I’ve been wearing Bowers & Wilkins’ all-new headphones, the Px7 S3, for over three weeks for this review. Not quite full-time living in them, per se, but not far from it – because this third-gen upgrade for the over-ear series represents a seismic shift in the company’s best headphones.
Early into my testing, I wrote about using the new-and-upgraded active noise-cancelling (ANC) on trans-Atlantic flights, because the Px7 S3 take a, well, ‘not very traditional Bowers & Wilkins’ approach to their ANC.
By which I mean the Px7 S3 is now competitive against the best noise-cancelling headphones from the likes of Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Sony’s WH-1000XM5, or Sonos’ Ace. It’s a wholly different and altogether more world-blocking experience – which I, and many others, have wanted for ages
Not only that, the Px7 S3 also bring a redesign to the table. To the point where my main criticism is: why haven’t these headphones been marketed under a new product line to appeal to a new and wider audience? Because, let me tell you, the Px7 S3 deliver sound quality and ANC quality in abundance – and everyone ought to know.
How much do the Px7 S3 cost?
I’ve only got the UK and Australian prices for the Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 S3 at present, which is set at £399 – a slight rise of £20 compared to the Px7 S2e when those launched back in 2023 – or AU$699 on the flip side of the planet.
That’s no small change for a pair of headphones, granted, but in the context of what else is available in this ballpark – and I think it’s a fair asking price. The Apple AirPods Max, for example, are £100 more.
US pricing is very much ‘to be determined’ at this stage, so don’t expect these over-ear cans to go on sale Stateside at the same time as in the UK.
How different are the Px7 S3 to before?
- Anthracite Black, Canvas White, Indigo Blue colour options
- ‘Annular Guard’ design to protect from wind-tear
- More microphones for much-improved ANC
- New, slimmer profile design
(Image credit: Future)
I’ve already mentioned the Px7 S2e – which were the interim upgrade following the Px7 S2 – and the jump from those to the Px7 S3 is considerable.
Visually they look fairly similar, but there are key differences. The new headphones have a much slimmer profile, for one, with the earcups slightly less deep – but no less comfortable than before.
What Bowers & Wilkins calls ‘Annular Guard’ – that almost serrated-looking series of openings around the earcups – adds a visual element, but is designed to negate wind tear and ensure the on-board microphones get the best possible capture so they can do their best ANC work..
(Image credit: Future)
The number of microphones has increased, too, which is why there’s now more data to handle to deliver that upgrade in noise-cancelling. But it’s really owed to feedback that Bowers & Wilkins has chosen to amp up the ANC’s significance, to place it among its key competitors with more of a fighting chance.
Everything is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound chip, which caters for aptX Adaptive (lossless, with compatible devices) up to 24bit/96kHz. That’s actually a level up compared to the previous headphones.
The digital signal processing (DSP) is also handled differently, with more dynamic headroom available from that chipset, which is said to deliver lower distortion and even improved low-volume listening.
While I’ve got the classic black version in for review – or Anthracite Black, for its full marketing name – there are new Indigo Blue and Canvas White options, replacing Ocean Blue and Cloud Grey of the earlier model.
Are the Px7 S3 comfortable?
- Vegan leather (PU) earcups – not real leather, as per the Px8
- Replaceable earcushions and (for the first time) headband
- Right earcup: triple physical buttons for control
- Left earcup: ANC control, Bluetooth toggle
(Image credit: Future)
As I said up top, I’ve pretty much lived in the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. I’ve even slept in them while on a plane journey, so I’ve given them a thorough go-over when it comes to comfort testing, that’s for sure.
The grip of these headphones is wonderfully judged – there’s no ‘pinch’ to speak of, but also no sound leakage once in position, as it’s not too loose either. The earcups’ heights can be independently adjusted by pulling on the attached arms, which slide out in a smooth yet firm motion.
All that said, however, I have found the Px7 S3 to move around somewhat. Whether I’m on my daily walk, or at a gym session – yes, not the targeted place of use, but I’ve gone all-out anyway in this testing – I have found the earcups’ positioning in relation to my ear canals can move and therefore require some adjusting.
(Image credit: Future)
So that new design isn’t quite perfect in that regard. It’s super-comfortable, no doubt, and the slimmer profile is perfect for frequent travellers. But as the fit is so delicate, there is a little movement from time to time.
I’ll take that, though, as on some days I’ve worn the headphones for several hours non-stop. Even then I’ve barely noticed, as that’s how well padded the headband and earcups present themselves.
In terms of controls, there’s been a redesign there too: the Bluetooth toggle and ANC button have been separated from the volume up, play/pause and volume down control trio on the opposite earcup. It’s much easier to find everything confidently now, which is great.
Do note, however, that there’s no haptic feedback, no swipe or gesture control, it’s physical buttons only. Or you can load the app, which also features a 5-band graphic equaliser (EQ) for preference adjustments, and take control from there. The choice is yours.
How improved is the Px7 S3’s noise-cancelling?
