Bowers & Wilkins PX5 / PX7 Wireless ANC Headphone Review: Obscure Tastes

The Bowers & Wilkins PX5 and PX7 deliver beautiful build quality, but we aren't so sure about the sound...
• PX5: www.minidisc.c...
• PX7: www.minidisc.c...
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[@MinidiscAu]

These headphones honestly leave us a little puzzled, especially since we have seen so many positive reviews written up for them. For those who have bought / heard these headphones, what do you think?

[@nino_kO1]

I love my px7's. Especially when i connect them to a dac they are like on another lvl. Battery life is absolutely amazing. Anc works really good also. I have no complaints about em.😀

[@coeurdelion8517]

I think the sound of the PX7 is amazing

[@coeurdelion8517]

You need a few hours to get them really going. And comparing them to the XM3 sound wise is almost an insult 😂😂😂 PX7 is so precise, with amazing instruments separation. It’s kind of a 4K video, XM3 is not 4K, Sennheiser’s Momentum 3 are 4K

[@nino_kO1]

@@coeurdelion8517 exactly

[@coeurdelion8517]

nemlol yeah play them max volume (not on your ears) to accelerate the process. This is standard procedure with high end speakers for instance

[@SurfistaCamad]

This is definitely a unique corner of the B&W feedback content .. I previously owned a pair of the old wired P7’s and frankly loved the sound that they produced, the sound layering was incredible and bass response really powerful but clean, a few years later and I am now in the market for new headphones and am edging toward the B&W offer once again. Most reviewers think the Sony xm3’s sound fairly bland with an obnoxious bass and cheap materials, the Bose 700’s sound just isn’t remarkable at all, and I’m not a fan of the design of the Sennheiser. Which brings me back to the PX7.

[@tomahawkstudios9688]

Focal might be worth considering

[@humanmale1085]

I really appreciate the honesty of your reviews!

[@DJMikeron]

Opinion and honesty are not the same thing.

[@collinhayes9509]

Just ordered the PX5! Can’t wait to try them out. Been using HK Soho Wireless for the last year or so and love them too, but noise canceling and comfortable pads would be nice.

[@stephenwest673]

Lachlan likes a thing but not the PX7. I however love them, yes they are a tad bassy with a V shaped sound signature but using the Foobar2000 app and it’s EQ settings I was able to iron those issues out and they sound gorgeous ❤️

[@AnsonChiu]

Like many of the users on the forums... i experience a “rattle”. From my experience- i only seem to experience this when i ride a bumpy bus. It feels like there is something loose in the ear-cups but when you take the headphones off and shake them, nothing is physically loose. It is a very odd sensation.

[@barbaralimxt]

Personally I feel, the Sony sound quality is kinda more like a concert sound but if for PX7, the sound are way better and its clear. B&W feels like you're in a studio and the noise cancelation is way better than Sony. I tried Sony and Im not a fan of it even though it is RM300 (Malysia currency) cheaper than PX7. If you're a person who love music, B&W is recommended.

[@f.sch.2759]

The PX7 need a few hours to really shine and show the real perfomance. I like the sound much more compared to the XM3.

[@gregmedbourn5347]

Noyour not an audiofool.... others have stated the same. I have a few expensive headphones and I didn’t care too much for the sound at first but since they cost a lot I played them all day for a few weeks and they did seem to sound better. And I think they sounded a lot better. I think the warm up process is real but more then a week or two

[@sebastianvanderwolf6500]

I agree completely with you I don't know if it is a breakin or ear adjustment but they always sound better after a while

[@sunsgettingreallow8318]

Spongebob Schwanzkopf the drivers need time to acclimate, it’s like when I buy new guitar amplifiers they don’t sound good until I’ve played for about 10-20 hours on them

[@stephenknight6562]

greg medbourn I think it just means your getting used to the sound of the headphone. Not actually them burning in

[@powdmizu6379]

I know this may be out of context but can someone tell me if the b&w P7 Wireless worth it in 2021? Someone sell mint for $230 in here and planning to get it I don't need ANC that much cause im gonna use it for home listening

[@francis916]

Could you tell the difference in sound quality when ANC was on and off? Many reviews say that the SQ is much better when it’s off. Thanks.

[@MinidiscAu]

We cycled between the ANC modes while testing, but most of the times we had ANC set to Off or Low. We didn’t notice a major difference.

