Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 review: Lots of upgrades at no extra cost

Bowers & Wilkins might be a name many associate with high-end home audio gear, but the company hasn't stopped offering headphones. Its latest model, the Px7 S2 ($399), is a completely revised version of the PX that debuted in 2019. Bowers & Wilkins tweaked the design while improving active noise cancellation (ANC) and retuning the audio for the new 40mm drivers. At every turn, this new model is a worthy upgrade over its predecessor, and you won't have to pay more for upgrades either.

For the Px7 S2, Bowers & Wilkins borrowed elements from the original PX and Px7 that contribute to the refined look. The company has also reduced the overall shape and opted for more cushioning in the ear cups, while reducing the overall weight. Finer touches like a silver rim where the earcup meets the ear cushions give the S2 a more premium look than its predecessor. The textured surface on the ear cups and on the top of the headband also improves the aesthetics.

Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2 85

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85

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Advantages Impressive sound quality Battery life better than advertised Effective noise cancellation Comfortable fit Refined design The inconvenients Call quality Very basic EQ customization Sub-par pass-through audio Auto-pause needs tweaking

The physical controls remain, which does not cause any complaints on my part. The truth is, buttons are still more reliable than touch controls, even on headphones that get near-perfect swipes and taps. The best touch controls are never 100%, but a button you need to press always is. On the back of the right earbud, there's a power slider that doubles as a Bluetooth pairing control. Just below, a multifunction button is flanked by volume controls. This center button accepts single, double and triple presses for play/pause, play next track and play previous track respectively. When you receive...