Note: This video was filmed pre-embargo and the materials B&W provided then stated these headphones only supported Bluetooth 5.0. Their materials have since been changed to reflect the correct Bluetooth 5.2, but there's no way I can edit this video unless I take it down completely. So I apologise for the incorrect info at 4:43!
Not that it matters for this headphone necessarily but the B&W PI7 true wireless buds have not seen a single firmware update since they've been released more than a year ago. Seems like they couldn't be bothered enough to take care of their 400€ high end buds as they are far from perfect and are still quite buggy in certain areas. I found this to be disappointing and would be cautious to give them money again, just for that honestly. YMMV... I didn't like the tuning of the original PX7 either. So, even if these here might be good, I would have passed anyway :)
Very good review! Simple yet informative. I have the original PX headphones in blue and gold and absolutely love them for the most part. The one thing I feel could be better is the noise cancelling. So I've keep in constant anticipation of B&W's newest headphone releases to see what progress they've made in this area. I will wait for your comparison review with the Sony to get an informed evaluation. Thanks for the very good review! I stumbled on your channel by accident, but your no-nonsense, info-packed style forced me to SUBSCRIBE and LIKE! Thanx again!
Bowers & Wilkins has teased its upcoming flagship headphone model, the Px8. Details are scarce for now, but the company says you can expect "reference-level" sound and "luxurious materials" for $549 later this year. Source: Engadget
The reason noise cancelling works better when you lean forwards could be because the microphones on the back of the headphones are muffled by the headrest on your seat when you sit back.
I am new to your channel and have the impression, that you make some really quality reviews. Like you mention if the sound deteriorates with ANC or not, a very common problem with ANC headphones or earbuds. Thats the exact problem the B&O EX have in my experience. In your upcoming comparison with other ANC Headphones vs the PX7 S2, could you please include this?
Hey Oliver, thanks for your kind words! We've filmed that video already, unfortunately, and can't quite redo it... But out of the headphones I compared with (XM4, XM5, AirPods Max, Bose QC45), I'd say the XM4 and 5 have the most obvious change with ANC turned on, although it's still not a lot of degradation. AirPods Max and QC45 don't have a very noticeable change!
thanks for great video. and review, i wonder what do you think of comparing this PX7 S2 to Px8? recently you have reviewed PX8 i'd like to hear your thoughts.. is there significant sound difference? or px7 s2 just cheaper version of PX8 in term of build quality, materials . please enlight us :)
thank you. great review, some good all round insight. Would like to try these as I prefer the bower sound (have had a PX and a PX7) to my current sennheiser momentum 3 but my old PX7s hinge broke after 6 months of non-travelling wear and doesn't look like that design has been improved here.
Yeah, unfortunately when we were given the specs sheet before embargo, it said 5.0. While other media can change their written articles, we can't really change our video once it's posted!
Cool to be one of the first to upload a review, but if you can't test properly an headphone because it's a pre-release without the companion app, well...a lot of information is lost. In any case, it remains mixed...
A couple of questions here. Do you ever test using acoustic performance material or is it all electronic as in the demo? Second, how do they compare to the new Sennheiser 4’s? Overall a good review. I like how you present a comprehensive view in a short time frame.
Hi Bob! When you're talking about acoustic performance material, I'm guessing classical music etc? I do, but because of copyright issues, there's no way I can give a demo of the track I use (most of the time, it's Max Richter's Spring 1 + Recomposed Spring 1). I'm still testing the Momentum 4, that review will go out soon and I'll try to do a comparison!
@@AudiofiedTo clarify. There’s a vast library of music in almost all genres, non-electric and non-processed, naturally radiating instruments and vocals, but well-recorded. Even the rock issues of “unplugged” selections highlight the natural signatures of great instruments, and revealing an authentic quality of raw performance from talented musicians. (Opinion - Nothing tests playback quality more than a well-recorded female vocal) Keep on reviewing - you have an excellent format! I look forward to the next one. Thanks.
@@bobprall9832 THanks for that, Bob! If you have some of your favourite tracks, do let me know, I'll pick some I like and slip them into my testing playlist! Always up to expand my listening horizons :)
Some adivce for you.Next time when showing the Sound Quality,you can try to take another headphones like PX7 or BOSE700,which is the flagship product to be compared with the headphones you testing about.This can help us to learn more clearly about the headphone's Sound Quality
Heya Buddy.. Good day to you.. 😊👋🏻 Nice reviews as always.. 🥰👍🏻 By the way, what do you think about B&W PX8 & ML No.5909 regarding to the sound, the ANC & the call quality? Can you make another videos comparing those two headphones? 🤔 I almost forgot to congratulate you on ur “Deputy Editor” title.. Congratulations Buddy.. U earned it.. 🥰👍🏻
Thank you! I haven't tried the PX8 yet, really hoping I can get those too hahah. I doubt I'll be able to do a video as I've returned the 5909, but I can give you my thoughts once I've tried the PX8!
