Headphones · Model guide · Maker specs
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Buy the original Px8 for its Carbon Cone drivers and Nappa leather only at a clear discount, since Px8 S2 adds Bluetooth 5.3 and aptX Lossless.
Product images
Bowers & Wilkins Px8, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Buy the original Px8 for its Carbon Cone drivers and Nappa leather only at a clear discount, since Px8 S2 adds Bluetooth 5.3 and aptX Lossless. It weighs 320 grams and runs 30 hours on a charge, so a Px8 you already own still holds up. Skip it if you need multipoint, which Bowers & Wilkins doesn't list for Px8, or a sweat rating.
Who it is for
- Listeners who want Carbon Cone drivers and Nappa leather and don't need the newest radio. Px8 has both, with aluminum arms, on Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive.
- Px8 owners happy with aptX Adaptive. The 2025 Px8 S2 brings a newer radio, more microphones and ten fewer grams, so a working Px8 is worth keeping.
- Long-haul listeners who'd rather not charge every day. Px8 is rated for 30 hours, and a 15-minute top-up gives about 7 more.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants one pair for a work laptop and a personal phone. Bowers & Wilkins names multipoint for Px7 S3, not for Px8.
- Buyers who want aptX Lossless. It's on the 2025 Px8 S2 and on Px7 S3, both with Bluetooth 5.3.
What sets it apart
- Custom 40mm Carbon Cone drivers, which Bowers & Wilkins angles for stereo imaging.
- Nappa leather and aluminum arms, in four finishes including Royal Burgundy Leather.
- Hybrid noise cancelling on four microphones, with two more set aside for calls.
Caveats
- Nappa leather and no IP rating make it a poor gym companion.
- The US list price has gone up since launch: $699 in September 2022, $749 on Bowers & Wilkins' US store in September 2026.
Key specs
In the same order on every headphones page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear wireless headphones; Nappa leather and aluminum arms | bowerswilkins.com; Px8 information sheet |
| Drivers | 2 × 40mm custom carbon (Carbon Cone) dynamic full-range drivers | Px8 information sheet |
| Sensitivity | Sensitivity not published; distortion under 0.1% at 1 kHz, 10 mW | Px8 information sheet |
| Noise cancelling | Hybrid noise cancellation with 4 microphones | Px8 information sheet |
| Ambient sound | Ambient Pass-Through | Px8 information sheet |
| Bluetooth codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC | Px8 information sheetPx8 S2 and Px7 S3 add aptX Lossless. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive | Px8 information sheet |
| Multipoint | Not listed for Px8; Px7 S3 lists it | Px8 information sheet |
| Battery life | Up to 30 hours of playback | Px8 information sheet |
| Charging | USB-C; full charge in 2 hours; 15 minutes gives about 7 hours | Px8 information sheet |
| Wired listening | USB-C audio; 1.2m USB-C to 3.5mm and 1.2m USB-C to USB-C cables included | Px8 information sheet |
| Weight | 320 g without the case | Px8 information sheet; bowerswilkins.com |
| Folding and case | Not described as folding; carry case 189 × 63 × 233 mm | Px8 information sheet |
| App | Bowers & Wilkins Music: EQ, noise cancelling modes, battery level; Deezer, Qobuz and TIDAL in the app at launch | Bowers & Wilkins launch announcement, September 2022 |
| Microphones and calls | 4 for noise cancelling, 2 for calls | Px8 information sheet |
| Voice assistant | A button press calls up your phone's voice assistant | Bowers & Wilkins launch announcement, September 2022 |
| Water resistance | No IP rating given | Px8 information sheet |
| Colors | Black Leather, Tan & Grey Leather, Royal Burgundy Leather, Dark Forest | bowerswilkins.com US |
| Compatibility | Bluetooth 5.2 devices; aptX Adaptive needs a compatible source; USB-C audio from a USB host | Px8 information sheet |
| US launch price | $699 at launch (28 September 2022); $749 list on Bowers & Wilkins' US store (19 September 2026) | Bowers & Wilkins launch announcement; bowerswilkins.com US |
| Price band | $700 class at launch | Based on the $699 launch price |
