Best Bluetooth Upgrade of 2025?

As Bluetooth headphones evolve, we continue to see brands balancing convenience, sonic fidelity, and thoughtful design in tighter packages. Sony’s WH-1000XM6 proved how far noise cancellation and software integration can go. Meanwhile, Focal’s Bathys MG pushed wireless audio into premium, high-end territory with custom-made drivers and a refined aesthetic. Now enters the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3—an elegant over-ear headphone aimed at audiophiles and style-focused listeners alike.

With a price tag of $449, the Px7 S3 doesn’t aim to undercut the competition—it aims to outperform with confident tuning, improved ergonomics, and subtle upgrades in noise cancellation and connectivity. But how much of an upgrade is it from the Px7 S2e? And how does it stack up against the wireless flagships from Sony and Focal?

What Comes in the Box

• Px7 S3 Headphones
• 1.2m USB-C to 3.5mm stereo jack audio cable
• 1.2m USB-C to USB-C cable
• Rigid Carrying Case

The accessories here are practical and premium. The inclusion of both USB-C to USB-C and analog audio cables is a nod to those who want to use the Px7 S3 as a wired DAC-fed headphone, even if they primarily use it wirelessly. The hard-shell carrying case adds to the premium feel and gives peace of mind when tossing the headphones in a backpack or carry-on.

Design & Build Quality

The Px7 S3 carries Bowers & Wilkins’ signature design language—understated, minimal, and mature. There are no flashy textures or aggressive edges. Instead, you get a refined build with polished metal accents, soft-touch memory foam earpads, and an elegant silhouette that hugs the head more closely than its predecessor.

Compared to the Px7 S2e, the new design features flatter earcups, which reduce visual bulk and provide a more streamlined profile. This also has the benefit of improving the weight distribution, though the tight clamping forceremains. It makes the headphones feel secure—excellent for walking or commuting—but may present pressure points during long sessions, especially for glasses wearers.

In terms of portability, these headphones are slightly less collapsible than models like the Sony WH-1000XM6, which feature a full folding hinge. That said, the rigid carry case makes up for it by ensuring safe transport.

Features & Functionality

Functionally, the Px7 S3 is designed with restraint. Rather than trying to impress with a laundry list of features, Bowers & Wilkins focuses on doing the essentials extremely well.

Pairing is snappy and reliable, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3. Once connected, the headphones maintain a rock-solid signal, even in environments where wireless congestion is common (subways, offices, etc.). They support aptX™ Lossless, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC, allowing for high-resolution playback across a variety of devices.

Controls are tactile and satisfyingly clicky, though they’ve been downsized and tucked away compared to the Px7 S2e. This cleaner design elevates the headphone’s aesthetics, but it introduces a short learning curve—particularly for users accustomed to larger or more spaced-out buttons like those on the WH-1000XM6.

The Bowers & Wilkins Music App serves as the central control hub. From there, you can access the 5-band EQ, toggle through ANC presets, and activate TrueSound Mode, a proprietary tuning preset that gives the Px7 S3 its signature dynamic flair. Unlike Sony’s robust customization suite, B&W opts for a leaner, cleaner approach—ideal for users who don’t want to fuss with settings and just want great sound out of the box.

Noise Cancellation

Active noise cancellation on the Px7 S3 is noticeably improved from the Px7 S2e, though still not class-leading. Compared to the Sony WH-1000XM6, which is often regarded as the gold standard in ANC performance, the Px7 S3 falls slightly short in eliminating high-frequency hiss or airplane cabin rumble.

That said, noise cancellation is more than just ANC strength—it’s about the sum of passive isolation, driver tuning, and fit. Here, the Px7 S3 impresses. The earcups seal well, and the headphone’s natural loudness and driver responsiveness make it easy to immerse yourself even without perfect ANC.

The three ANC modes—On, Off, and Ambient Pass-Through—are easy to toggle via the app. Ambient mode in particular offers a natural-feeling passthrough that avoids the metallic or artificial quality found in some competitors.

Tech Specs

• Weight & Size
  • 300g without case
  • Carrying case dimensions: 177mm x 60mm x 234mm
• Drivers & Performance
  • 2 x 40mm bio-cellulose dynamic drivers
  • True 24-bit DAC/amplifier combo
  • High-performance DSP
  • Bluetooth 5.3 with support for aptX™ Lossless, Adaptive, HD, AAC, and SBC
• Microphones & Calls
  • 8 total microphones (4 per earcup)
  • ADI Pure Voice Call Algorithm for improved speech pickup and clarity
• Battery
  • 30 hours playback on full charge
  • 15-minute quick charge = 7 hours playback

Bowers & Wilkins has equipped the Px7 S3 with future-proof wireless protocols and driver technology aimed at serious listeners. The TrueSound™ mode and 24-bit DAC support point toward a sonic identity that’s more refined and expressive than most headphones in this category.

Listening Review

Soundstage & Imaging

The soundstage of the Px7 S3 is best described as focused and frontally immersive, favoring intimacy and control over exaggerated width. Compared to the airy diffusion of the Focal Bathys MG, which leans on an open-back-inspired voicing, the Px7 S3 instead delivers a deep and slightly upward-arched presentation that feels like it wraps around your forward-facing field of hearing.

Lateral width is somewhat restrained—it doesn’t stretch far beyond the head like the Sony WH-1000XM6 can in spatial DSP modes—but the sense of layering front-to-back is genuinely impressive for a closed-back Bluetooth headphone. Vocals are placed dead center and slightly above eye-level, while instruments like snares, acoustic guitars, and ambient textures wrap around the periphery without smearing or collapsing inward.

Imaging precision is a strong suit. Instruments are clearly separated and easy to track in the stereo field. On a track like Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek,” each vocal overdub and panned layer clicks into its own micro-location without any phasey blurring.

