Headphone Reviews

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

AT A GLANCE
Comfortable fit
Excellent sound
Physical button controls
Travel case
3.5mm adapter cable included

THE VERDICT
The S3 delivers 30-hour battery life, cutting-edge Bluetooth technology, and useful personalization while maintaining B&W's signature refined sound and premium feel. The combination of comfort, build quality, and features make these some of the best wireless headphones you can buy.

Introduction
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 is the refined third generation of B&W's luxurious noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, succeeding the Px7 S2 and S2e models. Priced at $449 (US) / £399 (UK), it targets the premium market as a refined alternative to Sony's WH-1000X series, Bose's QuietComfort line, and Apple's AirPods Max. B&W has comprehensively upgraded the acoustic design and wireless technology to offer superior sound quality and competitive noise cancellation.

Design and Build Quality
The Px7 S3 features a complete redesign with slimmer, more low-profile earcups. Refined ergonomics and reshaped headband/yokes result in reduced weight and enhanced comfort for extended use. Memory-foam earpads and cushioned headband wrapped in fabric and synthetic leather distribute pressure evenly without hotspots.

Build quality follows B&W's premium standards with metal accents and high-grade materials conveying substantial pride of ownership. While the headphones don't fold at the hinge, the earcups rotate flat for storage in the included hard-shell case. The stylish design is available in three finishes: Anthracite Black, Canvas White, Indigo Blue.

Features and Upgrades vs Px7 S2e
Upgraded Drivers & Amplification: The 40mm bio-cellulose drivers are completely re-engineered with a new voice coil, suspension, and magnet system to help minimize distortion and increase dynamic range. Each driver now has dedicated discrete amplification, said to offer superior control and headroom for more detail and clarity than the S2e.

Advanced Noise Cancellation: The new in-house developed ANC platform uses eight microphones (up from six) to monitor ambient noise and driver output. Combined with new algorithms, this delivers B&W's most impressive noise cancellation yet, adaptable to various surroundings while maintaining sound quality without coloration. Ambient transparency mode activates via a button or app.

Latest Wireless Technology: Bluetooth 5.3 (upgraded from 5.2) now supports aptX Lossless alongside aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC. This enables CD-quality streaming (16-bit/44.1kHz) with compatible devices. Multipoint connectivity allows easy switching between two paired devices. Future firmware updates promise Bluetooth LE Audio support (LC3 codec, Auracast) and spatial audio compatibility.

Battery & Charging: 30-hour playback with ANC remains unchanged but class-leading. Quick-charge provides 7 hours from 15 minutes. USB-C handles charging and doubles as digital audio input for up to 24-bit/96kHz playback. Includes USB-C to C and USB-C to 3.5mm cables.

App & EQ Improvements: The updated B&W Music app features five-band EQ (replacing basic bass/treble sliders), preset options including "True Sound" reference tuning, and direct hi-res streaming from services like Qobuz and Tidal. Additional controls include ANC modes, Quick Action button configuration, wear-detection, and firmware updates.

Active Noise Cancellation and Call Quality
The new ANC system effectively silences low-frequency noises (airplane engines, HVAC, traffic) and significantly reduces high-frequency sounds. While Bose and Sony maintain a slight edge in absolute cancellation, the gap has narrowed considerably, perhaps to the point of irrelevance. The Px7 S3 offers excellent ANC performance without introducing audible hiss or altering the sound signature.

Call quality excels thanks to the 8-mic array and beamforming algorithms. Voice transmission remains detailed and full-bodied while effectively minimizing background noise, and the combination of high fidelity and ANC makes it easy to hear callers clearly.

Connectivity and Battery Performance
Bluetooth 5.3 provides quick pairing and generous range (30+ feet, even through walls). Multipoint functionality seamlessly manages connections between devices. The comprehensive codec support includes AAC for Apple devices, and aptX Adaptive scaling to 24-bit/96kHz on Android.

AptX Lossless support delivers bit-perfect CD-quality when conditions allow – testing with my two compatible smartphones maintained stable links as long as the phone was near me, preserving full detail.

USB-C serves dual purposes: charging and 24-bit/96kHz digital audio playback using the internal DAC/amp. The 3.5mm adapter cable also plugs into the USB C port but does not charge the headphones .

Battery life remains strong at 30 hours with ANC – requiring weekly charging under normal use. This positions B&W favorably, matching Sony's 30 hours and exceeding Bose's 24 hours. Quick-charge convenience and 2-hour full charge time via USB-C round out practical battery performance.

Controls and App Experience
Physical buttons provide an ergonomic tactile advantage: the right earcup features volume controls and multi-function button (play/pause, track navigation), while the left houses the power/pairing switch and configurable Quick Action button (default toggles ANC modes, alternatively it triggers voice assistant).

The polished B&W Music app displays battery level, enables ANC adjustments, and features the new five-band EQ with custom presets. "True Sound" mode disables all EQ for purist listening. Device management, firmware updates, and basic functions operate without account requirements – the app adds value while remaining optional thanks to comprehensive onboard controls.

