In the competitive world of wireless noise-canceling headphones, Bowers & Wilkins has set its sights on competing with industry leaders like Sony, Sennheiser, and Bose with its latest offering, the Px7 S2e. These successors to the well-received Px7 S2 headphones come with an array of improvements that promise to raise the bar in both style and sound quality.
One of the first noticeable enhancements in the Px7 S2e is its stylish design, which now includes a captivating 'Forest Green' option, alongside the classic blue, grey, and black finishes. However, aesthetics are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these headphones' capabilities.
Bowers & Wilkins has declared that the Px7 S2e boasts "significant advances in overall sound quality" compared to its predecessor, the Px7 S2. This remarkable improvement can be attributed to the "extensively upgraded DSP" (Digital Signal Processing), which has allowed the British audio brand to fine-tune the acoustic platform. The headphones continue to employ custom-designed, slightly angled 40mm drivers, ensuring a sophisticated, neutral, and detailed sound.
Main Features:
From a features perspective, these headphones leave little to be desired. They support Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive, one of the higher-quality Bluetooth codecs available, and provide both USB-C and 3.5mm cable connections. Battery life is commendable, with up to 30 hours of playback time, and a mere 15-minute charge can provide seven hours of playback.
The active noise-canceling system of the Px7 S2e is robust, using a total of six microphones to cancel unwanted noise during music playback and voice calls. Two microphones measure the output of each driver, two react to detected ambient noise, and two ensure voice clarity during calls.
To round out the user experience, Bowers & Wilkins offers the Px7 S2e with its dedicated Music App. This app allows users to customize the headphones' EQ, activate noise-canceling transparency modes to control the level of external noise, and provides direct access to popular music streaming services such as Deezer, Qobuz, Tidal, and TuneIn, with promises of more services to come.
The Px7 S2e headphones are priced at $399, putting them in direct competition with Sony, Sennheiser, and Bose in the premium wireless ANC headphone market. As they become available on September 19, 2023, consumers will have the opportunity to see if the Px7 S2e lives up to the expectations set by its predecessors and whether it can truly challenge other industry leaders.
