Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e are premium wireless ANC headphones with exceptional sound quality and excellent microphones. They're among the best-sounding options under $400, but comfort and build quality fall short of the price. Buy them for the audio, not for all-day wear.

Sound quality is where the Px7 S2e earns its keep. The 24-bit high-res DSP paired with those custom 40mm drivers produces a warm, detailed signature that multiple owners describe as accurate without being boring. In our testing, the sound score puts it in the 94th percentile, which means it beats nearly everything else in its class. The aptX Adaptive support helps too, especially if you're streaming from an Android phone that supports it. Bass has weight without bleeding into the mids, and the treble stays smooth rather than harsh.

The microphone setup is another strong point. Six mics with noise cancellation for calls put the mic quality in the 91st percentile, which is a standout for wireless headphones. If you take a lot of calls or hop on video meetings, the Px7 S2e handles voices better than most. ANC is solid but not class-leading, sitting around the 75th percentile. It'll knock down airplane hum and office chatter, but Sony and Bose still do a better job of making the world disappear entirely. Battery life is a respectable 30 hours with quick-charge support, landing in the 78th percentile, which is well above average but not groundbreaking.

Against the Sennheiser MOMENTUM M5AEBT, the Px7 S2e wins on raw sound character, with a warmer and more engaging presentation. But Sennheiser typically offers better long-term comfort and a more understated design. The Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B is a different beast entirely, leaning into heavy bass and stronger ANC, though it can't match the Bowers & Wilkins for overall refinement and detail. If you want thumping low end for commutes, Sony makes more sense. If you want audiophile-grade tuning in a wireless package, the Px7 S2e is the better pick.

The Technics EAH-A800 is another interesting rival, often praised for its balanced sound and excellent battery life. It doesn't have the same brand cachet, but it's a strong value. The JBL Tune 670NC and TOZO HT3 are budget options that can't compete on sound quality, but they're a fraction of the price. For most people cross-shopping in this range, the real decision comes down to the Px7 S2e's superior audio versus the better comfort and ANC of Sony or Sennheiser.

At $391 to $399 USD, the Px7 S2e is priced like a flagship but doesn't always feel like one. The sound quality genuinely competes with headphones costing more, and one owner even compared them favorably to the pricier Px8, saying the jump wasn't worth double the money. But comfort and build quality drag the overall value down. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM M5AEBT and Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B both offer strong alternatives, often with better comfort and ANC at similar or lower prices. If sound is your top priority and you don't mind the fit quirks, the Px7 S2e earns its price. If you want a more balanced package, you might feel shortchanged.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e sits in that premium wireless ANC bracket where you're spending real money, around $391 to $399 in the US or $549 CAD, and expecting the sound to justify it. These are over-ear, closed-back headphones with 40mm drivers, aptX Adaptive, and a 30-hour battery. People searching for the best headphones under $400 will see these pop up constantly, and for good reason. The sound is the headline here, landing in the 94th percentile in our database, which puts it among the absolute best wireless headphones you can buy right now.

But here's the thing. The Px7 S2e is a bit of a specialist. It nails audio quality and call clarity, but comfort and build quality don't match the price tag. The foam earpads feel plush at first, yet our data shows comfort in the 10th percentile, which is one of the worst we've seen for a headphone this expensive. If you're after a do-everything travel companion, there are trade-offs to consider.

So is the Px7 S2e good for music? Absolutely. Is it the right pick for long commutes or all-day wear? That's where things get murkier. Let's dig in.

Skip the Px7 S2e if you need headphones for long commutes or all-day office wear. The comfort score is a real problem, and the ANC, while decent, doesn't match Sony or Bose for blocking out train rumble or busy streets. If you're a frequent traveler, the Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B or Sennheiser MOMENTUM M5AEBT will serve you better. Also skip these if you're rough on your gear, the build quality doesn't inspire confidence for a headphone at this price. Budget shoppers should look at the JBL Tune 670NC or TOZO HT3 instead.

Should you buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e? If sound quality is your number one priority and you're willing to accept some comfort compromises, yes. These are among the best-sounding wireless headphones you can buy under $400, and the mic quality is a genuine bonus for calls. The warm, detailed signature makes everything from acoustic tracks to dense rock mixes sound engaging.

But if you wear headphones for hours at a time or need top-tier noise cancellation for travel, look elsewhere. The comfort score in our database is a real concern, and the build quality doesn't inspire confidence for a headphone at this price. The Px7 S2e is a fantastic audio device wrapped in a package that doesn't quite match its ambitions. For the right listener, it's a no-brainer. For everyone else, it's a compromise.