I have spent months (years, really) of research searching for the perfect set of no-compromise, best-at-everything bluetooth ANC headphones at any price. I've bought and ended up returning a couple sets that each disappointed in some way or another, and had essentially given up on such a headset ever existing. My priorities are (in order):
- Sound (including high-bitrate bluetooth codecs because I prefer to listen wirelessly)
- Comfort (especially over many hours on long flights)
- Active Noise Canceling (ANC)
- Call quality
- Quality-of-life features (I like buttons, though I know some prefer touch controls)
The recent wave of ultra-premium headphones (Focal Bathys, B&W PX8, M&D MW75, Mark Levinson No. 5909, B&O Beoplay H95, etc.) got my hopes up, and while I don't think any of them truly hit that "no compromise" standard, the PX8 from Bowers & Wilkins came *very* close, and for me is the best on the market at any price (as of fall 2022).
~~~Sound~~~
First and foremost, they sound incredible. My wife has the Sony WH-1000XM5's and while those sound great (significantly better than their Bose counterparts, imho), the PX8's blow them out of the water on clarity and separation. I won't try to write up a full audiophile description of the sound because there are plenty of more qualified ones online, but I will give an anecdote: without telling her which headphones or their price tag, I put these on my wife's head and played a song she loves and has heard many times (instrumental metal, if that matters). She listened quietly and said "It sounds like I'm hearing this song for the first time."
Also important to me is the fact that the sound is on the warm side and easy to listen to for extended periods. I am sensitive to high-frequency sound and often have problems with sibilance or a "sharp" quality to high end audio equipment that strives for upper range extension. These have plenty of detail in the highs, but none of that sharp quality that I personally find irritating.
~~~Comfort~~~
The other area that the B&W PX8's really shine is on comfort. I have big ears that stick out a lot, and many over-ear headphones press my ears down in a way that gets uncomfortable. My wife's Sony XM5's are a great example - because they have such stellar ANC I like to borrow them for flights, but I can only wear them for a couple hours before my ears get physically sore. The PX8's have no such problem. They have large earcups, and the angled drivers create a deep space in the back that gently cradles even my Dumbo-esque ears. I keep finding excuses to wear them, because they just feel so good.
~~~Active Noise Cancelling~~~
This is why I say they aren't truly "no compromise" headphones. The passive noise blocking is quite good, and the ANC is effective at cutting down outside sound, but it isn't class-leading. The Sony XM5's, Bose QC45's, and Apple Airpods Max all seem to do a better job of creating that total Cone of Silence I crave on long flights. This is a common trend among the most premium audiophile headphones though, and some companies have said that there are engineering trade-offs that have to be made between sound quality and ANC. I'm not sure I'm totally sold on that narrative, but if slightly weaker ANC is the price of this glorious sound quality, then that's an acceptable trade in my book.
~~~Call Quality~~~
Very good, my voice can be heard clearly. Not quite as good at blocking out background sounds as the Sony XM5's or my Jabra headset with a boom mic, but perfectly adequate for the situations I need.
~~~Features~~~
I love the well-made buttons (I live in a cold weather climate where touch controls are less than ideal), and the app is refreshingly simple. It doesn't have some bells and whistles (no adjustable ANC, limited EQ options, no voice detection or automatic situational awareness), but it has what I need and works well. The only exception here is on-ear detection, which is finicky and frequently pauses the music even on "low" so I had to turn it off. It's not a must-have feature for me but might be more bothersome for some.
Edit: another issue I have noticed after a couple weeks of use is that the "skip backward" function doesn't work very well. In theory you can skip backward with a triple-press of the multifunction button, which I do often when I want to go back a few seconds in a podcast, but 80% of the time it either skips forward or pauses instead. Not a huge deal, but annoying.
~~~Summary~~~
Best-sounding, most comfortable bluetooth ANC headphones I have ever tried. Other features aren't necessarily the best among the competition - in particular I wouldn't mind having stronger, adjustable ANC - but they are more than good enough, and all together I think the package justifies the high price.