- aptX Adaptive 24-bit/96kHz maximum – and lossless (where available)
- 40mm dynamic full-range bio-cellulose drivers (as per Px7 S2e)
- ANC: active, transparency, off – and powered use only
- USB-C recharging, 30-hour battery per charge
(Image credit: Future)
When I first put the Px7 S3 on I was genuinely blown away by the significant change in how sound is presented – thanks to the ANC upgrades. With noise-cancelling active, you’ll feel more cocooned in a pocket of sound, which really helps bass to engage more than ever before from this product series.
I’m not a fan of the passthrough/transparency mode, though, as I feel it captures and enhances too much mid-range from the outside world. Sure, I know the whole point of it is to ensure speech can be picked up and enhanced, but that ‘hissing’ addition as part of it just isn’t to my tastes – and there’s no real-time adaptive nature to this mode. So, for me, the Px7 S3 experience is fundamentally ‘ANC on’.
I first wore the headphones in a hotel room in Dublin and was blown away by just how bold and confident the sound is. That’s a Bowers & Wilkins trait, no doubt, but here it’s even more assertive than before. That ANC makes a world of difference for the better.
Technically, the sound is even better than the previous Px7 S2e thanks to a 24-bit/96kHz lossless ceiling – if you’ve got the source material and relevant player to cater for this (the best iPhones won’t deliver on that, for example).
Even if you don’t maximise that, however, the sound is still outstanding. As typical of this headphone range, the Px7 remain masterful at giving breadth to a full and wide frequency range, while retaining masses of detail and clarity. Bass really hits too – as I found when listening to a Random Movement d&b podcast to douse myself with some low-end love.
(Image credit: Future)
The bass is big, yet warm and textured, nor does it interfere with the mids and high-end – the last of which, in particular, has that almost ‘fizzing’ sound, in the way these headphones are balanced. Poor sources can make that sibilant, though, whereas quality sources bring all the joy such high-end colour adds to a listen.
Regarding vocals, and particularly the mid-range, just as was said of the Px7 S2e: “singers are given every possible chance to express themselves – the headphones carry so much information that a vocalist can’t help but sound like a characterful individual, able to express emotion and attitude explicitly”. And that remains true in the Px7 S3, while upping the ANC ante and doubling down on the sheer ‘thickness’ of the sound envelope as a result.
How Bowers & Wilkins has managed that whilst presenting new active-noise cancelling that’s truly competitive is nothing short of miraculous engineering, if you ask me. That’s what makes these my new favourite headphones.
Should the Px7 S3 not be called something else now?
- Spatial Audio support is forthcoming – expected September 2025 earliest
- LE Audio (and Auracast) could follow thereafter via a future update
(Image credit: Future)
But all these changes do have me wondering why these are indeed ‘mark three’ headphones in the Px7 series. They’re such a step-change that they feel like an entirely new model – one that could have been marketed for a new and wider audience.
Sure, I get it, Bowers & Wilkins wants to lean on its heritage and present its audio expertise from its prior models’ successes. The Px7 S3 doesn’t lose the classic sound by any means, it only expands upon it. But these are more than headphones for upgraders, they represent the brand arriving in the ANC marketplace to truly compete.
There’s more too: come September (subject to change), Bowers & Wilkins will be delivering spatial audio via an over-the-air update. Yet another reason that a would-be new audience might come running to these headphones. While that’s great news on the one hand, I’m wondering on the other why the launch wasn’t held back until that in-house feature was fully implemented.
Still, it all shows that Bowers & Wilkins is adapting to the market and to a changing audience. I don’t think the Px7 S3’s product name does its fullest to attract all those would-be punters, but, who knows, if enough reviews wax lyrical about the product then word of mouth can only gather momentum. And I, for one, am already a very loud-mouthed advocate of these headphones.
B&W Px7 S3 review: Verdict
(Image credit: Future)
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are a stellar upgrade over the Px7 S2e. But they represent so much more than that, too. These headphones show that Bowers & Wilkins has finally arrived when it comes to active-noise cancelling (ANC).
With their new design, hugely improved ANC, authoritative take on sound, personalisation via the app, and solid battery life, the Px7 S3 have undergone such a metamorphosis that I almost see these headphones as an entirely new product for the brand.
There’s little criticism that could otherwise be laid upon these headphones, frankly, and with a future spatial audio upgrade incoming, the Px7 S3 start out at the point of excellence and promise to elevate their position yet further in the future.
Bose, Sony, et al, better watch out, as Bowers & Wilkins has just come for your lunch, while ladling on audio quality that’s a cut above. The Px7 S3, despite the name, are a fresh take that might well have just changed the game in 2025.
Also consider
Time and pricing is always something of an oddity, because the previous Px7 S2e are now far cheaper – and also sound excellent. Their ANC is nowhere nearly as powerful, though, so one to skip if that’s your number one want.
Otherwise, the king of ANC and the number one travel headphones, has to remain in Bose’s corner – with the QC Ultra Headphones. A superb option to blot out ambient sound, they also sound splendid.
Or for even greater at-home comforts, Sonos’ Ace is worth a look for how comfortably they wear for extended listening periods – but, let’s face it, they simply don’t sound as cutting-edge as the above models.
