Bowers & Wilkins, a renowned British audio company, has launched its latest “premium flagship headphones,” the Px8 S2. These wireless headphones feature active noise cancellation, exquisite materials such as Nappa leather and machined aluminum, and come at a price of $799.

I had the opportunity to try out the Px8 S2 before its official launch, and a comprehensive review will follow shortly. For now, I have all the details on these remarkable headphones, along with an initial evaluation of whether these wireless headphones justify their high cost.

For now, let me just say: Wow, do they look stunning.

Presenting the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 builds on the success of the award-winning Px7 S3 ($699) and the reference-standard Px8 headphones ($749). We awarded the former a favorable review, and now the S2 aims to outshine the latter.

Bowers & Wilkins is celebrated for its audiophile-level devices, and at a $799 price point, these headphones aren’t aimed at casual listeners. If you’re not accustomed to activating high-resolution audio on your device or haven’t been eagerly anticipating the rollout of Spotify’s lossless audio, these headphones may not be for you.

A representative from the company indicated that the headphones are crafted to be high-fidelity, reference-caliber headphones that deliver the utmost resolution (24-bit / 96 kHz high-resolution sound). The goal is to reproduce your music’s original sound authentically. Bowers & Wilkins claims in a press statement that these are the “finest sounding headphones the brand has ever produced.”

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: Exceptional design and comfort

Bowers & Wilkins is well-regarded among audiophiles for its refined design. The iconic Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin speaker was previously sold in Apple stores, and ex-Apple designer Sir Jony Ive was said to be a fan. Therefore, it would be surprising if the new Px8 S2 headphones weren’t strikingly beautiful. But they are not merely attractive — they are stunning. They are anticipated to be offered in an even more desirable brown.

Unboxing the headphones at home only deepened my appreciation for the design. Personally, I prefer audio devices like the Apple AirPods Max or Panasonic Technics AZ100, which utilize sturdy materials such as aluminum, steel, memory foam, and leather. The Px8 S2 exhibits a truly luxurious design with premium full-grain Nappa leather and aluminum. The sturdy aluminum arms look amazing when adjusted, as does the exposed braided cable leading to the earcups.

These headphones boast numerous elegant details that become more apparent with time. When light reflects off the Bowers & Wilkins logo on the earcups, you can see micro detailing that renders it almost pixelated — a feature that is visible only when zooming in on images. Even the carrying case exudes luxury.

In contrast to the all-plastic construction of Sony’s flagship XM6 headphones, the Px8 S2 feels significantly more substantial. I will find it challenging to return to the XM6s, which have been my go-to lately.

The metal components do add weight to the Px8 S2, but so far I haven’t felt any discomfort. In fact, they are rather cozy. (My partner described the earcups as “little hugs on my ears,” which captures it perfectly.) I’ll provide an update in my full review about whether the weight becomes an issue during extended use.

How do $799 headphones perform sound-wise?

These wireless headphones deliver an astonishing audio experience. You need to connect them wired to fully experience their true lossless audio advantages, but that is to be expected. Whether wired or wireless, they sound phenomenal, which is only right at this price. Artists like Radiohead, Florence and the Machine, and Michael Jackson sounded as exceptional as ever. I would place them alongside the Panasonic Technics AZ100 earbuds among elite audio products, clearly marking them a step up from Sony.

However, regarding ANC, Bowers & Wilkins falls short when compared to Sony or Bose, which manufacture the best noise-cancelling headphones I’ve tried. Although the design offers decent passive noise-cancellation, Sony’s audio engineers have the edge in noise cancellation. When it comes to spatial audio, these headphones are even further behind — as they lack this feature. They also do not support LDAC.

So, why don’t $799 headphones include these now-typical audio features? On the subject of spatial audio, a Bowers & Wilkins representative informed me that the brand isn’t particularly focused on this. If you’re seeking true reference-class sound, integrating spatial audio into music not engineered for it might not be precisely appropriate, right? That’s a fair point.

But these are two considerations to keep in mind prior to making an investment in these premium headphones.

Are the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones a worthwhile purchase?

If you’re a genuine audiophile and a fan of Bowers & Wilkins, they may justify the cost, yet $799 is a significant amount. In all honesty, I cannot afford them. The vast majority