FAQ's Expert Guide to Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Wireless Headphone

[@fatherdanmclaughlinosa3215]

With Holiday sales prices I was about to purchase the Sony X5 headphones. I looked at every comment on Amazon. I usually start with the 1 star rating. An engineer’s review of the fragile and easily breakable earphone posts convinced me to not buy Sony. Bowers & Wilken S2e was on sale on Amazon and I purchased them. I am now looking at KZbin reviews and I better understand I made the best choice, especially since I am an amateur audiophile and listen to the performance details regardless of the genre. You offer a comprehensive review without the hype of unnecessary superlatives. With your skill I hope you will do well with another tech employer. Dan

[@jxmrcn]

Thanks for the review. I appreciate the context that you gave for the design decisions for the S2e, it really shows how much thought was put behind the decisions for the S2e and the finished product was much more refined than the others when it came to the vision. I thought other reviewers just grazed over the details, but you went over each category pretty in-depth!

[@faqnatics]

Thanks, and I agree it's a topic that's often grazed over because reviewers are either given or loaned a product, and they test it for a a few hours and the manufacturer often gives them some main points, and that's it. My goal is to dig a little deeper and be able to look at the product as a whole. Most reviewers are afraid to compare products, or to make a recommendation because they don't want to lose future review potentials, or sponsorship dollars. But I think it's important to be able to tell people, it's better tat this, it's okay or bad at this, and overall, here is what I'd spend my money on. For the larger categories like lighting and shades, I also plan to do a best, better, good analysis, talking about the category in a more generic sense so people know what they should expect in a price band, and then provide 1-2 brands in each area that perform the best. I am working on that currently with my lighting reviews, and trying to drop an order on some shades this week, so I can get started on that as well. Again, thank you for taking the time to watch and subscribe. I hope the headphone contest is a fun way to engage people, and be sure to invite your friends, because it gets you bonus entries, and if the person that wins was referred, the person that referred them gets a pair of headphones as well.

[@jeroen8849]

I ordered a pair last night! They will be in today, so I am very excited!

[@faqnatics]

That’s great. I’m sure you will enjoy them. Let me know in the comments what you think after you get them.

[@rockon856]

Thanks for your video . I found it very informative and genuine. Just purchased a pair with the prime Amazon sale today!

[@faqnatics]

@@rockon856 glad it helped. Let me know what you think, once you get them.

[@rockon856]

@@faqnatics they are phenomenal!! What a sound . So comfortable too

[@karlcrossfitness]

Great video. I’m really stuck between the B&W PX7s2e and the Bose QC Ultra. My concern with PX7s2e is the ANC/ noise cancellation. Having PTSD and the ability to shut the world out is a must. But I also want great sound quality for the money. The B&W are considerably cheaper at the moment so the question is are the Bose with the upgrade and money?

[@Saturn-Matrix]

Just get Px8 when it goes on sale. On prime day i got mine for like $450. They're not worth full price of $700. Personally I avoid bose, their sound signature is always flat. From my research the best value for money headphone is a Meze audio 109 pro with those 50mil carbon drivers and they even have best style, but it isn't noise canceling.

[@bobbydazzler1780]

Interesting food for thought. Easy to watch other reviews that don’t take into consideration the effect of aggressive ANC on playback quality. The only knock on B&W that I’ve researched is that multiple users have experienced failure of the materials on the head piece which can slip due to poor adhesive. Have you encountered any issues with the headphones beginning to split and fail? Maybe more on the PX8 model. I’ve seen the PX7s2e model at a reduced price and it’s tempting. But the negative reviews which include negative reviews regarding customer service.

[@bobbydazzler1780]

Slip = Split typo

[@faqnatics]

@@bobbydazzler1780 I haven’t had any material issues on mine and I wear them a fair amount the older PX7 had some headband issues, usually around comfort, but over time that pressure point could result in additional wear or failure. I’m looking at mine right now and the way the bottom and top are stitched and glued it would be hard for it to come out, but somebody always does. I always like to look at general reviews, but remember that those types of reviews tend to attract haters and fanboys, but things do fail, but service and support should be good although my first hand experience was under B&W not under Masimo.