| Announced | 28 September 2022 | Bowers & Wilkins launch announcement, 28 September 2022 |
| Availability | From 28 September 2022 at bowerswilkins.com and selected retailers; still on Bowers & Wilkins' US store on 19 September 2026 | Bowers & Wilkins launch announcement; bowerswilkins.com US |
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Cone drivers | Custom carbon 40mm drivers, angled for stereo imaging | bowerswilkins.com; Px8 information sheet |
| Distortion (THD) | Under 0.1% (1 kHz, 10 mW) | Px8 information sheet |
| Wear sensing | Yes | Px8 information sheet |
| Bluetooth profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, BLE GATT | Px8 information sheet |
| In the box | Px8, carry case, 1.2m USB-C to 3.5mm cable, 1.2m USB-C to USB-C cable | Px8 information sheet |
| Carry case | 189 × 63 × 233 mm | Px8 information sheet |
Px8 against Px8 S2
Px8 arrived on 28 September 2022 as Bowers & Wilkins’ leather-and-carbon headphone, and Px8 S2 followed as the 2025 flagship. The changes Bowers & Wilkins lists are in the radio, the microphones and the weight:
| Spec | Px8 | Px8 S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Best codec | aptX Adaptive | aptX Lossless |
| Microphones | 4 for noise cancelling, 2 for calls | 8 |
| Weight | 320 g | 0.31 kg |
If your phone can’t send aptX Lossless, upgrading from Px8 buys you two extra microphones and about ten grams less on your head. That’s a thin case for replacing a pair that works. Px8 vs Px8 S2 covers the rest, case sizes included.
Carbon Cone drivers and the leather build
Each cup holds a custom 40mm Carbon Cone driver, which Bowers & Wilkins angles for stereo imaging. Distortion is under 0.1% at 1 kHz and 10 mW, the only acoustic measurement Bowers & Wilkins gives for Px8. Nappa leather and aluminum arms finish the build.
Ambient Pass-Through lets the room back in when you need to hear it, and a wear sensor knows when the headphones are on.
Codecs and connections
Px8 connects over Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive, aptX HD and standard aptX, plus AAC and SBC. The supported Bluetooth profiles are A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP and BLE GATT. Wired, the USB-C port takes audio from a computer or another USB host, and the box has a 1.2m USB-C to USB-C cable plus a 1.2m USB-C to 3.5mm cable for ordinary headphone jacks.
Battery and charging
| Mode | Px8 |
|---|---|
| Playback | Up to 30 hours |
| 15-minute charge | About 7 hours |
| Full charge | 2 hours |
Price, colors and the case
Px8 went on sale on 28 September 2022 through bowerswilkins.com and selected retailers, and Bowers & Wilkins’ US store was still selling it on 19 September 2026. With a newer replacement out, wait for a sale or look at secondhand pairs rather than paying list.
The US store lists four finishes: Black Leather, Tan & Grey Leather, Royal Burgundy Leather and Dark Forest. Both cables come in the box with the headphones and the carry case.
Sources
- Amazon — Bowers & Wilkins Px8 — accessed 2026-09-20
- Bowers & Wilkins US — Px8 — accessed 2026-09-19
- Bowers & Wilkins — Px8 information sheet (PDF) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy Px8 or Px7 S3?
Px7 S3 if you want aptX Lossless, Bluetooth 5.3, eight microphones and listed multipoint. Px8 if the Carbon Cone drivers and Nappa leather matter more to you than the radio.
Is Px8 heavier than Px8 S2?
Yes, slightly. Px8 weighs 320 grams without its case, and Bowers & Wilkins lists Px8 S2 at 0.31 kg, about ten grams less.
Does Px8 fold like a Sony 1000X?
Not according to Bowers & Wilkins. It pairs Px8 with a 189 × 63 × 233 mm carry case rather than cups that fold away.
Is there a button for my phone's voice assistant?
Yes. Bowers & Wilkins' 2022 launch details say a press brings up the voice assistant on your phone.
What does the Music app do for Px8?
It sets the EQ and the noise-cancelling mode and shows the battery level. At launch it also played Deezer, Qobuz and TIDAL from inside the app.
Official product page: Bowers & Wilkins Px8. Tech specs: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 specs.