Bowers & Wilkins PX8 Review

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 are a fantastic pair of headphones, and they're still my go-to choice when I want to enjoy the best sound quality I can get from a premium wireless headset. They look great, feel incredibly comfortable, offer good active noise cancellation and deliver excellent battery life. They're the sort of headphones that make listening to music feel like a bit of an occasion, rather than simply something you do in the background.

Of course, that premium experience comes at a price. The PX8 sit firmly in the high-end headphone market, and they're certainly not an impulse purchase for most people. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives that sound good and offer a similar range of features, so whether they're worth the extra money will depend on how much you value sound quality, comfort and build quality.

I also own the Beats 360, which have become another favourite of mine, particularly when travelling because their noise cancellation is so impressive. However, when it comes to pure sound quality, I still prefer the Bowers & Wilkins PX8. They're not perfect, but they're an excellent example of what a premium pair of wireless headphones can offer.

Premium design and build quality

The first thing you'll notice about the PX8 is that they look and feel like a premium product. Bowers & Wilkins has a reputation for producing high-end audio equipment, and these headphones carry that same design philosophy. The materials, finish and overall presentation all contribute to a product that feels a step above your typical pair of wireless headphones.

I particularly like the understated design. They're stylish without being overly flashy, and they have a more refined appearance than many gaming-focused or lifestyle headphones. The combination of quality materials and clean styling makes them something I'd happily wear at home, at work or while travelling.

Build quality is another strong point. The PX8 feel solid and well put together, rather than like a lightweight plastic product designed primarily to keep costs down. When you're spending this much on headphones, you want them to feel special every time you pick them up, and I think Bowers & Wilkins has done a great job here.

They're also comfortable enough for extended listening sessions, which is important for a product intended to be used for hours at a time. The padding feels good, and the overall fit is comfortable without becoming a distraction. I find them comparable to the Beats 360 in terms of comfort, so neither headset has a clear advantage for me in that department.

Sound quality is the real highlight

This is where the PX8 really justify their premium positioning. The sound quality is excellent, and it's the main reason I continue to favour them over some of my other headphones.

Music sounds rich and detailed, with a pleasing balance that makes them enjoyable across different genres. There's plenty of bass when a track calls for it, but the overall presentation doesn't feel as though everything is being pushed towards exaggerated low-end thump. There's detail and clarity to the sound that makes listening enjoyable, whether I'm playing a favourite album or discovering something new.

They're also excellent for movies and general media consumption. Dialogue comes through clearly, soundtracks have plenty of presence, and there's enough depth to make the experience feel immersive. I regularly use headphones for more than just music, so having a pair that performs well across different types of content is a big plus.

Compared with my Beats 360, I prefer the PX8 when sound quality is my main priority. The Beats are very good in their own right, but I find the Bowers & Wilkins more satisfying when I want to sit back and focus on what I'm listening to. It's one of those differences that might not matter much to everyone, but it becomes more noticeable when you spend time switching between the two.

The PX8 also support aptX Adaptive Bluetooth audio on compatible devices, alongside wired listening options. The exact benefits depend on your source device and connection, but it's good to have flexibility when you want to get the most from your headphones.

You don't necessarily need to be an audiophile to appreciate them, either. They're simply a very enjoyable pair of headphones to listen to, and that matters more than technical specifications alone.

Good active noise cancellation

The PX8 also offer good active noise cancellation, making them a solid option for travel, commuting and working in noisier environments. They do a good job of reducing background noise and allowing you to focus on your music or whatever else you're listening to.

That said, ANC is one area where my experience with the Beats 360 has shifted my expectations. I think the Beats do a better job of blocking out noise, particularly in situations such as air travel. On my recent flight to Melbourne, the Beats were incredibly effective at reducing the constant noise of the aircraft, which helped me immerse myself in the movies and games I was playing.

The PX8 are still good in this department, and I wouldn't hesitate to use them on a flight. They just aren't my first choice when maximum noise cancellation is the priority.

This is an important distinction because the PX8 don't need to win every category to be a great pair of headphones. Their sound quality remains their biggest strength, and their ANC is good enough to make them versatile for everyday use. If you want excellent audio alongside useful noise cancellation, they're a very compelling option.

Battery life that keeps up

Battery life is another positive. The PX8 are rated for up to 30 hours of playback with active noise cancellation enabled, which is more than enough for most everyday listening and plenty of travel.

I appreciate not having to constantly think about charging my headphones. When you're using wireless audio regularly, battery anxiety can become annoying, particularly if you find yourself reaching for your headphones only to discover they're flat. The PX8 offer enough endurance that this shouldn't be a regular concern.

They also support quick charging, with around seven hours of playback available from a 15-minute charge according to the manufacturer's specifications. That's useful if you've forgotten to charge them before heading out or need a quick top-up before a trip.

Battery performance might not be the most exciting thing to discuss in a headphone review, but it's an important part of the everyday experience. The PX8 deliver well here, and I have very little to complain about.

The price is the biggest drawback

As good as the PX8 are, their price is difficult to ignore. These are premium headphones, and Bowers & Wilkins charges accordingly. You're paying for the sound quality, materials, design and overall experience, but that doesn't automatically make them the right choice for everyone.

There are plenty of headphones available for considerably less that offer good sound, effective noise cancellation and respectable battery life. For someone who mainly wants a wireless headset for commuting or casual listening, the PX8 might be more than they need.

The competition is also strong at this end of the market. My Beats 360, for example, deliver excellent noise cancellation and comparable comfort, even if I prefer the PX8 for sound quality. That means the decision becomes less about whether the PX8 are good headphones and more about which qualities matter most to you.

For me, the audio performance makes them worth considering, but I wouldn't pretend they're an easy purchase to justify purely on value. If you can find them discounted, the proposition becomes much more appealing. At full price, you'll want to be confident that you're going to appreciate the difference they offer.

Are the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 worth buying?

I think the PX8 are an excellent pair of headphones and deserve their place among the premium wireless options worth considering. They look great, feel comfortable, sound fantastic and offer good noise cancellation and battery life. They're versatile enough for music, movies, travel and everyday use, while still delivering the sound quality that makes them stand out.

They're not necessarily the best choice if noise cancellation is your only priority, as I've found the Beats 360 to be even better in that regard. But when I'm choosing headphones based primarily on how they sound, the PX8 remain my preference.

The price is the one thing that stops me from giving them a perfect score. They're expensive, and there are plenty of alternatives that offer a very good experience for less money. However, if sound quality is important to you and you want headphones that also feel premium in everyday use, the PX8 are easy to appreciate.

Final Score: 9/10

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 deliver excellent sound quality, good active noise cancellation, great battery life and a premium design that feels every bit as good as it looks. They're comfortable enough for long listening sessions and versatile enough to use just about anywhere. They're certainly expensive, but for me, the sound quality makes them worth considering. They're still my preferred headphones when audio performance matters most, and that says a lot about how much I enjoy using them.