Sound Quality and Listening Impressions
At-Home Wireless Listening: The Px7 S3 delivers remarkably neutral, well-balanced sound with subtle mid warmth deftly avoiding a clinical presentation. Detail retrieval impresses: fine vocal/instrumental textures lesser headphones miss are rendered precisely. The soundstage feels expansive for closed-backs with excellent stereo imaging. I'm old enough to be dumbstruck with how you can have such a complete high-fidelity listening experience on the go.

As it goes with headphones, my listening impressions are just that, my opinion. The good news about headphones is there are numerous reviewers doing precise measurements. So you do not need them from me. I have not seen any yet, but the thing applied by Bowers & Wilkins sounds correct, and you have a 5-band EQ to work with if tweaking the sound is desired. Bottom line, with my usual lineup of electronic music, as well as rock classics like the recently re-released Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits. The fidelity is seductive in how it complements a good recording.

Bass response deserves special mention: deep and authoritative to the very lowest frequencies humans can perceive. Every time I get my Bassnectar fix I'm thankful for the clean, distortion-free bass. It is tightly controlled without exaggeration. With ANC active, the extremely low noise floor ensures quiet passages remain clean while dynamics feel unrestricted. I found that critical wireless listening genuinely satisfies audiophile standards.

Outdoor Use with ANC: I estimate the noise reduction eliminates 80-90% of city noise, mainly the hum of HVAC and the sound of cars. It is superbly effective on trains and in an office environment. The Px7 S3 creates a peaceful listening bubble, an audio oasis in the midst of urban grind. Sound character remains consistent with ANC turned on or off. As is common with many full-size ANC headphones, noise occasionally intrudes during breezy conditions.

One of my favorite things to do is walk on park trails while listening to good music. Because background noise is already minimal, ANC is not needed. But when I use it, the noise floor drops to a stunning silence and it is quite a trip to play instrumental music, whether classical or some reggae dub or some electronic ambient, and achieve a sort of zen through the combination of music and visuals. Sublime stuff.

Connection stability proves flawless, even in dense wireless environments. Big crowds like at the Fourth of July fireworks in Philadelphia had zero impact on wireless performance. The lightweight design and secure-yet-comfortable fit allow for extended wear without fatigue. And while I did not use it much, the natural-sounding transparency mode facilitates quick interactions without removing headphones (I just feel awkward doing it).

Wired Performance: USB DAC mode (24-bit/96kHz) is the audiophile approach to using these headphones. Uncompressed and hi-rez, it is the most direct signal path with the highest bandwidth. It is convenient for use with phones and laptops, especially phones which typically no longer offer a 3.5mm jack.

I used USB to connect to my Macbook for music creation. That includes playing around with the new AI music making sites like Udio and Suno, as well as working with Ableton Live and a more traditional music-making workflow. With the latter, I appreciate the uncompressed hi-rez capability.

The sounds coming from soft synths in Live are as pure as it gets, tweaking pads and percussion and basslines is both fun and rewarding with good headphones that allow you to hear the details hidden within the textures. I feel as if with the Px7 S3, I am leaving nothing on the table, I am hearing the full character of each sound.

Meanwhile with the AI music makers, it's much simpler. Enter the prompt, generate, listen, decide if it's a keeper or it goes in the trash. The fidelity I'm hearing from Suno is a bit scary, we're very close to AI music that is truly indecipherable from human-made music. For electronic music, we're already there.

For situations where old-school headphones jacks are all you get, the analog 3.5mm input performs excellently despite adding an extra A/D-D/A conversion (there is no passive mode on these cans). Including this cable in the package offers the ultimate flexibility. Apple charges extra for its 3.5mm adapter cable.

Comparisons
Vs. B&W Px7 S2/S2e: Clear upgrade with richer detail, deeper bass, near-flagship ANC, slimmer design, improved comfort, aptX Lossless, and 5-band EQ. The S3 effectively replaces predecessors at a modest price increase.

Vs. Sony WH-1000XM6: Sony's 12-mic system slightly leads in ANC, particularly for voices/high-pitched noise. Sony's folding design and lighter weight (254g vs 300g) improve portability. Both offer 30 hours of battery life multipoint Bluetooth 5.3.

Vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Bose maintains gold-standard ANC and comfort with lighter weight (254g). Offers Bluetooth 5.3, like the Px7 S3. B&W counters with superior build quality, more nuanced sound, and longer battery life (30hr vs 24hr).

Vs. Apple AirPods Max: Both offer premium builds but differ significantly in design. Apple's aluminum/steel construction weighs considerably more (386g). B&W provides better cross-platform support with its Bluetooth codecs while Apple excels in ecosystem integration. Similar ANC performance, but B&W's 30hr battery significantly exceeds Apple's 20 hours. B&W includes a proper protective case versus Apple's quirky storage solution.

Conclusion
The Px7 S3 represents a meaningful evolution, combining excellent audio quality, solid noise cancelling, and luxury build as one of the best all-around wireless headphones in the premium segment. Audiophiles will particularly appreciate the clarity, balance, and musical engagement exceeding most rivals at this price.

For those seeking a sophisticated alternative to mainstream options, the Px7 S3 is highly recommended. It meaningfully updates the Px7 series while competing effectively against the latest offerings from industry heavyweights. With a deft combination of comfort and high fidelity, B&W has crafted headphones that inspire extended listening sessions, wherever you are.