Chapter 1 — It started with a doubt
I didn’t walk into the store convinced I needed the PX8 S2.
Actually, I walked in with the opposite mindset: there’s no way I’m spending that much on headphones if something cheaper sounds close enough.
On the table were multiple models, including the PX7 S3 and other strong competitors. The PX7 S3 immediately made a very strong case for itself. It was cheaper, it sounded good, and realistically speaking, for most people, it’s more than enough.So the question wasn’t “are the PX8 S2 good?”
The question was “are they worth it?”That question stayed with me the entire time.
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Chapter 2 — The moment you realise build is not just marketing
When I picked up the PX8 S2, the difference wasn’t in specs. It was in feel.
Leather, metal, weight distribution, the way the cups rotate, the way the headband sits. It’s one of those moments where you realise you’re not just buying sound, you’re buying experience and materials.
And yet, at the same time, there was already a compromise: leather only. For some, that’s a premium feature. For others, it’s a limitation.
That tension between premium and practicality becomes a recurring theme.
Chapter 3 — Comfort is never just “comfortable”
At first, they felt great. Balanced clamp, soft pads, no immediate fatigue.
Then real life kicked in.
I put on glasses.
And suddenly, depending on the frame, the seal changes. You get slight leakage, subtle differences in ANC behaviour, tiny noises that shouldn’t be there in a perfect world.
Then I tried them with a cap.
Strangely enough, that worked better. No real seal issues, no noticeable impact.It’s funny how the things you expect to fail… work.
And the things you expect to be fine… need attention.
Chapter 4 — The first annoyance you don’t expect
The carry case looks beautiful. Premium, compact, well designed.
Until you use it.
It forces the headphones into a fixed folding position. Every time you take them out, you need to readjust the cups, reposition the angle, set them back on your head.
It’s not a big problem.
But it’s a daily friction point.And those small frictions matter over time.
Chapter 5 — The moment you realise loud is not what you want
One of the first things I noticed was how loud these headphones are.
But not in a bad way.
At low volume, they still sound full. Bass is present, vocals are clear, detail is intact. You don’t need to push them.
And that’s where it clicked:
this is how you protect your hearing long term.Interestingly, I saw the same behaviour on the much cheaper FiiO JD10. Very different product category, same philosophy: low volume, high quality.
That’s a huge win.
Chapter 6 — Testing sound like a human, not a lab
I don’t test with sine waves or artificial tones.
I test with real music. Music that has flaws, personality, dynamics.
So I built my test list around what actually reveals behaviour.
When the bass of “Daddy Lessons” by Beyonce starts, you immediately hear if the headphones are about boom… or control.
With “Lights Down Low” by MAX, you hear intimacy. You hear how close the voice feels. Whether the sub-bass supports it or masks it.
“Breathe” by The Prodigy pushes everything. Aggression, layers, speed. If treble is harsh, this track exposes it instantly.
“Clearly” by Grace VanderWaal does something else. It reveals sharpness in the highs. On this track, you don’t guess if the headphones are bright… you know.
And then there’s “They Don’t Care” by Hypnogaja. A quiet intro, delicate guitar, the kind of track that reveals not the headphones… but your entire audio chain.
Which is exactly how I discovered the next problem.
Chapter 7 — When the problem is not the headphones
At some point, I started hearing a subtle grinding noise. Only on certain frequencies. Only on certain tracks.
The natural instinct is to blame the headphones.
Except… it also happened on other headsets.
It happened on USB, on Bluetooth, and only on the Mac. Not on the iPhone.
And then it clicked.
The culprit was macOS Sound Enhancer.
Disabled it. Noise gone.
That moment is important, because it reminds you:
sometimes the weakest link in the chain is not what you think it is.
Chapter 8 — ANC in the real world is not silence
I tested ANC everywhere:
• office
• server room fan noise
• gym with loud music
• shopping mall
• traffic
• tramWhat it removes best is not voices.
It’s constant rumble.AC hum, engine noise, fan noise, low bass from speakers.
Those disappear.
Other sounds remain, but they become muffled, distant, irrelevant.
And the beauty of it is that you can listen to music at low volume, not fighting the environment.
Even in the gym, even in traffic, even in the tram.
You are not isolated. You are comfortable.
Chapter 9 — Calls that don’t reveal your environment
I tested calls in traffic and inside the tram.
On the other end, people couldn’t tell where I was.
Unless something very sharp happened, like a siren.Otherwise, my voice was clean, stable, and separated from the environment.
This is one of those features that you don’t appreciate until you need it.