[@RC75]

Wondering myself to make a switch from the Sennheiser Momentum 3 to this headphone. I liked your review a lot and the S2e is a beautiful headphone. (Like the PX8❤). For me comfort and audio quality are the only important things in a headphone.

[@faqnatics]

Thanks RC75. Sennheiser makes some great product, and the weight on the Momentum 3 seems to be about the same as the S2e. Comfort is primarily dictated by weight, pressure points (meaning the ear-cups and headband), and ear-cup pressure for sealing in bass frequency. I was not a fan of the first PX7 (and a lot of headphones) because of how the weight interacted with the pressure points and ear-cup pressure, both of which made it hard to wear for extended periods. The S2e doesn't seem to have those same issues, and I was wearing it again a few weeks ago on a trip to MWAVE, where between flights and layovers I wore them the bette part of a whole day, and only took them off a couple of times. I just looked and the S2e happen to be a Prime Deal, so it's again a solid time to pick a pair up and see for yourself. Appreciate the comment and please subscribe if you didn't already. BTW, did you register for the headphone giveaway? I'd still probably pick up the prime deal, but they can always be returned if you win a pair.

[@RC75]

@@faqnatics Thank you. I wouldn’t win a pair of headphones because I’m from Belgium😉.

[@jorgeluisfernandez2560]

Great review, i suscribed, i have some headphones in my collection and i want a new pair so....i was thinkin which one would be a better option? Sony mx5 or this b&w? Thanks a lot, cheers

[@faqnatics]

@@jorgeluisfernandez2560 appreciate it. I think they’re great and on sale on Amazon Prime day if you still have access.

[@orborbea9844]

What was very informative and detailed review ! Like and subbed 🎉

[@faqnatics]

Thanks and appreciated! 👍

[@247cmason]

Great review, i see you drinking jack Daniel’s Sinatra select!!👍🏿

[@faqnatics]

@@247cmason I’ve got a collection of pretty much every Jack bottle and collectible bottle made. Even had a friend send me a green label which aren’t sold here on the left coast.

[@annaphyoe4661]

Thank you for your video. Just purchased a pair on Amazon Germany. By the way, is there a way to check if it is real or counterfeit? I’m quite worried since this is my first time buying this kind of headphone.😢

[@faqnatics]

@@annaphyoe4661 I’m glad I was able to help. Hopefully buying from Amazon would be fine. When you get them, if you want to send some pics I can compare them to mine if that makes you feel better about the purchase.

[@annaphyoe4661]

@@faqnatics I received mine today!! Where should I send the pictures for comparison?😅 thank you!!!🙏

[@djFELIXmne]

very useful video since I'm really considering this model and sony's m5. I still can't decide which one to buy. the price difference, only 30€ more for sony, is not much of a factor.

[@faqnatics]

You can't really go wrong with either headphone. I own both, and while Sony has an edge on call quality and noise attenuation, the Px7 S2e has a stronger edge in terms of audio and aesthetics, plus does perfectly well in the two other categories, but objectively Sony is a bit better. For me I use them for ANC, but primarily for listening to music, and I like that they aren't just another black plastic headphone (even if you get the black), so the B&W got my vote when I saw them on sale. Both are also very comfortable. So again, your call, you will be happy with either, but if the audio quality and design/materials are most important, it's not going to let you down in the other areas either. I've had multiple people tell me they bought them after my review, and they all are telling me they are happy with their purchase! My .02 cents.

[@erikd6124]

I own. The 5s, 4 and momentum 4. S2 non e on the way. Have you bought one yet ?

[@djFELIXmne]

@@faqnatics I'm just reading the reply. actually I went for sony xm5, had my friend buy them in Vienna, for only 289€. so far sooo good! I'm really happy with my decision, but who knows, I might buy me B&W some day. 😄

[@faqnatics]

@@djFELIXmne no worries, as long as you are happy with your purchase that’s what counts. I make nothing from B&W on this, so it’s really just a way to put out real content thought through from someone who spent years testing and helping to design headphones that help people with their day. Perhaps at some point I’ll review all the headphones. I just bought a pair of the Sonos headphones, as I want to see o electively if there are benefits vs. everyone else’s BT versions.