[@Lightsout565x]

How was the comfort of the PX5? I personally prefer on-ear headphones, and it's almost impossible to find on-ear noise cancelling headphones. Thanks

[@terrywhitted2375]

Mike, I've had the PX5s for about 45 days now and the comfort is fine. I do sometimes get the irritation right at the top of the head like he describes in the video but I can lengthen the arms and adjust the sitting and it improves. The pads push on the ears a little and form a very nice seal but this can be uncomfortable after a while if wearing glasses. This is probably true with any headphones though and without glasses there is no discomfort for me. Overall I can sit and listen for hours and the sensation of wearing headphones goes away eventually, which is ideal.

[@sebastianvanderwolf6500]

@@terrywhitted2375 well said fellow px5 user

[@Ben-bs4od]

PX5 is the one for me since I like on ear headphones and am hoping they sound better than my Koss headphones that sound great for the low price. I need the noise cancellation and appreciate the small size of these. Sonys are just too big. And Bose quiet comfort one can't turn off the ANC. For someone who wants on ear, these seem like the best for ANC headphones on the used market. I've always disliked over ear headphone design, think they look absolutely ridiculous and when I see people riding subways with them, think they look like martians. These look a tad better. Technica and Yamaha headphones are never bargains enough used, but there are always plenty of these available at reasonable prices. The Bose 700 headphones are too breakable.

[@johnshujon420]

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 is not that great headphone at all. They used to be very good now they lost their way...

[@Boyetto-san]

B&W headphones and their buyers are honestly the most wierd and insular sections of the audiophile hobby. B&W headphones have never stood out to me as special, and at worst are just plain bad sounding and overpriced. I tend to see that most people who buy into B&W headphones are people who're more generally into speaker systems, and I just can't help but suspect that its because these kinds of people just don't know how to choose good headphones and just go for the same brand they're used to with speakers. The rest is audiophile placebo.

[@fritzbill6118]

I _really_ like the PX. I ordered a bunch including the Lagoon, and the PX was for me the absolutely best, especially with their very open soundstage, and the rest went back to the store. I listen to almost every type of music - except, perhaps, pop music - and the PX were the ones that made me stand up and dance, alone in an empty room, adrenalin pumping through a frantic smile. Just to put it in simple terms that have nothing to do with schematics... I have now bought the PX7 in the hope that they shine even brighter than the PX. I really hope so, as I cannot return these...-/

[@RC75]

Fritz Bill And how is the PX7 compared to the PX? Thanks🙂

[@PeterbFree]

Did you wire them in through a portable DAC and play hi-res files? This brings out UNBELIEVABLE sound on my PX5’s. I would assume anyone buying hi-end sound equipment product like these would want to know what they are really capable of

[@DJMikeron]

What source material are you using . Spotify MP3 or High Res

[@sonnyjoseph822]

Love your reviews, any chance you’re planning to review B&W’s PI4?

[@MinidiscAu]

That should be coming up in the future :)

[@alamaguitars5693]

Hei. What would you recommend dali io4 or bower and wilkins px5? Thanks :)

[@davidgriffin79]

2:50 Hmm, I've read that that Beyers lack dynamics (😁) though; which is a shame since I like the Beyerdynamic sound (I have the DT770 Pro 250Ω, DT990 Pro 250Ω and DT 1990 250Ω). I'd bet the PX7 have a sound reminiscent of the Beyerdynamic DT770 so I'll order a pair from Amazon and send back if I'm not happy.

[@unknownuser6809]

You didn't mention if they had an app? Also nothing about call quality

[@humanmale1085]

I had an opportunity to demo these, they are very bloated and weird sounding.

[@Lucaat]

Shame since the old P7W was great. Sadly discontinued. Unrelated: Do you think AP2000Ti would be a big upgrade over MSR7B lachlan?

[@MinidiscAu]

Hmm it's a similar family of sound, I think the AP2000Ti would be an upgrade provided you are okay with potential sibilance.

[@jiyahbj]

Happy Holidays minidisc what do you about the Sennheisermomentum3

[@ПавелД-е4ф]

Спасибо за обзор. Привет из России ;)

[@FlamencoOz]

May I ask what your source is for the music playback?

[@MinidiscAu]

We tested on an iPhone, Pixel 4 and Astell & Kern SA700. All music tested was lossless including some high resolution files.

[@fritzbill6118]

I _really_ like the PX. I ordered a bunch of headfones including the Lagoon, and the PX was for me the absolutely best, especially with their very open soundstage. And so the rest went back to the store. I listen to almost every type of music - except, perhaps, pop music - and the PX were the ones that made me stand up and dance, alone in an empty room, adrenalin pumping through a frantic smile. Just to put it in simple terms that have nothing to do with schematics... I have now bought the PX7 in the hope that they shine even brighter than the PX. I really hope so, as I cannot return these...-/

[@humanmale1085]

Did you get the px7? Whats your thoughts on them?