Design & Construction

With the learning from the PX7 S2e and the Px8, Bowers & Wilkins has finally implemented user feedback into the latest PX7 S3, the successor finally ticks all the boxes for a competitive headphone but does it warrant an upgrade for S2e users? Well, there is only one way to find out. Diving into the design, the S3 refines its elegant aesthetics with premium craftsmanship. From the top, we are looking at the same wide padded headband made with plush cushions wrapping the underside. Meanwhile, the top is covered in a durable fabric. The sleek yet premium plastic arm extenders are at the lower part of the headphones, nearer to the earcups, and they do not click in steps or make any noises when adjusted. It works as intended and has enough resistance for the earcups not to shift the set length. Both earcups bear the printed Bowers & Wilkins logo, with the headphones having softer, thicker, and deeper leather cushions that are meant to provide a comfortable experience, even for users who wear spectacles like myself. This time, the earcups are thinner in profile, making the headphones look less bulky on the head when viewed from the front. The depth of the earcups is not compromised by any means as your ears will never touch any part of the inside fabric. And I have to say, the material fits snugly with little clamping force and smells excellent when you first unbox it. The strong leather smell is so fresh and fragrant, like that of a new car or designer handbag. Onto the exterior of the headphones, it gives off subtle elegance with a mildly glossy finish that resists fingerprints and facial oils well. Although it still weighs 300g, a 7g reduction from the S2e, the entire frame keeps it well-balanced for long listening sessions. Now onto storage, the S3 will still only stow flat like the Apple AirPods Max and the Sonos Ace. However, Bowers & Wilkins took in user feedback to reduce the large case size by cutting out unnecessary space within to reduce its footprint.  Though it's still rather big, I applaud Bowers & Wilkins' efforts in improving it. Inside the case, we have a neat central compartment with a magnetic cover to store our USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable for wired use and another USB-C to USB-C cable for charging, with no airplane adapter included. Now, back to the headphones, it is all good from here as we have all our familiar controls and buttons. On the right earcup, there is the (From Front-Back): USB-C port, volume buttons, the Multi-function button. Meanwhile, on the left earcup, we have the ANC button and the power switch. Controlling the playback functions via the Multi-function button. Press once for play/pause, double press to skip forward, and triple press for skipping backwards. To power on the headphones, simply push the switch upwards and hold it to enable Bluetooth pairing. There is a proximity sensor built into the headphones that pauses your music automatically when you remove your headphones. The Noise-Cancelling button can be used to toggle between noise-cancelling, pass-through, or passive noise isolation. It is worth noting that the headphones have Quick Charge, which only requires 15 minutes of charging for 7 hours of playback.