[@daravinarska8353]

Thanks! Very helpful video ❤

[@faqnatics]

Glad it helped. Appreciate the watch, and if you didn't already please like and subscribe as I have a bunch of technology videos and reviews coming out to help educate consumers.

[@naimishpatel2644]

Trying to decide between px7s2e and Beats Studio pro. I like the connectivity with Apple but multipoint is probably fine for me as I mostly just use with my iPhone. I found the beats to be uncomfortable after hours of work calls. Did you find the px7 better for all day use at a desk or just walking around outside? I also live in a hot climate, how do these hold up when it is hot outside?

[@faqnatics]

@@naimishpatel2644 no comparison between the two. The Beats are a bit lighter, but the construction is far more plastic, and don’t sit on the top of the head as nicely or seal against the ears as well, IMO, and I own them as well. Both are good products, but the materials, weight balance, and sound from the PX7 S2e are better, and I already own them both, and never pull out my current Beats, even though I have a place in my heart for them, since my team helped to develop them. They are well-made, so you can’t go wrong either way, but yes, I walked around, sat at my desk all day, and am happy I bought the B&W headphones.

[@naimishpatel2644]

I have all Apple devices. I like how the beats was easy to change between laptop and iPhone. How has the Bluetooth been for you? I noticed they support being connected to two at once.

[@faqnatics]

@@naimishpatel2644 Yes, I believe they can. I find I typically have them connected to my phone, but when on my laptop, I'll have them connected to both. Nothing is simpler than a iPhone accessory to an Apple device, but BT is pretty simple, and once connected, usually auto-connects to the last device. If that was the #1 priority I'd say Beats is best, but if you already know you don't like wearing them for hours at a time, then I think the Px7 S2e are the better product, and deal with the occasional need to go to BT settings to connect to the second device. I have an iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro, along with a few PC based devices, and in the case of over-ear headphones I don't think the Beats or Apple products are as good overall. However, I have a few different in-ears, and since I'm already giving up a bit of quality, I like the lightweight and easy connection of the AirPod Pro, so I can have them in my pocket, pop them in for a call or while watching something, and then put them back in a pocket. With Over-ears, I'm just more concerned with comfort, sound, and materials than the Apple connection. My .02 cents.

[@geray89]

Great review

[@faqnatics]

@@geray89 appreciated. Trying to get out some objective reviews, with real comparison data, and real-world experiences. I’ve got a few more coming out in the next 30-60 days I hope, so if you’ve subscribed, thank you, and if not please do.

[@kkr433]

thanks for this, Bjorkquist. i’m very headcan challenged with a massive head, and elephant ears that overheat easily. as well as super thick framed glasses…🤓🎧

[@faqnatics]

LOL, the problems are real. Always appreciate the time and comments.

[@kkr433]

@@faqnatics i’ve never found a headcan at any price i can deal with for more than an hour…. i need the glasses to read as well so… 😞

[@faqnatics]

I wear glass too, and I actually found the B&W to fit pretty well. They compress enough for a good seal, but usually I lift the ear hooks above the ear cup, and I haven't been doing that with these. Luckily they make some pretty solid in-ear headphones. At the higher end I love my UE customs, which block everything out but can get a little fatiguing based on the weight. Otherwise the older in-ear versions of the B&W were solid, and I think Sony makes a good in-ear as well.

[@thexfile.]

Do they use Bluetooth 5.4 ?

