Customer Reviews

Bowers & Wilkins PX8

I like that they can resolve sonic differences between bluetooth and USB-C>C. The app was troublesome at first but ultimately worked.

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Sad disappointment

They are amazing sounding headphones with an incredibly comfort fit, but may as well call these the most expensive rental headphones out there because they will fall apart on you. Their bands are so poorly constructed that you are bound to have them peel off. It should be a crime to sell something as a flag ship product but have the build quality of a discount store.

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

The headphones sound great and are very comfortable. I have had them less than 1 year and the pad is separating from the headband. You expect better quality from $700 headphones. Very frustrating.

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Almost there.

New favorite'Can's ' over F. Bathy's , ; F.Bathy's had to practically eliminate treble on EQ mode , only to get mid-bass feel,natural sound. Px8's have deep growling sub-bass , low mid-bass almost natural sound ; could use 10 band parametric ( absent natural mids ) instead of 2 sliders ( treble,bass ) & include personal EQ settings - / score 4.88 out of 5 .

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Bowers and Wilkins should be ashamed

I was so excited to finally purchase in my mind a higher end headphones. Bower and Wilkins PX8 in June 2024. Fixed income so this was going to be my only option for a long time. The sound is terribly muffled. Pulled base down as much as their app allowed which helped but still the mids and treble suffers. Expected so much better from a company as Bowers and Wilkins. Now February 2025, 8 months after purchase the headband is coming apart. What a disappointment. Unless Bowers can make this right I will be done with this disappointing company. Unbelievable waste of money.

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Realistic sound

These are not my first B & W product but they seem to get better all the time. The noise cancelation works terrific if you want to go to a tranquil place. The sound is Great, with very good sound separation from right to left. Bass is also very good without being overwhelming. Listening to some good Jazz or Classical, if you close your eyes you will swear you are there. Fit is also excellent and does not get tiring to were after a few hours of listening. Build quality is Superb, just what you may expect from a B & W product. Perhaps what I like best it the great soundstage. Overall I am very impressed with these headphones , and they are my newest escape , overall Awesome Sound.

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Very comfortable, noice cancellation works well, ease of use, good sale price.

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Outstanding Noise Reduction

I travel quite often and finding effective noise cancelling headphones that block out the sounds you don't want, and preserves the music and audio quality you insist on, can be a challenge. These cans deliver in both aspects at a high level. Couple that with outstanding comfort, logical ergonomics and an attractive "look and feel" makes these a slam dunk for their price point. At some level far exceeding my Mark Levinson's M5909 at half the price. Impressive.

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Comfortable on long flights. Sound is fantastic!

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Very very comfortable headphones. The sound is amazing. I listen to a lot of classic rock and you feel like you're in the room with the group.

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PX8

Very crisp, defined and natural sound. Exactly what you expect form B&W. exactly what you

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Nice, but not able to adjust EQ settings enough

I really like this headphone. It's light, comfortable & I like the function buttons that you don't accidentaly trigger by raising your arm (Sennheise M4, this means you), but there is no way to adjust the frequency levels except for "treble" and "bass". Apparently, I've lost some hearing, and there is no way to adjust for this with the B&W interface. I couldn't get these to sound good to my ears. I even messaged the company to see if I was missing an update or if they had a solution in the works. They do not have a solution, which is kind of a bummer. The Sennheiser M4, the Focal Bathys and that other brand that starts with an A (and makes computers) all have some baked in functionality to compensate for hearing loss, and it make a HUGE difference...kind of like turning on the lights, but in your ears. So, I can't tell if these sound as good as the reviews. I literally can't hear all of the music. So, I have to give these 3 stars, since I feel that Bowers & Wilkins really should have this functionality in a $700 bluetooth headphone.

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Best for build quality and comfort, sound not audiophile grade

I really wanted to like the PX8s. I compared these to the Mark Levinson 5909s and the Focal Bathys. Pros: 1-Build quality - the others are top notch too but this one is the best. Connects the easiest, very high end sounds let you know when its on, turning off etc. The MLs are a bit confusing to know when its in passive mode or off. 2-Comfort - probably the lightest and most comfortable, which is a big factor if you're going to wear them a long time. Also lowest profile - you can actually wear these in an office or on a plane without knocking them on something. But the one con: Sound quality. It just isn't there - well at least it's not in the same league as teh Bathys and 5909s. People talk about they have to 'burn in' the 'phones but I don't really believe that's a thing. The ML's are the top for sound quality and comfort which is why I'm going with those. If these had better sound quality it would be these, but it sounds far less crisp and clear than the MLs.

