Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3

Pros

• Volume output ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 5.0
  Feedback so far indicates that the dedicated amplification stage in the PX7 S3 delivers plenty of volume headroom, providing a full, dynamic sound at modest settings and the ability to get very loud when needed without obvious distortion.
• Bass performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.9
  Reviews now consistently highlight the PX7 S3 bass as deep, punchy and well controlled, avoiding boomy bloat while still delivering powerful low end that this latest test calls the strongest bass response in the current Bowers and Wilkins lineup. It nearly rivals Sony’s XM6 for slam and extension yet often sounds cleaner and more defined than many competing wireless ANC headphones.
• Sound quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.9
  Across reviews, the PX7 S3 are consistently described as class leading for wireless ANC sound under roughly 600 dollars, combining refined detail, impactful bass and clear treble that many listeners prefer over mainstream rivals from Sony and Bose. The stock tuning leans toward a consumer friendly V shape with slightly relaxed mids, but a bit of EQ can make them livelier and more balanced without sacrificing their overall technical polish.
• Design and Aesthetics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.8
  Reviewers describe the PX7 S3 as sleek and premium looking, with styling that clearly signals their higher price and many saying they are one of the few wireless ANC headphones in this range that genuinely look and feel worth their asking price.
• Treble clarity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.8
  Reviewers agree that the PX7 S3 deliver crisp, articulate treble that lets delicate cymbals and upper register details cut through mixes and contributes strongly to their sense of clarity and air. This latest comparison adds that the treble manages to be highly detailed yet smoother and less fatiguing than Sony’s XM6, even if ultra high end sets like Focal Bathys or Bang and Olufsen’s H95 can sound a touch more resolving up top.
• Comfort during long use ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.8
  The PX7 S3 are generally regarded as very comfortable for long listening, with a slimmer chassis, roomy earcups and generous padding that let many users listen for much of a workday without major fatigue. This review largely agrees while noting that compared with ultra light comfort standouts from Sony and Bose, some wearers may notice a bit more clamp and slight top of head pressure over very long sessions, especially given the still above average weight.
• Wired connection sound quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.8
  Using the PX7 S3 over USB C in their hi res wired mode is widely regarded as a worthwhile upgrade, unlocking higher resolution playback with extra detail, an even wider soundstage and an overall more refined presentation than standard Bluetooth listening.
• Build quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.7
  Build quality on the PX7 S3 continues to earn praise, with premium feeling plastics, solid metal details, leather cushions and a smooth, sturdy adjustment mechanism that feel more robust and expensive than many Sony and Bose competitors. This review adds that while the construction is very good for the price, the overall finish still sits a notch below ultra luxury flagships like the Px8, AirPods Max or Bang and Olufsen H95.
• Instrument separation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.7
  The PX7 S3 offer excellent instrument separation, keeping individual parts distinct even in dense rock, jazz or orchestral tracks and producing a layered presentation that many reviewers say rivals more expensive audiophile headphones.
• Transparency mode quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.7
  Multiple tests now praise the PX7 S3 transparency or pass through mode for sounding unusually natural and open, letting outside voices and ambient sounds come through in a way that feels close to having no headphones on. This makes quick conversations, commuting and general situational awareness easy without needing to remove the headphones.
• Carry case quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.6
  The PX7 S3 ship with a compact, sturdy hard case that cradles the headphones securely, includes a magnetically closed compartment for cables and is widely regarded as more robust and upscale than the cases bundled with key Sony and Bose competitors.
• Charging ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5
  Although not aimed at marathon runtimes, the PX7 S3 earn praise for convenient USB C charging, including a quick charge feature that can add hours of listening from a short top up and makes it easy to keep them ready between daily sessions.
• Microphone quality for calls ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5
  Early call tests describe the PX7 S3 microphone system as clear and intelligible, keeping the wearer’s voice easy to understand both indoors and when walking near traffic, and making them a solid choice for work calls as well as casual chats.
