Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 McLaren

With the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, I hear clear, detailed sound. With noise canceling turned on, I can tune out my surroundings, allowing me to focus on work in the office. After a while, I feel the pressure of the headphones pressing against my ear.

Detailed sound With music featuring many instruments, such as jazz, I hear each instrument clearly. I find the sound deep and detailed, making it feel like I'm at a live concert. With pop music, I find the sound balanced. Vocals sound clear and distinct, yet I can also clearly hear the different layers in the background music. When I listen to podcasts or television programs, voices sound clear, allowing me to understand what's being said clearly.

Sleek design I think the headphones have a sleek design. The leather ear cushions are slightly springy, making them comfortable on my ears. The connection between the headband and the ear cushions feels sturdy, giving me the impression that the headphones will last a long time. There are control buttons on the earcups. I press these firmly. This turns the volume up or down. I also pause the music and control the noise canceling. The buttons are conveniently located on the earcups. I appreciate that I don't need my phone to operate them. The headphones have a strong clamping force, so they stay securely in place. When I walk briskly, I don't feel like they're falling off. I do notice a pressure feeling after wearing them for a few hours.

Strong noise canceling

With noise canceling turned on, I hear almost nothing of my surroundings. I don't hear the noise on public transport or in the office. If someone calls me at the office, I hear it softly. With Transmissive mode, I hear what's happening around me very clearly, because the headphones amplify the ambient sound. I use this setting when I'm cycling because I want to pay attention to what's happening around me.

After reading and watching many reviews of many different headphones, I finally made the decision and chose these PX8 S2s. I don't regret it for a moment. The sound quality of these headphones is truly excellent, nicely balanced and with more than enough bass. The sound can be adjusted somewhat in the accompanying app thanks to the 5-band EQ.

I was a bit skeptical about whether the sound quality over Bluetooth would be good enough, but with AptX lossless as the codec, that's not a problem, provided your phone supports it. Otherwise, you can always use the included USB-C cable to connect your headphones to your phone and enjoy lossless sound. You buy headphones primarily for the sound quality (at least in my case). However, when it comes to design and build quality, these PX8 S2s are also a great choice. An added bonus is that the buttons on these headphones are physical buttons, not touch-sensitive sensors. If I had to point out two minor drawbacks, they would be the noise cancellation and the foldability. While the noise cancellation is quite good, especially for lower frequencies (like on an airplane), there are headphones with better noise cancellation available. However, for everyday use, even on the go, these work perfectly. These headphones aren't foldable, and although they come with a nice, sturdy case, they're still quite a bulky package to carry around.

If you want headphones with excellent sound, lossless Bluetooth transmission, and excellent noise cancellation, and compactness or foldability aren't as important to you, then the B&W PX8 S2 are the right choice.

The sound quality is truly incredible. The music sounds incredibly clear and crisp. Add to that the excellent build quality and comfortable fit, and you have the perfect headphones. Expensive, but you get a lot in return.