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Crutchfield response on 5/22/2024

Steve contacted our Customer Support team and set up a return. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

Sweet spot

Had the opportunity to test a range of headphones At Crutchfield Charlottesville and these were my choice. Very comfortable and I like the sound clarity and depth are great. I compared to Sony at 300 $ price range and appreciated an improvement in sound, but didn't notice a difference when I tried a pair of 1200$ headphones. So this was my sweet spot.

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Nice

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

These are exceptional headphones. I've got all the well publicized noise cancelling headphones with Focal Bathys, Sony, Bose, Mont Blanc etc These sound fantastic and they are extremely comfortable. They also make a statement with their looks. I'm so happy with these headphones. I'm set for 4 long haul international flights . These will be attached to my hip!!!

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Overall the materials, fit and finish are top drawer. I tried the on Bathys as well and they did not feel as premium. I did not listen to the Barhys as I knew they were not comfortable enough for me and returned them immediately. I am not an audiophile by any means but these do sound great. As they burn in they are sound even more open and clear. Overall the sound is very good but the profile does feel a bit boosted in a lot of cases. I do listen to a lot of Electronic bass music and hip hop so I tend to enjoy more low end than most may. The app is good but would like to see a more robust EQ. Noise cancelling is good enough but certainly not on par with Sony.

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Good but not Great as Expected

I could not tell much difference between the PXx 7 S2 and the Px8 in music quality both are about equal. If I would have known what I know now I would have stuck with the Px7's and saved $300.

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Premium listening experience with luxury

This is a fantastic pair of headphones that will cater to anyone looking for a luxurious, top tier listening experience. The materials are premium, it's extremely comfortable for long listening and sounds awesome. My only gripe is the noise cancellation - it's not anywhere close to what you'll get with Bose Ultra, Sony XM5 or Sennheiser Momentum 4. However this product is going to cater to other wants as expressed in the first half of my review.

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Yeah man

I bought the 007 version of this, but from what I can tell the only difference is cosmetic. The hardware is all the same. These are wonderful. The ANC is pretty good. It's not Sony XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra good, but it's close in my opinion. These have a more detailed sound signature compared to the aforementioned cans. I mainly listen to metal and classical, and the sound is definitely worth $700. So, there's that! I have the PX7, and these are better in EVERY aspect. If you're considering buying these, just go ahead and do it. :D

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Signature Sound with a Great Feel

A great sounding headphone, with premium materials. These headphones feel solid, and are soft to the touch with the Napa leather. I like the hard shell case as well. They sound great, they carry the B&W signature sound. I do wish the transparency/pass-through mode was a bit more natural like the AirPods Pro and max. Overall a good buy.

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Love, love, love

Moved up from the PX-7S2 and do not regret it. Love the P7's but the PX-8's are another level for both sound quality and build. Love the leather surfaces and the Carbon Fiber drivers really make a difference in the sound. Tight sound stage and and clarity. I have a BIG head (7 7/8's hat size) so clamping force is important and is a VERY fine line between comfort and security. These are a little tighter than the PX-7's but the comfort is not compromised.

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The best headphones I've ever owned

TL;DR - If you're in search of the best home office/WFH quality cans, look no further. The PX8 are bar none the best Bluetooth headphones I've owned. I spent weeks researching and debating if the extra $$$ of the PX8 was worth it, and cycled through the Bose QC45, AirPods Max, and B&W PX7 S2 in that time. While expensive, I believe the PX8 justify the extra cost by combining the best aspects of each of its competitors - specifically build, sound quality, and comfort. Nothing else came close to meeting all of my criteria as well as the PX8. If you're in search of the best noise cancelling, the Sony and Bose offerings will suit you better. That's not to say the PX8 noise cancelling is poor - I use mine 8+ hours a day in my WFH office and they do a spectacular job of drowning out the TV, baby, and dog noise in the next room. If you're in search of the absolute best sound quality, something wired is probably your best bet. However, when paired with Apple Music lossless via my iPhone or Macbook, I am continually blown away at the clarity and resolution of the music. They are truly remarkable. With regards to build quality and comfort, the PX8 are heavier than its plastic peers, but WOW. Comparing the PX7 S2 and PX8 side-by-side it's easy to justify the extra weight. As a bonus, passive sound isolation is better on the PX8 thanks to the nappa leather. Aesthetically, I much prefer the PX8 compared to the AirPods Max. They are a much more mature, re

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Hearing more detail than ever.

Fantastic headphones. While listening to music I have heard for more than 50 years I am now hearing details that I never noticed before.

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Incredible sound, comfort, and design. I'm happy with the ANC and battery too.