Chapter 10 — Multipoint, or expectations vs reality
Multipoint sounds like magic.
In reality, it’s a priority switch.
You’re listening to music on your phone, a notification comes from your Mac, and the headphones switch.
Then they switch back.
It works.
But it’s not seamless mixing. It’s controlled interruption.
Chapter 11 — The battery voice that won’t leave you alone
At around 17%, a voice starts reminding you:
“Battery low.”
And it keeps reminding you. Frequently.
You can’t disable it.
It’s not a big issue.
But when you’re deep into music or gaming, it becomes… noticeable.
Chapter 12 — Cables, myths and reality
No, you don’t need special "audiophile" cables (if there is any).
What matters is:
• flexibility
• smooth surface
• lack of friction noiseBraided cables may look premium, but when they rub against clothes, they can introduce microphonic noise.
A soft, smooth cable is better in real life.
Chapter 13 — The Apple limitation and the dongle solution
On Apple devices, you’re limited to AAC.
That’s fine. But not optimal.
Using the Sennheiser BTD 700 changes everything.
You suddenly get:
• aptX Adaptive / Lossless
• better dynamics
• more clarity
• tighter bass
• closer to wired soundIt’s one of the biggest upgrades you can make if you use an iPhone.
Chapter 14 — The gaming latency misunderstanding
At first, I thought the dongle didn’t help.
There was delay. Noticeable delay.
Then I discovered something that is barely communicated:
Triple click the dongle.
It activates Game Mode.Suddenly, latency drops. Sync is correct. Gaming becomes usable.
The problem was not the hardware.
It was the lack of clear communication.
Chapter 15 — Small imperfections that make the product real
Over time, small things appear:
• glasses can break the seal
• the case requires readjustment
• the battery voice repeats too often
• multipoint interrupts audioNone of them ruin the experience.
But together, they define the real experience, not the marketing one.
Chapter 16 — The PX8 S2 vs PX7 S3 truth
After everything, here’s the honest truth.
The PX7 S3:
• cheaper
• similar technology
• good enough for most peopleThe PX8 S2:
• better materials
• slightly better sound
• more premium feelSo the decision is not technical.
It’s emotional vs rational.
Chapter 17 — Final thoughts
This wasn’t a simple headphone test.
It was:
• testing in multiple environments
• testing multiple sources
• debugging software issues
• learning Bluetooth limitations
• discovering hidden features
• and understanding how all of this fits togetherThe PX8 S2 are excellent headphones.
But more importantly, this journey shows that audio quality is not just about the headphones.
It’s about the entire chain, the environment, the usage… and your expectations.
And once you understand that, you stop chasing specs… and start building experiences.
And because nothing is really free...
The following links are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. True story.
Px8S2:
DE/EU: https://amzn.to/3NcwicF
US: https://amzn.to/3OVbjMb
Px7S3:
DE/EU: https://amzn.to/4rdrgut
US: https://amzn.to/4svvONM
Sennheiser BTD 700 Dongle:
DE/EU: https://amzn.to/4d5PTFY
US: https://amzn.to/4d7QbfA
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 — Key Specs & Features
Premium flagship ANC headphones by Bowers & Wilkins.
Priced around $799 / £629 / €729 at launch.
Design & Build
• Materials: Soft Nappa leather, die‑cast aluminum frame for durability and comfort.
• Ergonomics: Slimmer silhouette and well‑balanced fit.
Drivers & Sound
• 2× 40 mm dynamic full‑range carbon cone drivers for refined audio detail.
• 24‑bit/96 kHz hi‑res audio support via aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless.
• Custom high‑performance DSP with dedicated amplifier and DAC.
• 5‑band customizable EQ through the Bowers & Wilkins Music app (TrueSound™).
Codecs & Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3 with support for:
• aptX Lossless
• aptX Adaptive
• aptX HD
• aptX Classic
• AAC
• SBC
Multipoint connectivity (connect two devices simultaneously).
USB‑C audio & charging plus USB‑C to 3.5 mm cable included.
Apple MFi / Google Fast Pair support.
Active Noise Cancellation & Mics
8 microphones total (4 per earcup) for:
• hybrid ANC
• transparency/pass‑through mode
• call clarity with ADI Pure Voice processing.
Battery & Charging
• Up to ~30 hours playback with ANC on.
• Fast charge: ~15 minutes ≈ 7 hours playback.
App & Features
Bowers & Wilkins Music app:
• EQ customization
• ANC mode switching
• firmware updates (including upcoming spatial audio)
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