Bowers & Wilkins has long been known for their ultra-high-end speakers, but in recent years has also been making some stellar headphones. Some of the latest new models include the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 noise-canceling headphones, which are sought after by the likes of Bose and Sony in the premium noise-canceling space.
But do the headphones succeed in their mission? At $349.99, they aren't necessarily cheap, but they are direct competitors to other high-end noise canceling headphones. We have been testing them for several weeks to see exactly how they perform.
Design
Arbors & Wilkins PX7 headphones may not be the flashy headphones there are, but they still offer a good design that's sure to look good at home next to your laptop, tablet, or anything else you take on the road with you when you travel.
The headphones seem to be built with relatively high quality materials, but a bit more metal in the build would be nice. The headphones are built with a carbon fiber frame that is both lightweight and durable, so they should be able to withstand most of the day-to-day scolding that you can throw at them.
Premium materials are distributed to other parts too. The ear pads and headband have high-end memory foam, and it's fairly easy to adjust the fit of the headphones.
On the left earcup, you'll get a button to control the noise cancellation level - on the right, where you'll find the power switch, volume and control buttons, and a USB-C port. We're glad that Bowers & Wilkins has gone for a USB-c port.
In the box, in addition to the headphones, you will receive a nice hard case with a charging cable and an AUX cable for using the headphones in wired mode. It's a good choice of accessories, although a flight adapter can be nice.
Comfort
The fact that there is a bit of metal in the construction of the earphones is a little too useful for comfort. The carbon-fiber composite here helps make the world feel better - and it helps ensure they're comfortable. Also helpful is that the headphones provide memory foam ear pads and headband, which means they will stay generally comfortable even during long journeys.
As a general rule, Bowers & Wilkins have done a great job of making these headphones comfortable - which is good news given the fact that they're pretty much the go-to headphones.
Sound
As mentioned, Bowers & Wilkins had experience when it comes to building high-end audio products, and headphones are no exception to this rule. Arbors & Wilkins PX7 headphones offer a relatively balanced sound that should appeal to anyone who wants a natural sound.
For starters, the bass on the headphones is think and deep, making for kicks that are easy to punch through the mix, basses that are smooth and present. It doesn't come from above, either - which is always helpful.
The economy class on these headphones sounds too good, although it's not the most natural out there. While there is a decent amount of heat in the low miss, there seems to be a slight reduction in the high miss. That said, the vocals and guitars cut through fairly well, which is nice.
The high end is one of the best things about these headphones. There's detail and clarity to go around, making for an immersive sound no matter what you're listening to.
Of course noise cancellation is important, and that's a very good thing. There are a large number of different levels of noise reduction, which allows you to customize the settings to your liking. There are other smart features such that if you press and hold the Noise Cancel button for two seconds, it will activate Ambient Mode.
Noise canceling is good enough here, and should make it easy to cut out most of what's going on around you.
Performance
Arbors & Wilkins PX7 headphones offer a battery life of up to 30 hours, which is very impressive - and that includes the ability to use noise cancellation. With noise cancellation turned off, the headphones will last even longer.
Headphones connect to your device to listen to music via Bluetooth and you get a range of listening range up to 10 meters or 33 feet. They support standards such as adaptive support for the aptX codec, which should help make for crisper audio overall.
Conclusions
Arbors & Wilkins PX7 headphones are some of the best noise canceling headphones out there. They offer great sound-quality, comfortable fit, and good design, making them really the whole package for those looking for great travel headphones.
But are they better there? Well, not quite. The headphones have a lot to offer, but in our opinion the Sony VG-1000XM3 headphones are more well-rounded, and offer a slightly more natural-sounding quality. They really are the headphones to beat in this category and it's going to take a lot to beat them.
That said, these headphones still have a lot to offer - and because of that, we awarded them a silver headphone review.
| Shop | Price |
|---|---|
 |
$346.85 |
 |
$349.99 |
| Bowers & Wilkins | $349.99 |
| frequency range | Unknown | Active Noise Cancellation | Yes |
| Driver size | 43mm | Noise suppression | Unknown |
| Driver type | Dynamic | Headphone controls | Yes |
| Design |
Closed | Microphone | Yes |
| Sensitivity | Unknown | Ear pads material | memory foam |
| Nominal resistance |
Unknown | Magnet Material | Unknown |
| Total harmonic distortion |
Unknown | Water resistance | No |
| Rated input power |
Unknown | Battery life | 30 hours |
| Maximum input power |
Unknown | Wireless distance | 10m (33ft) |
| Wireless connection |
Bluetooth | Length of cable | N / A |
| Wired connection |
3.5 mm | Case type | hard case |
| Detachable cable |
Yes | In the box |
|
| The weight | Unknown | Colours | Black |
The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Headphones review post first appeared on Headphones Review.