@@Audiofied Oooo.. 😯 I see.. It’s okay Buddy.. But if U can get the B&W PX8 later on, U can do some comparison between the two headphones (B&W PX8 & ML No. 5909) based on ur experience.. Can you do that Buddy? Please.. 🥰🙏🏻
Great review.I am facing the choice of Bowers & Wilkins PX7 s2 vs Technics EAH-A800 vs Sony WH-1000XM5. I listen to electronic music (trance, club). I love high treble and low one. Which headphones to choose? NC doesn't matter to me.
When I connect the USB-to-Audio (3.5mm) cable that comes with the headphone, I hear a static noise (hissing sound from the left ear cup). The noise seems to be activated when I connect the cable. After I disconnect the cable noise is still there, but it will disappear once I connect it through Bluetooth. There is no noise with USB-C to USB-C cable. Can you confirm if you have the same experience?
Hey, no hissing for me with the USB-C to 3.5mm. Might be an issue with the cable since it doesn't happen with the USB-C to C, you should request for B&W to change the cable for you or give you a new one I think!
@@Audiofied it’s a good idea. I initially thought there might be some issue with the way that the headphone converts the signal from digital to analog not the cable itself. But I hope that the issue is with the cable alone. I will ask for a cable
Ended up going with these over the Sonys because my McLaren has a Bowers and Wilkins sound system I'm very happy with. The Sony system in my F150 also is quite nice but the Kevlar speakers in the McLaren and the sound stage options with 14 speakers and tuning is just way beyond. It's just too bad they don't have the S2 in forged carbon like the first generation. Would have matched the McLaren's chassis as well 😁
They might eventually end up introducing that with the PX8, since that's their flagship! But good choice with the PX7 S2 in any case, they're really very good hahah
The major headphones manufacturers just don't understand that a lot of us want to use these headphones during working hours ---> meaning we need a great microphone for zoom/teams calls!!!! The best would be if we could connect a microphone boom, however if the normal mic performance was superb this would also be accepted
I think they understand, they just want to split it into different products so consumers have to pay more hahah. See Jabra’s consumer offerings such as the Elite 85H vs their office headsets like the evolve range
@@Audiofied true but jabra is also a brand which is primarily focused on the business market, however B&W and other hifi focused brands are not and I haven't seen these solutions
@@GWVEEN Like you said, hi-fi focused brands typically aren't focused on the business market, so it doesn't quite make sense for them to come out with business headsets hahah. Unfortunately, but it's just the way the market is I guess
@@Audiofied I don't know, I guess most people interested in hifi work during the day. So yea don't put a permanent mic boom on it but I definitely think there is a (big) market for a hifi headphone with optional mic boom especially when the headphone is wireless.
@@Audiofied I’m deciding which one I’m getting what makes u think xm5 is better than px7s2? I think xm5 is pretty good but not as good as I thought and I’m waiting to get this s2🥺
@@artcollector1369 There's more passive noise isolation in my case for the XM5, which means more noise is blocked out before ANC even kicks in. Of course, this is different for everybody, but personally, both the passive noise isolation and the ANC on the XM5 is slightly better than the PX7 S2.
I have the Sennheiser PXC MK11 and the SonyXM5 and I was thinking about getting this one until I read a review that stated that the NC is sub standard for phones of this caliber so I nixed that idea.
@@Audiofied I am just relating to the statement that a professional reviewer wrote. His professional opinion is enough for me to withdraw these headphones from consideration for purchase. He did state that the sound quality was exceptional though. I will revisit Bowers and Wilkens again when the PX8 is released later this year.
@@Audiofied Thanks for asking. I was interested in app support for multiple connections, and adjusting auto-off timer. Ear detection is worth testing as it can be flaky, I've had to disable it on some B&Os as it's not implemented too well. ps- if you happened to have access to B&O headphones selling at the same price point, i think they are a good comparison to do as the target audience would be the same?