• Equalizer customization ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3
  Bowers and Wilkins upgrade from a two band to a five band EQ in the Music app gives PX7 S3 owners much finer control over bass, mids and treble and the ability to save and switch presets, including the company’s True Sound tuning. This review shows how a thoughtful curve can transform the stock sound from somewhat flat and dry into a fuller, more engaging signature, though it also notes that Sony and Sennheiser still offer more powerful, granular EQ tools overall.
• App ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3
  The Bowers and Wilkins Music app is generally seen as clean and straightforward while still offering deep control, letting owners manage ANC modes, EQ and button assignments and even route streaming from the app to compatible B&W speakers around the home.
• Soundstage width ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3
  Previous testing found the PX7 S3 soundstage open and almost speaker like for a closed back ANC design, especially when used over USB C, and more recent comparisons confirm that its stage and layering feel spacious versus most midrange rivals. However, higher priced headphones such as Focal Bathys and Bang and Olufsen’s H95 still offer a noticeably wider, more three dimensional sense of space, so the PX7 S3 are strong but not class leading in this area.
• Weight comfort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.3
  The PX7 S3 are a little lighter than their predecessors and many listeners find the weight well distributed, contributing positively to overall comfort. This review points out that at just under 300 grams they still feel heavier on the head than the lightest competitors like Sony’s XM6 or Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra, so weight comfort is good but not quite best in class.
• Ear cup padding quality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
  The PX7 S3 deep memory foam ear pads and soft coverings provide a plush feel and maintain a good seal without obvious hot spots, and some reviewers even call the padding among the most premium at this price. Others still feel the cushions are slightly less supportive and a touch cheaper feeling than on earlier Bowers and Wilkins models, so while overall comfort remains high, the pads may not stand out equally for every listener.
• Battery ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.2
  Battery life on the PX7 S3 continues to be rated at about 30 hours with ANC, and multiple real world tests around 31 hours place them between Sony’s WH 1000XM5 and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra for stamina. This review also highlights a very effective quick charge that delivers several hours of playback from just a few minutes on the cable and notes that listening with ANC off can stretch runtimes toward the 40 hour mark, making overall endurance more than sufficient for most commuters and office users.
• Midrange clarity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.2
  Impressions of the PX7 S3 midrange are somewhat varied, but more recent listening, including this review, emphasizes a generally full, rounded midband with good body for guitars, vocals and podcasts. Some listeners still note a mild dip in the lower mids that can make the presentation a touch less forward than strictly neutral, yet the mids are widely regarded as clear and easily tuned with EQ for those who want extra warmth or presence.
• Active noise cancellation effectiveness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 4.1
  Reviewers consistently report that the PX7 S3 active noise cancelling is a clear step up from earlier PX7 models, ranking among the stronger options for cutting low frequency rumble and everyday noise and often coming close to Sony’s XM6 for raw attenuation. At the same time, Bose still lead overall and the PX7 S3 can feel slightly more pressurized and a bit more susceptible to wind or minor shifts while walking than the very best and most seamless ANC systems.
• Button control usability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.0
  Reviewers appreciate that the PX7 S3 rely on physical buttons rather than touch surfaces, describing the controls as clicky, well separated and easy to find by feel, with flexible options in the app to remap functions like ANC or voice assistant access.
• Microphone noise reduction ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.0
  While the PX7 S3 microphones do let some ambient road and city noise through on busy streets, reviewers still find that background sounds are kept controlled enough that the caller’s voice remains the focus, delivering respectable but not class leading noise reduction for calls.
• Frequency response accuracy ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.9
  Early impressions described the PX7 S3 as impressively even across the frequency range, but newer evaluations frame their stock response as a consumer leaning V shape with elevated bass and treble and somewhat recessed mids. As a result the out of the box tonality is not strictly neutral, though the built in EQ can be used to pull the midrange forward and bring the overall balance closer to a natural, accurate presentation for listeners who want that.