Last week, we got a chance to check out Bowers & Wilkins latest over-ear headphones, the Px7 S3 (Series 3). Compared to their predecessor, they feature a slightly slimmer form factor, a snugger fit, a refined driver design for enhanced sound quality and improved ANC (active noise cancellation). All these bode well for a successful replacement for the popular Px7 S2e which has a list price of $399 but normally sells online for under $300. But with the current tariff situation (145% tariffs on Chinese-made goods), the actual release date and price of the Px7 S3 is still in limbo.
The company is reportedly considering different manufacturing options at the moment which may delay time to market. It’s hard to imagine that they could incur a manufacturing cost more than twice as high as the predecessor and still maintain similar pricing. But with the current uncertainties around these tariffs, who’s to say what the future holds? In the meantime, here are some of the improvements and features of the Px7 S3.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Features
- Bluetooth 5.3 with support for aptX Adaptive 24/96 and aptX Lossless
- Enhanced 40mm biocellulose driver design offers improved sound quality
- Memory foam ear cups for improved ear comfort
- Slimmer design allows for more compact carrying case
- Dedicated amplifier modules (one for each channel)
- Proprietary high-performance ANC, with eight-microphone array
- Bowers & Wilkins Music app provides set-up and control, with adjustable 5-band EQ
- 30 hours battery life from a single charge, plus 15-minute fast recharge for seven hours of listening
- Spatial audio upgrade will be released later this year
- Bluetooth LE Audio (Low Energy) support coming for improved efficiency
- Auracast functionality is also expected to be offered in a future software update.
- Available in Anthracite Black, Indigo Blue and Canvas White
Initial Impressions
Compared to the Px7 S2e, the S3 definitely has a snugger fit, but without feeling excessively tight. This helps to isolate external sound more effectively than on the predecessor. Also, the active noise cancellation on the S3 is extremely effective at blocking background noise, probably helped by the fact that the S3 now has 8 different microphones inside and outside the earcups to detect and eliminate noise without impacting the sonic presentation.
Listening to the Px7 S3 with a variety of tracks on Tidal and some High Res Audio songs on my phone, I was impressed by the overall sonic presentation, with nice articulation of fine instrumental and vocal details. On demanding cuts like KX5/deadmau5 “Alive,” the Px7 S3 provided solid and articulate bass extension while preserving imaging and instrument placement. On mellower fare like Aoife O’Donovan’s and Allison Russell’s “Prodigal Daughter,” the fine guitar string picking was offered in nice detail and the female lead and harmony vocals blended well. I’d like to spend more time with them before offering any definitive judgments but first impressions were quite good.
What’s In the Box?
The Px7 S3 comes with a color-matched sturdy travel case with room to store the included USB-C charging cable as well as a 3.5mm analog to USB-C cable for connection to DAPs, phones or in-flight entertainment systems. It’s worth noting that this “analog” cable ends with a USB-C plug which means the Px7 S3 can’t run as a passive pair of headphones (it needs power). But if you do run out of charge, a 15-minute quick charge will get you up to around 7 hours of playback time. A full charge should last around 30 hours.
More Details
The Px7 S3 can accept a wired digital input via the USB-C port from a compatible playback device such as iPhone 15 or iPhone 16. This USB-C input supports lossless and high resolution data streams for optimum sound quality.
Px7 S3 will be available in three finishes: Anthracite Black, Canvas White and Indigo Blue. We got to see the black and blue versions but apparently the off-white version was delayed in transit. The Indigo Blue finish was my favorite with a not-so-subtle hint of purple.
Bowers & Wilkins says that they have engineered the new design so that both ear cushions and headband are replaceable by trained service engineers. Honestly, I don’t know how “trained” you’d have to be as the ear cushions at least seemed to be able to snap in and out pretty easily. But this serviceability should extend the usable life of the Px7 S3 headphones.
The Bottom Line
With some significant improvements over their predecessor, the upcoming Px7 S3 should prove to be a popular wireless over-ear headphone for those who want high quality sound both at home and on the road. But will tariffs make these – and many other pieces of electronics gear – prohibitively expensive to buy in the United States? We certainly hope not but this is a distinct possibility. Stay tuned for an update on pricing and availability. In the meantime, now may be a good time to pick up a deal on their predecessor which is currently selling for under $250 on Amazon.
Related Reading:
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Review
Bowers & Wilkins Revised Px8 Headphones – Editor’s Choice for 2023