@@MakiPavlidis Okay, got answers for you! App support for multipoint is great, you can add devices and even set some as priority so the headphones know which one to prioritise connecting to once turned on. Connected devices can be switched easily through the app too. Auto-off timer is unable to be adjusted however. Ear detection for me is pretty bad, even on the highest setting, it takes two seconds before the headphones pause my music when I lift an earcup away from my head. I haven't tried other B&O headphones unfortunately, but if I can get my hands on them, I'll see if I can do a comparison video for those! Having said that, stay tuned to my comparison vid with other popular headphones :)
Sound lf this headphones is Great but the bass is fairly average and does not impact, the highs are not spatial enough and will quickly cause hearing fatigue. the mediums are correct, the biocellulose membrane is a good good membrane but we already do better with neodymium drivers for the same price (airpods max, Yamaha yh e700a) however this headset has a large sound advance compared to other Sony and bose. well done BW
The h95 is in an entirely different price bracket and at the point get wired real audiophile phones you are mostly paying for aesthetics, better build materials/ quality and a fashion statement. B&os past headphones are incredibly comfy and very high quality but the sound stage sounds meh, it's apparently very similar to the H6 and( I had those) or on par with cheaper priced headphones but lack that comfortability. People have said and I agreed that The Sony xm4's are a better value than the b&o and sound better. Bowers and wilkins the app is kinda lackluster but I love them over sonys. Any headphone above 500$ USD, should start looking at wired headphones.
@@Audiofied nice, you are very lucky 😂. I mean, end of the day if you have 1000$ laying around for the h95 than go for it as sound really is subjective and you'll have better materials on the h95 than the S2s. The air max also sounds really good on an iPhone because it's been specifically designed for that phone, and people say it sounds better than the xm5's. People I've talked to won't spend 500$ for the airpods max because it's too expensive for them and would rather just use airpods pros
@@jonkrauss582 There's no APM Gen 2 now, but yes, I've tried the APM with glasses, perfectly fine for me! Comparison coming for those headphones too :)
Can you please do a review/reaction/compare of these 🆚 the 1)Mark Levinson No. 5909 and the 2)EDIFIER STAX SPIRIT S3 thanks 🙏🏾 much appreciated peace ☮️!
Hello, never tried #2 so I can’t comment, but for the Mark Levinson 5909, I’d say the sound quality on those beats these, but ANC on these is better! Price is a whole other story of course… it’s almost 3x more expensive than the PX7 S2 hahah
@@Audiofied much appreciated I have to try them out and wait for the Sennheisser 4 to come out as well and pick the best one ☝🏾 of them I’ll wait and be patient but by year end I’m getting another pair of Bluetooth headphones 🎧 for sure.
how does the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 compare with the Technics EAH-A800? I see you reviewed both. I am trying to decide between the 2. ANC and microphone pickup for work calls on my laptop or android phone are important for me. The B&O PX7 S2 have audio over USB-C. Does this mean the headphones behave like a virtual soundcard and transmit the microphones pickup in a better format than AAC on Bluetooth through headphones -> windows laptop? Would this be a plus for the B&O PX7 S2 compared to all the other Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones?
Hello! I would say the PX7 S2 has better ANC, but for mics, the EAH-A800 might be slightly better. As for wired listening, not sure about the virtual soundcard part, but I don't believe there'll be a massive difference in the microphone quality. I can certainly test this for you once I get my hands again on the headphones next Wednesday!
@@Audiofied thank you! I would really appreciate that. Technically, the signal from and to the headphones would not be hindered be the USB connection, as the Bluetooth does. On most headphones, the Bluetooth can not handle both high quality audio (aptx/lipsa) and in the same time also a good transmission of the microphone data towards laptop/phone. So a USB weird connection might provide the whole quality back and forth in the same time. But this depends on the DSP in the headphones. The PX7 S2 has this affects of having the DSP interact with the USB as well, besides the Bluetooth chip. So the perceived increase in mic quality reception might be there. I'm looking forward for your results. If there is not really a better perceived received quality for the microphone from the PX S2, I might look at an alternative, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal Headphones Playstation and PC version, which has its own 2.4 GHz dongle and has also the DSP interaction with the USB, so it can receive and transmit data on USB as well. It all goes down to hire powerful the DSP chip is and how it was setup by the manufacturer. Thank you!
@@Daniel-Condurachi Hello! Just gave it a go, and there's a very, very slight difference in the fullness of my voice, but I'd say it's not quite as obvious as you might be looking for!
@@Daniel-Condurachi I only tested out the PX7 S2, but I tried it on both an iPhone 13 Pro Max as well as a Google Pixel 6! In a blind AB test, the wireless and wired mic performance is really quite indistinguishable. If you require a laptop test, I can do a quick one on both my windows PC and MacBook Pro once I get home
@@Audiofied and how does it work with the PX7 S2 paired to a windows laptop through USB-C? Does it appear in the device list as both input for the microphones and output?
![Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 Review: REALLY GOOD Headphones! [MIC + SOUND + ANC TEST]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
