I tried new British headphones that sound epic, | Tech News

Bowers & Wilkins has had a stellar 12 months. The British Audio firm’s new Px7 S3, which launched back in April, are some of my favorite headphones of 2025 due to their premium design, first rate battery life and high-quality sound.

Now the company is back with one other replace, and, as long as you may have very deep pockets, it’s even more spectacular.

The totally refreshed Px8 S2 cans are actually on sale, and there’s no denying that they sound actually epic. Well, you’d hope so for £629!

This shouldn’t be some giant improve over the unique Px8 headphones (which launched in 2023), as an alternative more of a mild refinement that makes what have been already a great method to hearken to music even higher.

I’ve been utilizing the Px8 S2 for the previous month and have been nicely and actually shocked by their consolation, model and total audio high quality. That shouldn’t be a shock, as sound and design are the 2 greatest upgrades Bowers & Wilkins declare to have delivered to the S2 model.

First up, let’s speak in regards to the sound, because it’s in all probability the largest motive to go straight out and buy them.

Bowers has added new 40mm Carbon Cone drive models to the Px8 S2, and I’ve been blown away by simply how good this new technology is.

Pump up these playlists, and it’s unattainable to not be impressed as you get a sound expertise that is wealthy and clear with unbelievable quantities of depth.

You can hear each guitar strum, piano be aware and vocal – I comprehend it’s a cliche, however it actually does really feel like you’re sitting within the room with the musicians.

Bowers is boasting that the Px8 S2 gives its “best sound quality ever” and I can’t help agreeing.

If you aren’t eager with what they’re producing out of the box, the Bowers & Wilkins app additionally gives a full EQ permitting you to dabble with the lows, mids and highs.

So, they sound great, however what in regards to the refreshed styling?

The design staff has slimmed down the S2, which makes them appear and feel a lot much less cumbersome than the older model.

They additionally function mushy Nappa leather-based (vegans beware) for added consolation and are lined in lashings of die-cast aluminium.

All of this implies they’re some of essentially the most premium-looking cans money can buy. They actually look more unique than Sony’s WH-1000XM6s or the newest Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2.

Other extras embrace a 30-hour battery life and put on sensing that pauses the music whenever you raise the cups out of your ears, plus there’s auto standby, which kicks in quarter-hour after you are taking them off in an effort to save battery life.

Another function I like is easy buttons for pumping up the quantity and altering different sound settings.

Many producers have adopted contact and swipe controls, which will be extremely irritating to make use of. Yes, a large button would possibly really feel a little old school, however, because the outdated saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.

I’ve been left fairly passionate about the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, however they aren’t good.

The energetic noise cancellation (ANC) is nice, however doesn’t match the would possibly of Sony’s WH-1000XM6.

There are additionally different headphones akin to Cambridge Audio’s Melomania P100 Headphones that final a entire lot longer (100 hours to be exact) and cans just like the aforementioned Bose are smaller and more compact when positioned of their case. The Px8 S2 are fairly cumbersome.

Finally, there’s the price. They value a whopping £629, which places them nicely out of attain for a lot of shoppers.

There are actually so many great headphones like Sony’s older WH-1000XM5s that will be picked up for below £200.

Then there are these good Px7 S3s. As I talked about firstly of this review, these are some of my favorite headphones that value over £200 much less than the Px8 S2s at £399.

There’s no doubt that the new Px8 S2 are genuinely beautiful and sound chic.

They are simply extremely costly and, because the advertising and marketing materials reveals, you’ll need a wage as large as David Beckham’s to afford a pair.