Low Frequencies

The Px7 S3’s bass response is tightly managed—never bloated, never lazy. Sub-bass presence is present but reined in, with a gentle roll-off below 40Hz that avoids the flabby rumbles sometimes found in wireless cans. Bass is more textural and tactile than cinematic, emphasizing attack clarity over long decay tails.

What sets the Px7 S3 apart from boomier competitors is the speed of its low-end transients. Kick drums have an immediate, satisfying thump, while bass guitars retain their pluck and growl without masking midrange fundamentals. There’s a mild mid-bass elevation that lends warmth and weight to tracks like Mother Mother’s “little mistake,” giving synths and drums a firm foundation without saturating the mix.

Genres like funk, jazz, and acoustic pop benefit most from this type of bass presentation. Electronic and hip-hop listeners might wish for a touch more sub-bass authority, but what’s here is beautifully executed and never fatiguing.

Midrange Frequencies

The midrange is arguably the Px7 S3’s defining strength. Bowers & Wilkins has pushed the midrange slightly forward, particularly in the upper mids (2–4kHz), giving vocals, snares, and strings a sense of immediacy that makes them shine in any mix.

What’s remarkable is the timbral separation—acoustic instruments retain their individual colors without blending into a midrange blur. On Fleet Foxes’ “White Winter Hymnal,” you can clearly distinguish the layered harmonies from the reverb-soaked guitars and upright bass. Each midrange element is framed, not fused.

Male vocals have a solid chest resonance, while female vocals soar without harshness. There’s a touch of euphonic coloration—voices sound slightly “lifted,” like they’ve been given a subtle mix polish. This tuning choice makes the Px7 S3 ideal for vocal-focused genres like indie folk, singer-songwriter, R&B, and classic rock.

Compared to the Sony WH-1000XM6, which can sound slightly hollow or scooped in the mids depending on EQ, the Px7 S3 feels more confident and natural, with better microdynamics and phrasing detail.

High Frequencies

The Px7 S3’s treble is airy, smooth, and crisp, with enough sparkle to bring out shimmer and detail, but without crossing into piercing or fatiguing territory. There’s a tasteful roll-off above 10kHz, which smooths out aggressive transients and prevents sharpness at high volumes.

Cymbals, hi-hats, and brushed percussion sound lifelike and appropriately sibilant, rather than overly de-essed or sanded down. On jazz recordings like Olivia Dean’s album “Live at the Jazz Cafe,” the brushwork on the snare and the sparkle of ride cymbals feel delicately rendered without any digital grain.

The transient response in the treble is also commendable—guitar plucks have bite, string harmonics are crisp, and vocal air feels gently expanded without harsh peaks. That said, treble-heads looking for aggressive extension may find the upper air slightly subdued compared to wired audiophile headphones or high-end open-back models.

Tonal Balance & Genre Versatility

The Px7 S3 sits comfortably in the “balanced but expressive” tuning category. It doesn’t go for analytical flatness like a studio monitor, nor does it indulge in V-shaped hype. The tonal balance walks a fine line between accuracy and musicality, making it one of the most versatile wireless headphones in this price tier.

Whether you’re diving into modern orchestral, electronic production, classic rock, or lo-fi indie, the Px7 S3 adapts well. It doesn’t artificially juice up a track’s energy, but instead allows the mix’s natural dynamics to shine through. It also handles poorly mastered or compressed tracks surprisingly well—its smooth treble and warm midrange help mask sharp digital edges.

The default tuning is pleasing on its own, but the 5-band EQ in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app gives you enough flexibility to sculpt the tonal balance without compromising integrity. A gentle bass lift or midrange scoop can tailor the sound for personal preference or genre without introducing distortion or phase issues.

Px7 S3 vs. Px7 S2e vs. Px8 – Which is right for you?

On paper, the Px7 S3 looks like a minor refresh—but in practice, it’s a noticeable refinement. The design is more streamlined and stylish, the sound is more open and detailed, and the ANC has taken a real step forward. It takes some more metallic and shinier elements from the Px8 and adds them to the matte finishes from the S2e. 

Where the Px7 S2e had a more bloomy midrange and slightly veiled treble, the Px7 S3 is cleaner, crisper, and more revealing. It also gets significantly louder without distortion, allowing for more immersive listening in louder environments. I set the headphones to the same volume percentage, and when I switched back and forth on the same track, it was clear to see how much louder the Px7 S3 was. 

I put these side by side with the higher model Px8 as well. The main difference between the Px7 S3 and the Px8 is the same from the Px7 S2e and the Px8: different driver material and aesthetic choice. The Px7 S3 is made from the bio-cellulose driver, while the Px8 has a carbon driver of the same size. This makes the sonic experience slightly different, with the Px7 S3 a bit more pointed and detailed while the Px8 is more relaxed and bass forward. 

If you already own the Px7 S2e and don’t have issues with its comfort or sonic balance, the S3 may not be a must-upgrade. But if you’re looking for stronger separation, increased volume, and a more modern tuning, the Px7 S3 is absolutely worth the step up. However, if you were eyeing the Px8 and the price is a bit too high for your liking, the Px7 S3 makes for a good compromise without sacrificing quality. 

Final Thoughts

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 strikes a compelling balance between audiophile-grade sound, luxurious design, and modern wireless functionality. While it may not outperform Sony in ANC or match Focal in spatial openness, it carves out its own space by delivering a refined, musical sound signature with just enough customization to satisfy both purists and casual users.

For those who value build quality, clean mids, and well-rounded performance over flashy features, the Px7 S3 stands out as one of the most confident Bluetooth headphone releases of the year.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 is available in all three color variants at Audio46.