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This Item  Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Over-Ear Wireless Headphones, Advanced Active Noise Cancellation, Compatible with B&W Android/iOS Music App, Premium Design, Offers 7-Hour Playback on 15-Min Quick Charge, Black |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $699.00 | $699.00 | $989.00 | $699.00 | -13% $348.00 List: $399.99 | $999.00 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Comfort | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Noise cancellation | ||||||
| Battery life | ||||||
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| Sold By | Amazon.com | Huppins | Amazon.com | GRAMOPHONE | Huppins | GRAMOPHONE |
| connectivity tech | Wireless | Wireless | Bluetooth 5.1, RF | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 Multipoint, Wired, USB-C | Bluetooth | Wired |
| headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
| connector type | wireless | wireless | wireless | usb-c,wireless | Stereo Mini Jack | 3.5mm Jack |
| noise control | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | sound isolation |
| headphones jack | — | — | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack, 6.35mm Jack |
| cable feature | Retractable | Retractable | Detachable, Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Detachable |
From the manufacturer
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Hear it all. Hear true.No wires, no noise, no compromises. Engineered to excel, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones combine cutting-edge audio technology with advanced noise cancellation for our most accurate and immersive sound yet. Painstakingly crafted from aluminium and leather, they’re every bit as special to own as they are to listen to. Hear your music as it was meant to be heard. Hear true. |
A new reference in headphonesPx8 combines its high-resolution 24-bit DSP brain with all-new 40mm Carbon Cones that deliver outstanding resolution, capturing nuances in your music that other headphone drive units miss. |
Smart, intuitive, effortlessUse the Bowers & Wilkins Music App to adjust noise cancellation, select your EQ preferences or launch your phone’s voice assistant. And with 30 hours of battery life, you can listen all day long on just one charge. |
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The new leader in headphone designPx8 combines cast aluminium arms for superior durability, plus sumptuous Nappa leather plus perfectly crafted memory foam earpads for effortless all-day comfort. Diamond-cut bright metal detailing perfectly finishes the luxurious, premium look. |
Cancel the noise, not your musicPx8 uses six microphones for active noise cancellation that shuts out unwanted intrusions while preserving sound quality. Careful positioning and angling of those microphones ensures outstanding call quality too. |
Hear what your music really sounds likePx8 is our new flagship wireless headphone, the ultimate combination of exceptional performance, premium materials, intelligent technology and smart features. Carbon Cone drive units give outstanding sound quality while cast aluminium arms, fine Nappa leather trim and diamond-cut bright detailing contribute to the beautiful, premium design. |
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B&W PX8 Mic Test Real World
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Reviews with images
I really didn’t like them at first!
When you spend a bunch of money on something and don’t like it out of the box, you get that sick feeling of disappointment in your stomach. The box arrived and I was super excited. The quality of the packaging, the smell of the of leather, the quality heft of the build material…oh, this was going to be great! When I linked them using the lossless cord set up and started to listen…dead…flat…boring…DISAPPOINTING! I messed with he EQ, pushing the settings to extremes and back. I quickly grabbed my Sony XM4s, then my AirPod Max and even my old Beats Studio 3 for comparison. ALL SOUNDED BETTER…ALL of the them! Even my ragged out Beats! The the hell? I went straight for break in mode. I hooked them up to an old iPhone that I converted to an iPod and set up a play list of big bass Megan Trainer, Bruce Springsteen “Jungleland” for the screaming highs of Clarence’s sax (sadness filled me as I remembered his passing), Gran Bel Fisher’s “So, Wildly” for some rest. I added some INXS, Bleachers and “The Smile has Left Your Eyes” but Asia. Man, that song has a lot going on in it! Then, I let them run for a whole battery cycle. I let them rest and charge for a few hours the then tan them another…then another…then another. Okay, now we are getting somewhere.After some serious break in time, they are really starting to sound really, really good.My assessment is this. When you build a headphone set like Sony, that are designed to sound good out of the box and deliver slightly sloppy bass, you don’t need to really break them in much. But if you buy something that is built to replicate sound with more precision, you’ve to to build them a little better and they may need to break in. As these are breaking in, I’m backing down the treble and bass and I’m starting to hear some of the musical instrument separation and sound stage that some reviewers mention.Losses vs Bluetooth. Yeah, they sound better wired to my MacBook or iPad and that’s a great way to listen to them but that is not a practical way to live with them. Does that make sense? When I want to really enjoy some HQ Lossless music, I stop down and listen but this morning I did some housework and they sound really good over Bluetooth. They are a little heave compared to Sonys but not too bad.ANC. Not as good as Sony nor AirPod Max but a close