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Very happy

Very happy so far. Sound(music) is outstanding. I've never heard the $5000 head phones but they couldn't be much better

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Very nice bass response on tracks with deep bass. Sound stage could be slightly better, but it's still very good. Nice separation and makes music really pop

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Sound and build quality is very good. However, auto pause is a little bit unstable even after sensitivity setting so I turned it off. Overall, I like it a lot.

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

These headphones are amazing! The sound is very refined, bordering on perfect. Treat yourself! They're worth every penny.

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Solid, Quality Headphones

I bought the B&W PX8s after finding that the Focal Bathys really, really hurt my head after 45 minutes of use. I can wear the PX8 for several hours without undue discomfort. The PX8 sound is almost at the level of the Bathys, but sadly, it's not quite there. It's not as enveloping, and the clarity isn't as good as the Bathys. The PX8's sound is boomier and has more bass than the Bathys, even with the EQ Bass setting adjustted to -4 dB. While the Bathys sounds like it has some 3-D or aural processing, the PX8's sound is more like two-channel stereo, and doesn't have the spatial aspect that the Bathys provide. I feel that the Bathys ANC is better. I do like the auto-off option on the PX8. The sound of the PX8 is overall great, compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5, but the call quality and noise cancelling are inferior, IMHO.

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PX8 vs Bathys

Bought these and the Focal Bathys to test head to head and sadly ended up returning the PX8s. I really wanted to keep these. The build is amazing and the feel is exceptional but in the end the sound quality just could not keep up with the Bathys.

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Best bluetooth headphones I've heard so far

They sound incredible, plenty of punch, super clear in every frequency. I think there are only one other pair I'd consider but have not heard those yet ( Focal Bathys). PX8 are $100 cheaper and I'd imagine are very close in sound quality. I absolutely love these headphones, they have every feature I could want and the build quality is ridiculously good.

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PX8 are worth the price of admission!

Overall I do feel that these headphones are better than the PX7. The PX8 is the higher build quality and in every regard and a truly premium product once you get your hands on them. Their similarity to the PX7 which are much cheaper could turn some people off, and in my opinion was a little underwhelming. But every surface has been upgraded and overall these headphones are premium build quality top to bottom and more comfortable. Furthermore the PX8's unique carbon driver technology does provide an overall more detailed and dynamic sound compared to the PX7 and Sony XM5. When comparing other Bluetooth headphones to the PX8 and moving more up market the ML 5909s are a very different headphone. The PX8 is more energetic and lively when it comes to bass and sound stage depth, where the 5909 is vastly more detailed and controls the music in a more contoured and crafted way. The PX8 let music have fun, where the 5909's let the music shine. Very much a matter of preference, but if you like bass and large volumes of detialed sound choose the PX8. I personally tried all the high end Bluetooth headphones and have chose to keep these above all others. The only thing I miss is the case of the Mark Levinson 5909. If the 5909's had an adjustable tone controls as opposed to three EQ sound settings I would've gone with the 5909's, but I listen to the PX8 at +1 treble and -1 bass, and I'm really enjoying the sound.

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Great value in Headphones

Great comfort & sound! PX8 are well made and rate near the top of ANC / Bluetooth headphones. I also have a pair of Focal Bathys headphones with ANC while the PX8 is more comfortable (I have a large head), the Bathys have a slight edge in quality of sound reproduction & they have a great built in DAC mode. You can't go wrong with either headphone!

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The Px8s

Great sound Good treble and bass which is customizable on the App. The app is simple to use yet it's effective. Great looking cans especially the tan color! The build quality is outstanding!

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Bananas Good

As someone who owns, and has owned, multiple audiophile-grade headphones from HiFiMan, Sennheiser, ZMF, Meze, and Focal, I really feel at home with the Bowers and Wilkins sound signature. The PX8 is a very cohesive experience. The sound has great weight and depth. It's a full-bodied sound signature without being muddy or bloated. The soundstage isn't very wide and the instrument separation will not match an equivalent priced planar, however there's a cohesion to the playback that makes for (imo) a more engaging listening. Comfort is phenomenal. The cups do not get hot at all. The leather and padding is pretty much dead perfect, no pinching, no hot spots, no ear aches. Just a tremendous closed-system experience. The ANC meets my expectations. Connectivity has been seamless (Android, PC, and Mac) and it has synergized very well with my source equipment (Mojo2/Anni, EF400/Schiit Lyr3). A smooth listen. Fatigue-less. Engagement with a bit a nuance but truly effortless comfort both physically and sonically.