​

Sound Quality

Refined, exciting, and energetic is how I would describe the sound of the PX7 S3. So let's start with the bass response. In short, it is deep, punchy, and tight. The new high-performance DSP with a dedicated amplifier ensures a true 24-bit audio connection while enhancing the performance of the 40m bio-cellulose drivers. This ensures that the bass does not distort at loud volumes nor bleed into the mids when it is at a low volume. This time, the bass depth rattles the headphones just like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, but with more soundstage and clarity. Truly a remarkable achievement to dethrone the king of bass. The highs sound bright and are filled with plenty of details, and the mids do sound extremely crisp, especially with the help of the equaliser tuning that is found in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app, which helps to configure the sound to your ears. The soundstage is on par with Sonos Ace and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but we do have to wait for the Spatial Audio update to see if it can give the AirPods Max a run for its money. The instrument separation is excellent, with distinct left and right channels being heard clearly. I do have to mention that the volume on the S3 is significantly louder than the previous generations. For example, I usually listen comfortably at around 70% on the S2e, but on the S3, I only needed 50% to achieve similar loudness. Now, If you are not so much of an EDM or Hip-Hop fan, I am glad to report that the S3 works perfectly with all other genres, ranging from Pop to Jazz after you fiddle with the customisable sound settings in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app available for download from the App & Play Store. In the app, you are first greeted with the status of the headphones' battery and the list of devices that it is paired to. Moving downwards, we have a few tabs here, starting with the environmental control tab for you to toggle the noise-cancelling settings. Next, the Recently Played tab shows you your music sources that you have tuned in to previously. There are also suggestions from Bowers & Wilkins too, with recommended radio stations below. Similarly, in the Library and Search tab, you can search for specific music tracks on all services as well as podcasts and radio stations. Lastly, in the settings, you can now select PX7 S3 which brings you into the real deal. Here, you can similarly toggle different noise-cancelling modes of Active Noise-Cancelling, Pass-through, as well as Off for passive noise isolation. There is no further customisation of the ANC settings, like tuning it to filter out voices manually; the process is fully adaptive. Based on my testing and usage, I would say that the PX7 S3 does a impressive job of cancelling out noises. Thanks to 8 new microphones (up from the previous 4), the S3 blocks everything from the hum of the airplane cabin, mild winds, traffic noise, and even high-frequency chatter with no cabin pressure. You may also switch to pass-through mode, where you can utilise the microphones to take in surrounding noises for safety; however, there is also no customisation for how much noise you can choose to let in as well. Comparing the Pass-through Mode with the AirPods Max, I would give the edge to Apple's Transparency Mode, as it is simply the most natural-sounding transparency that seems to know what to filter out and take in. Next, there is a new advanced 5-band equaliser with settings ranging -6 to +6, which you can use to toggle how much extra bass or treble you prefer. The beauty of it is simply how it pushes the headphones to produce the low and high frequencies without distorting even when it is maxed out at +6. If you wish for the cleanest possible sound signature, you can stick to the TrueSound preset. You can similarly switch between your paired devices and customise your quick action button on the left earcup to switch between ANC modes or smart assistance. There is also an auto-standby switch to help you preserve battery life when you leave it unattended and a wear sensor toggle that can be customised to play/pause your music. There are three options of Low, Normal and High, which help you prevent unintended pauses when you did not do so. Lastly, there is the option to rename the headphones, factory reset it and read the product details. Back into the main settings, there is nothing much here other than to update the software, add new products, sign into your account and link more music services like Tidal, Deezer, NTS Radio, SoundCloud and TuneIn. Call quality was great as the headphones now have more microphones per earcup that isolate my voice against ambient noises. The caller on the other end feedback that I sounded natural and the mics did not pick up much surrounding noises other than very strong winds outdoors.

​

Connectivity & Portability

The Px7 s3 support the latest and greatest AptX Lossless, AptX Adaptive, AptX HD, AptX Classic, AAC and SBC codecs together with Bluetooth Version 5.3. The battery life peaks at 30 hours per use with ANC. The headphones' connectivity to the app is perfect, as it can detect my headphones when it's already connected via Bluetooth all the time. If you try to watch videos or movies with these, they do not have any latency in audio transmission. Users can listen using the USB Type-C cable but they cannot charge the headphone and use it at the same time since there is only one USB-C port and no 3.5mm audio-in port.

​

PROS

• Dynamic Sound Signature

• Subtle Elegance

• Long 30 Hour Battery Life

• Tactile Buttons For Playback Controls

• Wear Sensors

• AptX Lossless Codecs Supported

• 5-Band Equaliser

• Bluetooth 5.2

• Hardshell Carrying Case

• USB-C Fast Charging

• A Range of Colours

​

CONS​​​​

• No Airplane Adaptor

• No 3.5mm Input

 

The Bottom Line

In all, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 is still a luxurious, no-frills option for travellers looking to stand out in a world of Bose and Sony headphones. Subtle elegance, energetic sound, a long 30-hour battery life, and a comprehensive app are some of the features that help it stay on top of the pack when it comes to recommending this superior option. It is highly recommended for daily commutes and long flights. Three colours of Anthracite Black, Indigo Blue, and Canvas White are available to fit users of different genders and styles.