2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Bowers & Wilkins, the British high-end audio company founded in 1966 in Worthing, West Sussex, England. This coastal town became the birthplace of the company, which has since grown into a renowned global name in high-fidelity audio. Bowers & Wilkins established itself as a leader in high-fidelity audio, with its speakers famously used by the BBC for broadcast monitoring and by the Beatles’ Abbey Road Studios for music production.
Bowers & Wilkins has also forged a notable partnership with McLaren, the renowned British luxury automotive manufacturer, strengthening its position at the intersection of high-fidelity sound and cutting-edge design. As the official audio partner of McLaren Automotive, Bowers & Wilkins supplies bespoke sound systems for McLaren’s supercars, elevating the in-car audio experience to match the brand’s performance and style. This collaboration extends into Formula 1, where Bowers & Wilkins works closely with the McLaren F1 Team, providing advanced audio solutions that support team communications.
This partnership not only highlights Bowers & Wilkins’ expertise in producing premium audio products but also aligns the company with McLaren’s ethos of pushing technological boundaries, whether on the road or the racetrack. The all-British synergy between high-end audio and high-performance automotive engineering continues to inspire new products and experiences that appeal to fans of both brands, particularly when B&W releases limited special edition products that pay homage to F1 culture.
This legacy of trusted sound quality and innovation continues to inform the brand’s approach to modern headphones, including the latest Px8 S2 that blends decades of engineering expertise with contemporary design. The Px8 S2 is a wireless noise cancellation headphone that blends top-tier audio performance with elegant, comfortable design using premium materials, notably Nappa leather and aluminium. These choices contribute to the headphones’ luxurious feel, durability, and sophisticated appearance. The blend of high-grade leather and metal not only enhances comfort but also ensures a lightweight design suitable for long listening sessions, in addition to establishing a patina and softness when used over time. A beautiful design element is the exposed braided cabling embedded in the aluminium chassis and the etched aluminum along the circumference of the earcups.
The Px8 S2’s is described by the brand as reference-quality and unrivalled, fighting words indeed, but hard to challenge based on the newly engineered 40mm carbon cone drivers allowing the closed-back design headphones to produce powerful, dynamic bass, along with clear midranges and a detailed, natural treble. The Px8 S2 also introduce eight microphones (six external and two internal) compared to the six in the original Px8, that were described as performance headphones by B&W. The button design has also been tweaked slightly, shrinking the control buttons on the right cup while the power and Bluetooth pairing button are now on the left earcup. The included carrying case is also smaller than the original which is a big plus seeing that I usually never bring bulky cases along whenever I travel. The case has a handy interior “drawer” that contains both a USB-C charging cable as well as a USB-C to 3.5mm cable for easy connectivity to an in-flight entertainment system. This stream-lined case came with me on all my travel and has fast become my favourite headphone case of all time.
The Px8 S2 offers improved ANC over the previous generation Px8 or Px7 S3, effectively blocking a substantial amount of background noise. My reviewing had me using the Px8 S2 on a flight to Mexico City as well as on a 16-hour train ride from Orlando, Florida to Washington, DC. While the noise cancellation certainly performed well, it lacks that complete isolation found in other brand models such as JBL’s Tour One M3 or the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra, but then again, often with such intense isolation comes listening fatigue when the brain processes an unnatural lack of low frequency ambient sounds over an extended period. For most environments, the ANC from the Px8 S2 will be more than adequate and as I chugged along the railway track through northern Georgia, the headphones were comfortable and cancelling enough, that I missed the overhead announcement telling me it was my time to head to the dining car.
As expected from a $1000 headphone, modern features abound, including aptX Lossless support for high-resolution audio over Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connectivity, and a handy wear-detection sensor. The B&W companion app is straightforward and offers a five-band EQ for sound customisation, battery management and a noise cancellation range.
Battery life is rated at 30-hours ensuring the Px8 S2 easily handles a full day’s travel or any trans-Atlantic flight. The quick-charge feature is particularly convenient, offering up to seven hours of playback from just a 15-minute top-up.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is a compelling choice for the listener who prioritizes design quality using luxurious materials. The sound range is meaningfully expanded from the out-going Px8 with greater dynamic range and more refined bass. There is something rewarding not encasing your ears in high-end plasticand the Px8 S2 headphones are simply beautiful. Like a Hermes handbag, they will cater to those with discerning taste that don’t follow a herd mentality of wearing and using what everyone else wears. While its ANC may not be the very best available, really who cares? The headphone’s sonic excellence and premium build more than justify its price. With the B&W Px8 S2, you’re making a long-term investment in performance and style and buying a top-tier option in the wireless headphone market.
Available in Onyx Black and Warm Stone (reviewed). MSRP: $999.00 CDN ($1,299 for the McLaren Special Edition)