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Just "ok"

As others have mentioned I was just not very impressed with these. My previous experience with wireless NC headphones is not very deep. Apple AirPods Max. BeoPlay H8. That's it but I delve much deeper into high end stereo speakers turntables and amps. I was hoping to make these my go to travel headphones as I travel quite a bit for work, but wow the noise cancelling on these were just not good. On flight I had to toggle through the options to even realize it was on. My 6 year old BeoPlays were better at handling noise cancelling and neither come close to AirPods Max or even AirPods Pro for NC. Audio quality was on par with AirPods Max I did not feel it was a substantial upgrade though comfort was a huge upgrade one of the few times I can say I forgot I had headphones on. Because these were purchased for travel and the NC was not good, I did initiate a return. So pros: Comfort Design Materials Cons: Audio quality (for cost) Noise cancelling

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Bowers & Wilkins PX8

Just amazing. Great sound and premium quality.

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Sorry just not impressed

I have to agree with the other 3 star review. I am used to a very high resolution HiFi system and went with these HPs over Sony and similar because I expect more in terms of sound quality. ANC, the app and all of the other stuff is of zero concern to me. A HPs job is to produce sound and I would say that these sound very typical. Some may rave about it however even my desktop entry level Genelec system sounds better. More resolution, detail, WAY better bass control and imaging. The bass on these HPs lacks any bass note distinction and is very loose. All listening was done via Bluetooth using Tidal. I have a fantastic desktop DAC but if I am sitting at the desk the Genelecs are the clear winner so not going to mess with these HPs.

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Great design, disappointing sound quality

Bowers & Wilkins got a lot right with the PX8 (and its relatively affordable sibling, the PX7 S2): It looks and feels high-end. It folds up neatly in its compact carrying case. The controls are well thought-out. The app is best-in-class. And the ANC works great. There's just one reason I don't love these headphones: The sound isn't that great. Listening to tracks like "Everything Now" by Arcade Fire and "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, the bass is distinctly muddy, draining the life from the song. Now, that's just in Bluetooth mode. When I plugged the PX8 into a headphone amp, the sound improved dramatically. (I tried the PX7 S2 and got the same results.) So if you're using these as wired headphones, you won't have the same issue. But buying the PX8 to use as wired headphones would be a little silly; you're paying a premium for portability. Overall, the PX8 just don't justify their price. If you want the best-sounding Bluetooth headphones at any price, the Mark Levinson No. 5909 blows the PX8 out of the water. Or if you want all the same features at a more reasonable price, go for the PX7 S2. Or try the AirPods Max.

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Crutchfield response on 10/25/2022

Trevor contacted our Customer Support team and set up a return. Purchases from Crutchfield can be returned or exchanged within 60 days.

Bowers & Wilkins PX8

I had the wireless P7's so these are a pretty big leap from those. Sound is fantastic for a wireless headphone, and they are far more comfortable than the P7's. Battery life is amazing, I've only charged them once in the two weeks I've had them. They work great streaming from an iPhone 13 Pro Max and have no problems streaming hi-res audio from Apple Music or Amazon.

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Comfort, quality and great sound!

I have had several headphones, wired and wireless, over the past several decades, including Sennheiser 650, Audeze LCD-2 and the B&W PX7. The new PX8 are the most comfortable wireless headphones I have listened to, and the sound is excellent! I have been listening to the PX8 using a wired connection to my PC for a week and they have caused me to put the 650's and LCD-2's back in their boxes. As far as wireless goes, I can wear these much longer than the PX7 (which is a fine product!) due to the comfort improvements. They just disappear on my head after a few minutes. These babies feel like they are built to last and the performance so far has been outstanding.

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New Wireless Headphone King

The PX8 are the finest sounding Bluetooth headphone I have ever heard. They clearly out do my Apple AirPods Max, my Bose 700 my Mark Levinson 5909 and my Bang and Olufsen H95. All are great headphones but to my ears the B&W stands above them all. Sound quality is stunning. The materials and build quality of the PX8 exceeds all my other cans, as well as in the comfort level. I've reached the point that I'm going to pare down my collection and keep just the PX8 and the AirPods Max and save the Bose 700 for air travel.

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The headphones to beat in 2022

Excellent sound and build quality.

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B&W PX8

Really must use with B&W music app. Initially tried to run the app on my PC using an android emulator... complete fail. Then I installed it on my iPhone which is the way to go. The app allows you to connect to two devices at once - the phone which adjusts the settings including tone controls as well as my laptop which then streams my music using the phone settings. Sound is incredible no matter what I throw at it from Rock to Classical. I am using it at home without ANC. The fit is excellent and does an excellent job of blocking ambient noise. ANC definitely adds bass. I have not attempted to compensate using the tone controls to reduce bass while in ANC. Sound stage is amazing. I am hearing instruments that I did not know were there before. Well worth the price and the wait.

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