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The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 wireless noise-canceling headphones are the company's ultimate personal audio statement piece. They resemble and share much of what I love about their sibling, the well-put-together PX7-S2 'phones But these headphones are made from higher-grade materials and promise even better sonic performance.
And that in itself is quite the statement, too — considering I put the PX7 S2s on my list of "best noise-canceling headphones" based on their build quality and sound. The PX8 headphones start with the same design, but sport a strong, sturdy diecast aluminum frame lined with real Napa leather. Under the hood, they offer the same adaptive noise-canceling circuitry along with upgraded drivers made from lightweight carbon fiber.
The PX8 noise cancellation is even more adaptive than previous-generation B&W headphones. B&W repositioned the built-in mics and updated the noise-canceling algorithms and circuitry. Now they can better read external sounds and distractions, then adjust the amount of noise cancellation in real time. It provides a nice blanket of silence for the redesigned drivers to deliver their powerful, pristine sound.
The drivers in these headphones were informed by B&W's legendary, high-end 700-series loudspeakers. They deliver a similarly engaging, resolving sound. B&W uses a rigid carbon-fiber composite for the diaphragm to ensure piston-like, uniform movement — greatly reducing distortion.
They've also angled the large drivers so that they hit your ear just right. This helps widen the soundstage a bit outside the head and makes for precise imaging — giving a genuine sense of direction and space to instruments, vocals, and other musical flourishes.
These well-sculpted headphones sport a sturdy diecast aluminum frame.
B&W used sturdy, high-quality parts and they look sculpted and elegant. They also feel smooth with a pleasant nylon fabric lining the headband and earcups. They feel heavier in the hand than the other over-ears, but the weight is distributed nicely when worn — with no one area shouldering the bulk of the pressure.
Like most B&W headphones, the PX8s fit snugly. But the B&W designers and engineers focused on delivering a more consistent cushioning and seal for all sizes, even if you wear glasses. And they've struck the right balance. The leather ear pads are soft, but firmly cradle the ears to keep the headphones from moving around.
Music plays wirelessly from your phone via Bluetooth 5.2 — a newer, more reliable version of Bluetooth. I was able to keep my phone on my home office desk and walk clear across my basement without audio dropout. Plus, multipoint connection lets you pair two devices at the same time, so you can quickly sync to your phone or laptop.
For higher quality streaming, aptX® Adaptive technology is on board. This versatile wireless audio codec automatically detects if you're in an area with competing Bluetooth signals, and it will optimize either reliability or sound quality accordingly. It can also sense when you're watching a video on, say, Netflix or YouTube, and keep latency low. So the audio and video should be better synced up.
