The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Headphones Are Unapologetically Gorgeous

"Instrumental entrances are strikingly swift, so that moments like a tremolo guitar or synth bouncing between stereo channels flutter back and forth like a trill from a fine concert pianist. Instrumental timbres rise to the surface with ease, especially noticeable in complex textures like woody percussion or crunchy guitar tones that blaze with extra spark. Tonally, the sound signature has a forward push in the upper frequencies that makes acoustic guitar and strings sound lighter."

"Bass is rich, pointed, and ramped up, so that I preferred to EQ it down a couple notches. Occasionally, deep hits still sound more assertive than expected, but the overall depth provides a grounded foundation for the smooth midrange and more whimsical higher frequencies. Comparing songs like Sgt Pepper 's "Good Morning," the S3 stood above heavy hitters like the Sony XM6 and AirPods Max, with more readily revealed sizzle and layering to moments like the raucous horns in the right channel."

"Whatever genre I played, the Px7 S3 provided a fun and stylish presentation without the need for synthetic effects like spatial audio (though it does have it, if you want it). Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" is lavish and clear, cutting unwanted noise for vivid separation of the multiple guitars and splashy coloration. St. Vincent's more modern "Digital Witnesses" explodes with breakneck synths bouncing between channels and bass that throws down a gauntlet of boom."

Instrumental attacks arrive with striking speed and clear imaging, making tremolo guitars and bouncing synths flutter across the stereo field. Timbres surface readily, revealing woody percussion and crunchy guitar textures with added sparkle. The upper frequencies have a forward push that lightens acoustic guitar and strings, while bass is rich, pointed, and often boosted enough to warrant slight EQ reduction. The S3 reveals sizzle and layering better than several competitors, uncovering previously missed details and delivering greater velocity at lower volume settings. Noise cancelling operates quietly and effectively, creating a clean backdrop for vivid separation and energetic presentation across genres.

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