[@faqnatics]

No, they operate on BT5.2, which is pretty standard for the recent Bose and Sony models as well. From what I know of 5.4, a lot of the difference revolves around point to multipoint (not for audio), but in the data, or retail price tagging. Distance, codecs, and other features are the same, although I’m sure there is, as always, a bit of a reliability upgrade. Really for tech like BT, it just depends on when a headphone is released as to who has the latest version. Plus since lossless protocols like AAC and AptX have been out for years, it’s the drivers, wiring, and DSP that are going to have the biggest result on the sound. As an example I do have a pair of Sonos Ace headphones which are on 5.4, but don’t sound as good, or have the ANC of the Px7S2e, Sony, or Bose models. I’ll have a deeper review during the holidays, but personally while I like knowing my toys have the latest tech, I wouldn’t be too worried about 5.2 vs 5.4 as a deal breaker. Hope that helps. If you had something more specific as a reason to ask, let me know.

[@WorldvsTruth]

I thought "This guy has a signed Les Paul on a wall mount, so clearly has something to say that's worth listening to." Musicians and music lovers alike accept little to no compromise when it comes to sound quality and comfort.

[@faqnatics]

Love it, and yes, if I'm going to listen to something, I want it to be on the best something I've got. The guitar was a gift from Slash which he signed, as well as a photo, after I helped him out with a project a few years back. I wish I could say it was a Gibson Les Paul, but it's an Epiphone Slash Edition Les Paul Standard in Tobacco Burst, so while not a $6k guitar, the personal signature and guitar make it pretty special. Hope you enjoyed the video. I have a ton of new content coming with CEDIA now behind us, and it should be a blast. Please subscribe if you aren't and I may have to do a video int eh wall behind me. I've had a few people ask me about the things I have back there, most of which are products I've built, or key things from my career.

[@tyger82]

What about the noise created by the "wind" when ANC is on on B&W? Is there any wind cancellation option in settings?

[@faqnatics]

I didn’t notice anything but wasn’t out in the wind to be fair. I’m traveling now though so I’ll see if I can test this for you. To specify though are you discussing ANC pulling wind noise into the sound, or using the mic on a call and the mic is picking up noise. Assuming the later?

[@pt020]

I did not buy the B&W (yet) Just for one reason, I still have the Sony XM1000II.. For sound quality the S&W might be a bit better, but you need to be in a quiet environment or a studio to hear that ... on the street with all the noise around it will be more difficult to notice. That's whay on the way I find the Sony much more usebul, it has more feachers and is even cheaper.

[@faqnatics]

Everyone has their preferences, and I know what you're saying, but with the noise cancelling features, even walking down the street is a pretty stellar experience. When I took it on a plane, the ear cups seal well enough that if something was playing, I often didn't even need NC on, and if I wanted it quiet adding NC dropped the noise floor dramatically. I'm not a huge proponent of buying tech just to have it, although I often do for testing. I have no issues with saying though, that the B&W, or with any of the other headphones discussed, do an excellent job of blocking out the world when you want, with great audio on top, and then when you get home, work or anywhere that's quiet, they sound even more amazing without that outside sound raising the noise floor as you mentioned. The biggest thing, if you're outside and want to make sure the upgrade is worth it, is making sure that the ear cups are snug, but comfortable for multiple hours. A tighter seal means less outside noise, and better bass that can't escape. So thicker ear cups, or the material they use, also aid in not only the comfort, but also in keeping you better connected to what you're listening to.

[@berkayerkoc2998]

Which color are those of yours, forest green?

[@faqnatics]

They are forest Green. I was expecting them to be a bit darker as I think i say in the video. They've grown on me more, but if I were to buy another pair I think I would go with the Anthrocite Black or Ocean Blue, although realistically I wouldn't replace my pair for anything other than Px8 with McLaren colorway. So decent color, although I would call it more of a mint green, rather than Forest.

[@berkayerkoc2998]

Yeah, I was also thinking of the blue one but I'm surprised that green one looks really nice. I would love to go for Px8 but they are quite expensive

[@faqnatics]

@@berkayerkoc2998 Like I said it has definitely grown on me. I was just expecting something a bit darker when I saw the forest green online. I haven't seen the Ocean Blue in person, so I could imagine it could be a bit lighter as well. It's tough because for most people, if they have one pair of good headphones, people love the colors, but 80%+ go with black. For those that end up with more than one, usually the first one is black, so the others can have a bit of color. These all look good though, so can't go wrong with any of the choices.

