I tried new British headphones and they sound even better than they look

The British audio experts at Bowers & Wilkins are back with some posh new cans. The popular Px7 wireless headphones were already regarded as some of the best wireless music makers in the business, and now they are even better.

I’ve been putting the Px7 S3 through rigorous testing since they were announced in April, and there’s one standout feature—they sound truly epic.

Thanks to new 40mm biocellulose drive units – and improved chassis, voice coil, suspension, and magnet – the audio they produce is truly faultless.

In fact, I’d go as far as to say these are now some of my favourite headphones when it comes to pure audio quality. The music they belt out sounds rich, powerful and packed with enough bass without it ever feeling overbearing.

The tiniest of details can be heard, vocals are crystal clear and music is hitting your ears from all directions. To help boost things further, Bowers & Wilkins has also added high-resolution drive units, which are powered by a dedicated, discrete headphone amplifier. This provides notably more scale and energy to the sound they pump out.

If you don’t like the noise they produce, you can tinker with the app’s EQ settings to find the perfect tones for your ears.

They are also fully compatible with aptX Adaptive 24/96 wireless and the latest Qualcomm Hi-Res standard, aptX Lossless.

Both of these technologies can automatically optimise wireless music transmission from compatible phones, tablets and computers. Sadly, the iPhone is not on that list but even listening via Apple’s call maker is a joy.

They really do sound very, very good but I do have one slight complaint. I’m not convinced the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is as good as some rivals. During my tests on busy trains, packed stations, cafes and planes, some background noise has been leaking through.

It’s no deal breaker and hasn’t affected my enjoyment, but if ANC is important to you, then you might be slightly disappointed with the end results.

What’s certainly not a problem is the way they look. Bowers & Wilkins make some of the most stylish headphones in the business and the PX7 S3 continues that premium tradition.

Previous versions were already striking but the design has been refined this year to help improve the feel and usability of these premium cans.

They now feature a slimmer form than older models plus you get a new headband and redesigned arm mechanism that ensure the headphones fit even closer to your head. There are also even more luxurious earpads with improved memory foam for ultimate comfort.

I’ve worn them for hours and have often forgotten I’ve had them on my head.

Along with the overall design, I also like the physical buttons for volume and switching on the ANC. Call me old-fashioned, but I much prefer these controls to annoying touch technology, which often lets me down.

They also fold pretty neatly and come with a sturdy carry case to help keep them safe in your backpack.

All-important battery life has also impressed and I’ve no issues with them running out of juice. You’ll get around 30 hours before needing to go near a plug – that’s easily enough for the longest long-haul flight.

Download the Bowers app and there are plenty of settings to tinker with, including switching on the auto standby mode. This puts them into a deep sleep after 15 minutes if you aren’t using them. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t turn the Px7 S3 off completely so, unless you want the battery running flat, you do need to tap the power button once you’ve finished your listening for the day.

Bluetooth Multipoint is also included, so they can be connected to more than one device.

Of course, these are premium headphones and that means they aren’t cheap. You’ll need £399 to own a pair which means they are more expensive than Sony’s WH-1000XM5s and the Bose QuietComfort cans.

It’s also worth noting that Sony has just confirmed the release of its new WH-1000XM6 headphones as well.

The PX7 S3 are easy to recommend, but so are its rivals.

The headphone market is fierce, but the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 do – just about – enough stand out from the crowd thanks to their premium look and truly epic audio.

I also like the physical controls, the battery life is excellent and they are incredibly comfortable to wear. My only gripes are the ANC isn’t quite as good as its rivals, there’s no auto power off and they do cost £399 (the older Px7 S2 are now down to under £200).

If you love this British brand or want some headphones from an audio firm that really cares about its products, I can’t recommend the PX7 S3 highly enough.

No, they aren’t perfect, and yes, they are very expensive, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with them. It sounds like Bower & Wilkins has a hit on its hands.