise canceling and transparency modes, and an app for adjusting settings. Ostensibly, they compete with flagship travel models like Bose’s latest QuietComfort Ultra and Sony’s WH-1000XM6, but they’re really a different kind of headphone for a different kind of listener, for an audiophile who wants to listen in the comfort of his or her home or studio.
The S3’s build quality sits a step above Bose and Sony, trading some of their daintier plastic for machined aluminum and tactile control keys. They step up similarly in performance, with more immersion and overall precision. In exchange, you’re paying a slightly higher premium and losing some noise-canceling skills. That makes the Px7 S3 less a fit for frequent cross-Atlantic commuters, and more an everyday companion for those who choose sound and style first.
Stronger Build
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
The moment you pull the Px7 S3 from the package, you’ll feel their robust build quality. The metal arms that extend from the headband are rock solid, while the flashy endcaps feel ready to take a good knock and keep ticking. Their best analogue might be Apple’s stalwart AirPods Max, but without the hefty weight or fully metal ear cups, and with a solid travel case in place of a rubbery bra. One other difference is that B&W’s latest models disappointingly lack breakaway magnetic earpads, making the components harder to replace.