HEADPHONES
78 APRIL2020|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE386
ATSUCHAhigh price,the PX7 –the new
ANC-equipped version of B&W’s P7
headphones –certainly have their work cut
out, especially with so much quality
competition in the over-ear market.
Theyget off to agood start, however,with
some exceptional build quality.Each of the
PX7’s ear cups is wrapped in nicely textured
fabric, and both the headband and ear pads
are comfortably plush. Meanwhile,the slender
stainless-steel arms of the P7 have been
shelved in favouroflighter,more pliant
carbon fibre struts, which reduce the
clamping force of the earcups somewhat.
The PX7 still exert significantly more
pressure on the side of your head than
the Sony WH-1000XM3, but they’re not
uncomfortable.Infact, this slightly stronger
grip helps them achieve better passive sound
isolation, because it eliminates the gapping
that sometimes happens where your jaw
meets your neck.
OFFAND ONAGAIN
The right earcup’s set of controlsare all
physical –which is fine by us,having already
dealt with enough finnickytouch-based
systems –but there are some more modern
touches, too. Chiefly,each cup contains a
sensor that detects when you’ve removed
the headphones, pausing your music and
activating standbymode until you put them
back on. This isn’t aunique feature by any
means, but it’s aconvenient one,and it
works quickly and reliably.
It’s all good stuff. In fact, theonlything not
to like about the PX7 is that theydon’t stow
awayparticularly small. Youcan fold them flat
so they sit comfortably against your collar
bones when they’re slung around your neck,
but theydon’t then hinge inwards to create
amore compact package.
ANC, on the other hand, is the best in itsss
class. That’s quiteanachievement when
Bose’s and Sony’s systems are in play, but
with noise cancelling set to High, the PX7
kill off ambient sound with remarkable
effectiveness. Even the cacophony of the
loudest parts of the London Underground
were reduced to near silence by these
headphones, and in an office,high-pitched
sounds such as conversation and keyboard
tapping –which can often penetrateANC
–barely made it through.
Unlike with cheaper noise cancelling
headphones, there’s also no audible hiss tobbbe
heard when ANC is enabled. So,although yooou
can select alower noise cancellation setting,
we can’t see areason why you’d want to.
BOWERS &WILKINS PX7
★★★★★
£339•Fromwww.very.co.uk
VERDICT
Agreatpairofheadphoneswithamazingnoise
cancelling,butthePX7areonthepriceyside
Still,thefeatureisthereifyou
wanttouseit;allyyyouneedtodois
pressthebuttonontherearofthe
leftearcupandtooogglebetweenthe
varioussettings.Therearehigh,
lowandautosettttttingstochoose
between,withthhhelattermonitoring
yoursurroundinnngs and adjusting
the levels foryou.
Along pressssofthesame
button,meanwwwhile,kicksthe
headphonesintoambient
awaremode,soyoucan
listentowhaaat’sgoingon
aroundyouwwwithouthaving
to take thehhheadphones off.
Whatever leeevelofnoise
cancellingyyyouselect,sound
qualityisn’tparticularlyaffected.
SHADES OF BLUE
On that note, soundquality is another key
strength of the PX7.With the help of
unusually large 43.6mm drivers and support
forthe latest arrayofBluetooth codecs –
aptX, aptX HD,aptX Adaptive,AAC and SBC
all get alookinhere –the PX7 are right up
there with the best-sounding over-ear
headphones we’ve tested.
Bass is stronger at the low end than that
of its rivals, notably the Sony WH-1000XM3
and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
700, and the overall impression is on the
warm side of neutral. We preferred the more
considered, balanced approach of the
WH-1000XM3, but the PX7 are fine if you
want abit more low-end grunt.
This can produce asomewhat boomy
underbelly to certain tracks, and if you cue up
some heavyyyrock music, what miggght have
otherwise been controlled hits of low-end
becomeaveritablestormofit.TTThhhiiisssttthhhrrreeeaaattteeens
tooverwhelmandmuddythemidsattimes;
theWH-1000XM3definitelydeliverthis
particularelementwithmorecontrol.
Ontheotherhand,thereisquiteabit
moredriveanddynamismtothesoundof
the PX7,thankspresumably to those large,
43.6mm drivers. There’s also asatisfying
physicality and attack to higher notes, which
can help counter the hefty bass.
One thing to notehere, however,isthat
to hear the PX7 at their finest you need to
be connected via either aptX HD or aptX
Adaptive.Weinitially tried an SBC connection,
which we foundproduced aslightly splashy-
sounding effect in the treble on some tracks.
Switching to AACimproved things, while aptX
HDDDplayback produced the cleanest, most
spaaacious sound.
BUTAT WHATCOST?
Inttthe end, it won’t be small differences in
souuund quality or the subtleties of one
Bluuuetooth codec over another that will make
theeedifference: it’s the price.And on that
frooont, the PX7 simply can’t competewiththeir
clooosest rivals. The WH-1000XM3 also sound
excccellent while offering great ANC, and they’re
afull £80 cheaper –it’s barely even acontest.
That’s aslightly harsh point to end on,
connnsidering the PX7 are forthe most part a
brilliant pair of headphones. Noise cancelling
isgggenuinely superlative,and B&Wisastep
aheeead on design as well; it just comes down
to the numbers, and here Sony’s headphones
endddup on top.
