Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: Flagship ANC Headphones Get a Major Refinement

Wireless flagship headphones have become one of the most competitive categories in personal audio, but Bowers & Wilkins continues to carve out its own niche by blending premium industrial design with audiophile-grade sound quality. The British audio company’s original Px8 already stood out as one of the most luxurious wireless ANC headphones on the market, but the new Px8 S2 ($799) looks to push performance even further with upgraded acoustics, enhanced comfort, improved connectivity, and more customizable sound tuning.

Bowers & Wilkins says that virtually every core element of the Px8 S2 has been reimagined. The company describes the new model as its “best headphones ever made,” combining upgraded drive units, improved DSP processing, and advanced wireless technologies to deliver what it claims is its most refined wireless listening experience yet.

Bowers and Wilkins Px8 S2 Design Analysis

At the heart of the Px8 S2 are custom-designed 40mm Carbon Cone drive units paired with a dedicated amplifier/DAC section and a high-performance 24-bit DSP platform. According to Bowers & Wilkins, the combination delivers greater clarity, improved dynamics, and a more focused presentation compared to the original Px8.

The headphones support true 24-bit audio transmission over Bluetooth 5.3 using aptX Lossless technology, allowing compatible devices to stream higher-quality wireless audio with reduced compression artifacts. While many premium wireless headphones claim “hi-res” capability, Bowers & Wilkins has consistently emphasized preserving musical detail and tonal balance over exaggerated tuning tricks.

The Px8 S2 also introduces a new five-band customizable EQ through the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. Previous generations relied more heavily on fixed factory tuning, but the new EQ allows listeners to fine-tune the sound signature to their preferences while still retaining the company’s TrueSound mode for purists who prefer the intended voicing.

Improved ANC and Call Quality

Noise cancellation performance has also received significant attention. The Px8 S2 uses a total of eight microphones — four in each earcup — to improve both active noise cancellation and voice pickup during phone calls.

Bowers & Wilkins says the updated ANC system is designed to eliminate unwanted environmental noise without negatively affecting the energy and dynamics of the music itself. That balance can be difficult to achieve, as overly aggressive noise cancellation often introduces pressure effects or dulls musical impact.

The expanded microphone array should also help improve call clarity in noisy environments, making the Px8 S2 more versatile for travel, commuting, and hybrid work use.

Luxury Materials and a Slimmer Design

One of the defining characteristics of the original Px8 was its premium construction, and the Px8 S2 continues that approach with soft Nappa leather, die-cast aluminum arms, and a slimmer ergonomic profile.

Bowers & Wilkins says the new silhouette has undergone extensive ergonomic testing to improve long-term comfort during extended listening sessions. At just 0.68 pounds, the headphones aim to balance substantial build quality with reduced listening fatigue.

Comfort matters more than many audiophiles care to admit. Even great-sounding headphones quickly become frustrating if clamping force, ear cup shape, or overall weight make them uncomfortable after an hour or two. The slimmer Px8 S2 design appears intended to address exactly that issue while maintaining the premium aesthetic that has helped distinguish Bowers & Wilkins products from much of the competition.

Battery Life and Modern Features

Battery life remains strong at up to 30 hours of playback per charge, placing the Px8 S2 squarely among the better-performing premium ANC headphones currently available. Fast charging support provides up to seven hours of playback from a quick 15-minute charge.

The headphones also support multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, allowing simultaneous pairing with multiple devices, along with USB-C charging and direct USB-C audio support. Apple users get MFi certification, while Android users benefit from Google Fast Pair support.

Two New Premium Finishes Join the Px8 S2 Lineup

A major part of this launch centers around the introduction of two new premium finishes for the Px8 S2: Midnight Blue and Pearl Blue. The new colors expand the Px8 S2 lineup beyond the existing Onyx Black and Warm Stone finishes, giving buyers even more options to match their personal style. Both new finishes reinforce Bowers & Wilkins’ long-standing emphasis on industrial design and premium craftsmanship. The Midnight Blue version offers a darker, more understated aesthetic, while Pearl Blue delivers a lighter and more contemporary look.

Bowers & Wilkins says the expanded color lineup reflects the company’s belief that premium audio products should look as refined as they sound. The addition of Midnight Blue and Pearl Blue also expands the company’s overall wireless headphone and earbud lineup to 21 total color variants — the largest selection the brand has ever offered. Importantly, the new finishes are not limited editions or reduced-feature models. Both Midnight Blue and Pearl Blue retain the full flagship Px8 S2 feature set, including the upgraded Carbon Cone drivers, advanced DSP platform, aptX Lossless wireless support, improved ANC system, and luxurious material construction.

Bowers and Wilkins Px8 S2 Initial Listening Impressions

The premium wireless headphone category has matured rapidly over the last several years, and expectations for flagship ANC models are now incredibly high. With the Px8 S2, Bowers & Wilkins appears focused on refining nearly every aspect of its flagship design rather than reinventing it.

Improved acoustics, upgraded DSP processing, enhanced ANC, expanded customization features, and a more ergonomic chassis could make the Px8 S2 a compelling option for listeners who want luxury materials and audiophile-focused sound without giving up modern wireless convenience.

I recently was invited to Shirakawa, Japan to tour the facilities for Denon and Marantz. During my 20+ hour journey, I had the pleasure of testing out the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones for extended travel use. I was pleasantly surprised by the improvements in both fidelity and noise cancelling over their predecessor.

After a bit of EQ tweaking, I was off in my own world listening to some of my favorite albums from Pink Floyd, Genesis, Porcupine Tree, Miles Davis, The Weeknd, and many others throughout the long trip. The Px8 S2 delivered excellent clarity, natural tonality, and deep, extended bass that made the listening experience highly engaging.

Battery life was also excellent. I simply left the headphones on for most of the journey and found them particularly useful for reducing cabin noise during the few hours I was able to sleep. The clamping force never felt excessive, and I experienced no significant ear discomfort even during very long listening sessions.

The Px8 S2 proved to be an outstanding travel companion and will definitely be joining me on future flights.

- Gene DellaSala, President, Audioholics

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is available now in Onyx Black, Warm Stone, Midnight Blue, and Pearl Blue for $799.

Stay tuned for our full featured review of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 for our extended listening impressions and usage experience.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.