Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Review: Stronger Build, Sweeter Sound

The instrumental inputs are surprisingly fast, so that moments like tremolo guitar or synth bouncing between stereo channels float back and forth like a good concert pianist’s trill. Instrumental timbres rise to the surface easily, especially visible in complex textures like woody percussion or crunchy guitar tones that blaze with extra spark.

Tonally, the sound signature features a forward push in the upper frequencies that makes the acoustic guitar and strings sound lighter. It’s a fun adjustment that adds a few style points. The bass is rich, sharp and emphasized, so I preferred to EQ it down a few notches. Sometimes deep hits still sound more assertive than expected, but the overall depth provides a solid foundation for the smooth mids and fancier upper frequencies.

Comparing songs like Sergeant PepperIn “Good Morning,” the S3 stood head and shoulders above heavy hitters like the Sony Notable details like key clicks in the right center or the cymbal hiss in the deep left register with added nuances resulted in details I had missed on several previous listens. The S3’s overall velocity is also more powerful than many models, so I rarely needed to turn the volume up above the bottom quarter of my phone.

No matter what genre I played, the Px7 S3 delivered a fun, stylish presentation without the need for synthetic effects like spatial audio (although it has that, if you want them). Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” is sumptuous and clear, cutting through unwanted noise for vivid separation of multiple guitars and vibrant coloration. St. Vincent’s more modern “Digital Witnesses” explodes with dizzying synths bouncing between channels and bass that throws down a gauntlet of boom.

Noise cancellation works in concert with the performance, providing a backdrop for different musical scenes. Even so, while major competitors continue to increase their power, the Px7’s noise cancellation still lags behind the best.

It’s fine for most scenarios, providing a cocoon of moderate silence across all frequencies, but testing it inside and outside my treated studio revealed less effectiveness at both ends of the spectrum than higher-end models. Bose’s QC Ultra, Sony’s

Again, the Px7 S3s are not designed to provide ultimate isolation from environmental noise. They suit your everyday needs, but the end goal is clear: better sound and a sleeker design. In this regard, the Px7 S3 are as accomplished and engaging as any other model in their category.