You may belief Louder
Our skilled workforce has labored for a few of the largest manufacturers in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our consultants intention to create critiques you may belief. Discover out extra about how we evaluation.
The Px7 S3 is the newest lively noise cancelling wi-fi headphone from Bowers & Wilkins. Whereas it’s the third iteration of the Px7, there are vital upgrades which make this an enticingly fesh proposition from a model famed for its recording studio affiliation.
With an overhauled design and new inside structure, some may even argue that these are Bowers & Wilkins most superior headphone thus far. When you’re in search of headphones in a position to do justice to each ethereal Prog and three-cord thrash, they might be proper up your avenue.
Design
Noticeably slimmer than their predecessor, the Px7 S3 are beautiful headphones to put on. Weight distribution is nice, and the infamous B&W clamping power has been mellowed for a extra forgiving, all-day match.
Construct high quality can also be reassuringly premium. The ear cups are tender vegan PU leather-based, and there are minor enhancements to the scarf and arm mechanism. The latter pivots effortlessly however doesn’t fold down.
Options
There’s lots that’s contemporary about these head-huggers. Bowers & Wilkins might have historically lagged behind rivals relating to noise cancellation know-how, however that’s been largely addressed right here.
The Px7 S3 employs a complete of eight microphones. 4 are used to watch and neutralise ambient noise, every angled to maximise environmental information seize, whereas two extra measure the output of every driver; the ultimate pair are devoted to name obligation.
It’s this choreography that provides the Px7 S3 its skill to muffle all the pieces from common chit chat to extra noisy commutes. The Fast Motion button on the left hand cup steps you thru the three ANC choices: On, Off and Go by. I’d hesitate to counsel the headphones are class main relating to noise cancellation, however they’re now so close to the very best of the remainder, it’s now not a sensible concern.
The underlying structure comes from Qualcomm, now outfitted for aptX Adaptive 24-bit 96kHz and aptX Lossless streams.
In contrast to some headphone designs that depart DSP and amplification to 1 catch-all processor, the Px7 S3 splits duties, using each a devoted digital sign processor, and a discrete headphone amplifier. This separation brings a number of advantages, together with superior musicality, and a cleaner transient response.
Need future-proofing? Bluetooth LE Audio, with Auracast broadcast assist and LC3 codec, is promised by way of a firmware replace later this 12 months. Auracast helps streaming to a number of suitable headphones (suppose late evening silent discos), in order that could be helpful. Spatial audio assist can also be inbound by way of OTA, which I’m notably enthusiastic about. Bowers insists its flavour of Spatial will keep true to its naturalistic home sound, and positively received’t incoporate Head Monitoring, so I’m intrigued.
Battery life? 30 hours with ANC on, plus a 15-minute fast cost that will get you a powerful seven hours of further playback.
Sound
These over-ear headphones sound fulsome and fabulous. The 40mm biocellulose dynamic drivers might have been carried over from the S2e, however Bowers & Wilkins didn’t depart them alone. The complete drive system, together with voice coil, suspension, magnet, and the inflexible chassis that holds them, has been fully re-engineered.
The result’s decrease mechanical resonance, larger rigidity, and tighter management over driver tour. This issues, as a result of it interprets to lowered distortion at each high and low volumes, an particularly essential issue once you’re pushing the sonic envelope with double-kick drums and shuddering riffs.
Stereo presentation is broad however by no means untethered. Pink Floyd’s Cash makes a advantage of its stereophonic looping cash and ringing money registers, and these cans make the combination a joyous factor. When Dick Parry’s tenor sax rips up the candy spot, it’s like he’s barged into the room by some 70’s wormhole.
When the clocks and alarms go off, heralding Time, I may swear I used to be having a foretaste of Spatial niceties to come back. Bass dealing with is spot on, these massive drivers doing majestic justice to Nick Mason’s cascading roto-toms.
The dynamics, and imaging are sensational. The escalating boogie of Some Mutts (Can’t be Muzzled) by Amyl And The Sniffers may smother the vocals however the music is locked in place, furiously pounding away. The Px7 S3 effortlessly preserves the stability, conserving the centre stage clear for refrain and gnarly guitar soloing.
The ear cups are additionally a whizz portraying ambiance, be it the choral chanting that opens Templars by Sabaton, or the epic staging of Skinny Lizzy‘s Stay And Harmful. The Px7 S3 by some means at all times is aware of tips on how to seize the second.
Low frequencies are managed, however not heavy handed. The bass solo that opens Black Sabbath’s N.I.B sounds fats and fleshy, similar to it ought to. Element and timing is sharp and tight.
Clearly, hi-res file playback sounds wonderful. Certainly one of my favorite recordings, a 24-bit 96 KHz lower of Lou Reed’s Satellite tv for pc Of Love, is crisp and beguiling. There’s an uncanny realism right here. Shut your eyes and also you’re out of the blue within the studio, finger snapping within the background.
What’s hanging is how detailed the Px7 S3 sound, even at low volumes. Some might put that all the way down to cleaner amplification, improved driver management, and minimised distortion. I favor headphone hoodoo. You resolve.
The alternate options
Marshall Monitor III A.N.C
Marshall’s flagship over-ears are Louder favourites. They put on their rock‘n’roll styling with pleasure, and mix fold-down comfort with nice on a regular basis noise cancelling. In addition they frickin’ glorious with guitar rock.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony’s ever in style over-ears are the definition of cool and comfy. Reminiscence foam ear cups make them good for a day session of double albums, and noise cancelling is great. Nevertheless, drivers are simply 30mm, which appears a bit well mannered on this firm.
