Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 premium headphones launch with better ANC, Spatial Audio, and Auracast for €729

Bowers & Wilkins has taken the wraps off its new premium pair of headphones called the Px8 S2. The new pair of headphones sit above the Px8 headphones released in 2022, and they come with a refined design and some notable upgrades.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are slimmer when compared to the Px8. According to the manufacturer, the new design makes the headphones more comfortable than previous models. One of the major changes it has made is to the headband, which it says now has better durability.

As is expected of premium headphones, the Px8 S2 headphones are made from high quality materials. They are covered in nappa leather, have memory foam earcups, and feature aluminum arms. Owners will also be able to buy replacement earcups and headband cushions when they get worn out.

In terms of technical features, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 feature custom-made 40mm carbon fiber diaphragms like the Px8, but with new driver chassis, suspension, and magnets. There's also a new dedicated headphone amplifier and DSP, while the drivers have been optimized to reduce distortion. The Px8 S2 also have support for aptX Adaptive (24-bit/96 kHz) and aptX Lossless. Bowers & Wilkins has also revealed that the headphones will get support for LC3 codec and Auracast via an OTA software update

Another upgraded feature of the new Px8 S2 is improved active noise cancellation (ANC), thanks to the addition of more microphones. Unlike the Px8 which have six microphones, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 have eight microphones. The microphones have also been placed in new positions for better optimizations. The upgraded mics, in combination with Bowers & Wilkins voice processing technology called ADI PureVoice, also give the headphones better call quality.

Like the Px7 S3 (available on Amazon for $479) which were the first Bowers & Wilkins headphones with Spatial Audio, the Px8 S2 also have support for Spatial Audio, and it uses a proprietary decoding and processing technology for better results.

Owners of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 will be able to update their headphones using the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. The app also allows users to adjust the 5-band equalizer. They can also choose to turn off the equalizer, and instead listen in True Sound mode.

Owners of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 will be able to update their headphones using the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. The app also allows users to adjust the 5-band equalizer. They can also choose to turn off the equalizer, and instead listen in True Sound mode.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 still have 30 hours of battery life (with ANC turned on) like the Px8, and support fast charging, too (15-minute charge for 7 hours of playback). When not in use, the headphones can be folded flat and stored in the come in the included carrying case which has a separate compartment for a USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable and a USB-C to USB-C audio cable.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are priced at €729, a significant bump from the €529 price of the Px8. They are also available in the US for $799 and in the UK for £629. They come in Onyx Black and Warm Stone, and are available to buy directly from Bowers & Wilkins and from Amazon.