third. Very close and interestingly, better than Bose QC45s.Comfort. Not as good as Sony or Bose or my Philips open backs. About the same as AirPod Max. Way better than Beats Studio Pro.Weight. Kinda heavy feeling. Similar to my AirPod Max but the AirPods distribute the weight much better. After wearing these for an hour or so then putting on my XM4s, the Sony’s feel crazy light!!Sound. Balanced compared to the treble heavy AirPod Max, balanced. Compared to the heavier bass of the Sony’s mellow and smoooth. Compared to open backs, focused and deliberate. Compared to Beats Studio Pro…well a lot sounds better then Beats (but I like my Beats). Non-music audio. Awesome! I stream shows and football games and Formula1 races over my AppleTV or iPad and spoken audio sounds so much better on the PX8 than most of headphones I own. The Sony’s are boomy, the Beats sound muffled in comparison. The AirPods Max are the only ones that sound as good and maybe a tad better.WEB REVIEWERS!! That’s another thing. How can someone on YouTube pull a set like these out of the box and give an accurate review? They can’t! Use Caution when listening to them unless they clearly talk about break in.In closing, as The Beach Boys Sloop John B plays in my ears, I have gone from having my finger on the return button to gripping them tightly in my 54-year-old hands. These really are great and a wonderful addition to my growing collections of headphones.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2023
You'll notice I didn't mention noise reduction. I don't need that, working from home. I don't ride public transportation, so I don't need noise reduction. I've tried it and found it to be acceptable. It will fit my needs on the occasional times. I've read others are better, but I bought these headphones to listen to music, not silence. And they are great for that.
I've heard that the speakers needed to be broken in. That is true. Right out of the box, the sound is okay, but not worth the dollars. So I connected my phone, set it aside, and let it play all day. Every so often I would listen to see how it was going. Every time I listened, it sounded better. After about 8 -9 hours of play, I pretty much got the sound I had paid for. It improved a little after that, so they sound great now. If you buy these, be sure to give it time for the speakers to reach their peak. You won't be sorry.
**********
Follow up after 9 month's use:
After less than a year's use, the cushion on the headband pulled out as seen by the photo. Since the headphones were supposed to have a 2 year warranty, I contacted B&W for help. They told me that because of who I purchased the headphones from, they would not honor the warranty or help me. They told me to contact the seller. I sent the seller an email, but never got a reply.
Yes, the headphones sound great. But for the amount paid, the quality of the construction is very lacking, to wear out after less than a year. Worse, despite what B&W says, there is NO warranty and NO support from the manufacturer. They simply won't stand behind their product, as my experience and their comments show. This is inexcusable for a company with their supposed reputation and for the high cost of the headphones. I strongly suggest you search elsewhere for a better built product from a company that will stand behind their products.
Color: TanVerified Purchase
No warranty, no support, torn headband
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2023
I wanted 2 things from my headphones. First, the quality of the sound. Music needs to be deep, rich, balanced, with a nice presence. Secondly, they needed to be comfortable. These headphones rated high in both areas. Now that I've used it for about a month, I can say it really delivers in both areas. I'm glad I have it.Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2023
You'll notice I didn't mention noise reduction. I don't need that, working from home. I don't ride public transportation, so I don't need noise reduction. I've tried it and found it to be acceptable. It will fit my needs on the occasional times. I've read others are better, but I bought these headphones to listen to music, not silence. And they are great for that.
I've heard that the speakers needed to be broken in. That is true. Right out of the box, the sound is okay, but not worth the dollars. So I connected my phone, set it aside, and let it play all day. Every so often I would listen to see how it was going. Every time I listened, it sounded better. After about 8 -9 hours of play, I pretty much got the sound I had paid for. It improved a little after that, so they sound great now. If you buy these, be sure to give it time for the speakers to reach their peak. You won't be sorry.
**********
Follow up after 9 month's use:
After less than a year's use, the cushion on the headband pulled out as seen by the photo. Since the headphones were supposed to have a 2 year warranty, I contacted B&W for help. They told me that because of who I purchased the headphones from, they would not honor the warranty or help me. They told me to contact the seller. I sent the seller an email, but never got a reply.
Yes, the headphones sound great. But for the amount paid, the quality of the construction is very lacking, to wear out after less than a year. Worse, despite what B&W says, there is NO warranty and NO support from the manufacturer. They simply won't stand behind their product, as my experience and their comments show. This is inexcusable for a company with their supposed reputation and for the high cost of the headphones. I strongly suggest you search elsewhere for a better built product from a company that will stand behind their products.
Images in this review
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