[@chriscameron6317]

Thank you for coming to mwave

[@faqnatics]

Happy to come. Thanks for participating.

[@brigicasto]

are they good for gym?

[@faqnatics]

The compression isn't too great, so they might slip if doing something vigorous, but for general weights and treadmill I think they would stay on fine. Generally though I'd recommend using in-ears for work-outs. They are less likely to move around, and the rubber tips with in-ears are far more hygienic than a leather or cloth ear cup that absorbs seat and dirt. My .02 cents. but yes, it would likely stay on during a workout.

[@jasha3687]

What about the PX8 in comparison?

[@faqnatics]

Good question, and I haven't been able to listen to a pair yet, but hoping to get to borrow a set soon. (I've got too many other electronics to purchase for the home theater. I did some research for you though, and here's my spec thoughts. The Px7 S2e update was about putting in a new card and technology that lined up with the Px8. This is often done because it's more economical for products to share a chipset, driver, mic, etc. In this case, the headphone design is basically the same, same mics, 40mm drivers, although the px8 offers a 40mm carbon fiber driver, which in theory is a bit lighter and more rigid, which is good in a speaker. It also upgrades the arms to metal, and the headband and ear cup to a napa leather, so a more premium look. I like the cloth as well, but this just adds to the premium look, although it increases the weight from 10.8oz to 11.3oz, which isn't huge, but you know from the video that getting past 11oz, often feels heavy after 30-60 minutes. But, to be fair, in addition to weight, the way the headband disperses weight, and the amount of clamp force required to not have them constantly falling forward, also play a big part in overall comfort. I'll reach out to them and see if I can borrow a demo set for a review. I'm curious as well because I'd love to get a pair of the McClaren for track days and other events. Appreciate the question, and engagement with the channel. If you aren't subscribed, please do, and did you register for the giveaway which ends on the 30th.

[@jasha3687]

@@faqnatics oh wow, thank You so much for all of your help and the future plan for a test!!!! I‘ve just joined, of course!!! I muchly love your channel!

[@dhyb414]

Is the leather real on the headphones? Or Vegan materials?

[@faqnatics]

I double checked on this, and the Px7 S2e headphones are a faux leather (vegan leather, whatever you want to call it). It's often used as a more resilient material. On the Px8, I believe the area on the outside of the earcup and headband are nappa leather, but I'm not 100% on the earcup material itself. Hope that helps. Are you someone looking for vegan leather, or someone who wants the real thing? Always curious on people's choices, as it helps product teams to better weigh the material selection. If you haven't already, please give the video a like and subscribe. I'm playing with a pair of Sonos Ace headphones I recently bought, and should get a video out on them in the next 30 days.

[@avtechman77]

Just give the headphones now

[@faqnatics]

I wish I could, but I bought them to have some fun and hopefully expand the reach of the channel, and can’t afford to just give a bunch away. I promise to make it fun though, and I am working to get B&W to get the discount price dropped again for June. More on that shortly.

[@v7dal]

I didn’t watch but my constructive criticism would be use time stamps and also make one stamp a conclusion for people who just want a quick answer

[@faqnatics]

@@v7dal I don’t disagree. On one hand I’m always trying to get something out, but a lot of my content is long form and instructional, so time stamps is a good way to get people the info they want… even though hopefully all of it is engaging and useful. Appreciate the comment.

[@JJW-3]

I watched the video… it was pretty good but there were some times like at the 4:55 mark that the audio level went up so much it hurt my ears.

[@kevin-zd4po]

The bass is thin. And the px7s2 are garbage.

[@faqnatics]

@@kevin-zd4po very impassioned comment. Do you own them, or why are they garbage in your opinion? What do you like better? I don’t think the bass is thin, it’s just accurate, and not eq’d to add more bass than there should be, which is what we are used to with products chasing the Beats curve.

[@kevin-zd4po]

@ of course. That’s why commented. Px7s2 doesn’t sound very good. The px7s2e are better.

[@kevin-zd4po]

@@faqnaticsthe bass when flat is thin.