Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 vs PX8 – Which Bluetooth Headphone Should You Really Buy?

Bowers & Wilkins has carved out a luxurious niche in the world of wireless headphones, offering sophisticated design, refined sound signatures, and premium materials. If you’re in the market for a pair of Bluetooth headphones and have your eye on the PX series, you’re likely torn between two standout models: the PX7 S3 and the PX8. Both headphones look elegant and deliver hi-fi-grade audio performance, but the PX8 carries a significant price bump over the PX7 S3. So the question becomes: is the PX8 worth the upgrade, or does the PX7 S3 hit the sweet spot for most listeners? We spent time with both headphones to compare their sound quality, build, features, and value. Here’s how they stack up.

What You Get

Look & Feel

The PX7 S3 already impresses with its sleek frame, oval-shaped earcups, and lightweight build. It blends minimalist British design with plush comfort, available in subtle tones like black, blue, and grey. The use of memory foam and its slimmer design make it highly wearable for long periods. The PX8, on the other hand, is a design statement. With diamond-cut aluminum detailing, cast metal arms, and Nappa leather surfaces, it elevates the experience entirely. Every hinge and edge feels more refined. It’s slightly heavier, but the materials make it feel more secure and premium on your head. If aesthetic and build quality are critical, PX8 takes the crown, but the PX7 S3 wins for all-day comfort due to its lighter frame.

Design & Functionality

Both headphones share the same physical button layout for volume, playback, Bluetooth, and ANC control, with no confusing swipe gestures here. Their buttons are tactile and responsive, and the wear detection sensor pauses music when you remove the headphones. ANC performance is nearly identical between the two. Bowers & Wilkins uses its proprietary adaptive ANC technology in both models, with six microphones working to suppress ambient noise. That said, the PX8 edges ahead ever so slightly, thanks to its tighter clamp and denser padding, which naturally provide better passive isolation.

Bluetooth

Even though both the PX7 S3 and PX8 feature fast pairing and high stability, the PX7 S3 has one notable advantage. If you’re an Android user, both headphones feature a slew of CODECs like aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, but only the PX7 S3 features aptX Lossless.

Battery Life

Battery life has not been a strong suit for Bowers and Wilkins. This is the area where the PX7 S3 and the PX8 are pretty much the same. Both headphones offer about 30 hours of playtime, with quick charging that will keep your headphones charged for a few hours.

Soundstage

Both the PX7 S3 and PX8 have better soundstages than most consumer Bluetooth headphones are capable of. They carry wide wingspans that fill the stereo field with accurate instrument spacing and scale. Between the two headphones, the PX8 extends further than the PX7 S3, expanding in more directions and enveloping your headspace more effectively. The PX8 has stronger front-to-back layering than the PX7 S3, resulting in a sonic environment I felt more immersed in.

Low End

If you prefer a more rounded, warm, low-end response, the PX7 S3 is very gripping. It has a sub-bass groove that carries a consistent energy throughout the frequency response. Even with its smooth bass textures, the PX8 holds a tighter grip on these frequencies, resulting in better detail retrieval. The tone is more solidified, concentrated in a deeper area that doesn’t have the fun resonance of the PX7 S3, but is more articulate with bass performances.

Mids

Compared to most midrange sound signatures you find listening to consumer wireless headphones, the PX7 S3 has more to offer. It combines lush warmth with clear vocals that are easy to comprehend as long as the specific track doesn’t get too busy. However, compared to the PX8, some of the faults in the S3’s midrange become more prevalent. The PX8 proves to be more advanced here, with more separation and transparency between instruments. It pushes vocals forward, so fewer instruments feel jumbled into the backdrop of the mix.

Highs

The PX7 S3 and PX8 aren’t that much different here, with both headphones possessing a slight roll-off and smooth tonality. If you’re looking for the least sibilant option, the PX7 S3 will be more up your alley, as the PX8 has a slightly crisper timbre. Both headphones have treble that goes down super easily, but the PX8 has a bit more air to it and comes together with more clarity and detail.

Summary

The PX7 S3 is an outstanding wireless headphone for its price, with great sound, build quality, and noise canceling. It’s the smarter pick for most listeners who want a premium headphone without breaking the bank. But if you’re after top-tier wireless fidelity,  appreciate luxury materials, and want a truly audiophile-grade portable experience, the PX8 is worth the splurge.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 and PX8 are available at Audio46 and Audio46 Express.