Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: Stronger build, sweeter sound

Instrumental inputs are remarkably fast, with moments like guitar tremolo or bouncing between stereo channels fluttering back and forth like a great concert pianist playing. Instrumental tones rise to the surface with ease, and are especially noticeable in complex textures like woodsy percussions or crunchy guitar tones that glow with extra spark.

Tonally, the sound signature has a forward push in the upper frequencies which makes the guitar and strings sound lighter. It’s a fun mod that adds some style points. The bass is rich, pointed and intense, so I preferred to equalize it a few notches. At times, the deep hits still sound firmer than expected, but the overall depth provides a firm foundation for the smooth midrange and more exotic high frequencies.

Compare songs like Sergeant Pepper“Good Morning,” the S3 stood above heavy hitters like the Sony Prominent details such as clicks of the keys in the middle right, or a cymbal blast in the deep left register with added nuance, brought up details I had missed on many previous listens. The S3’s overall speed is also stronger than many models, so I rarely needed to raise the volume above the bottom quartile on my phone.

Whatever genre I played, the Px7 S3 delivered a fun, elegant presentation without the need for synthetic effects like spatial audio (although it has them, if you want them). Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” is stately and clear, cutting through unwanted noise for a lively separation between multiple guitars and cheerful colors. St. Vincent’s more modern “Digital Witnesses” explodes with shifting synths that jump between channels and bass that throws down a challenging flourish.

What’s almost as impressive is how quietly the noise cancellation works in concert with the performance, providing a stark canvas for different musical scenes. However, as major competitors continue to increase their effectiveness, the Px7’s noise cancellation remains a step behind the best.

It’s perfectly fine for most scenarios, providing a moderate cocoon of silence across frequencies, but testing it in and outside of my processing studio revealed less effectiveness on both ends of the spectrum than higher-end models. Bose’s QC Ultra, Sony’s XM6, and even good ol’ JBL One M3 round All provided better suppression with less buzz in our drone test, while more noticeable sounds like the hissing of espresso maker’s milk filtered through more easily in the S3.

Again, the Px7 S3 is not designed to provide maximum isolation from environmental sounds. It’s a game that meets your everyday needs, but the end goal here is clear: better sound and sleeker design. On this front, the Px7 S3’s hardware is as slick and engaging as anything in its class.