Inputs: USB-C
Bluetooth: 5.2 (SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive)
Battery life: 30 hours
Weight: 307g
The Px7 S2e set a brand new benchmark for element and perception at this stage, they usually’re a fantastically crafted pair of headphones. However the competitors is fierce, and the Sony XM5 stay our choose for now, particularly contemplating their cheaper price.
For
- Full, lush sonic character
- Benchmark perception
- Entertaining supply
- Stable specification
In opposition to
- Powerful competitors
- Don’t fold away utterly
Inputs: USB-C
Bluetooth: 5.2 (SBC, AAC, LDAC)
Battery life: 30hrs
Weight: 250g
The XM5 are as compelling as ever, even within the face of such stiff competitors. They really feel low cost subsequent to the brand new B&Ws, however their sound high quality, function set and glorious noise cancelling place them amongst all-rounders at this stage.
For
- Sensational sonic readability
- Punchy supply
- Exact, agile bass
- Good to make use of
In opposition to
- Construct appears rather less premium than earlier than
- Don’t fold away utterly
Simply when the Sony WH-1000XM5’s lead over rival noise-cancelling cans seems to be unassailable, alongside comes Bowers & Wilkins with one goal: to spoil the get together. The Px7 S2e are a sensational pair of wi-fi headphones, with a vigorous sonic character, insightful sound and stable all-rounder standing.
However is it sufficient to knock the XM5 from the rostrum? We have lengthy extolled the numerous virtues of Sony’s most interesting, and with the model contemporary from a clear sweep of the headphones classes within the 2023 What Hello-Fi? Awards, Sony is wanting unbeatable in the mean time. Can it maintain off B&W?
B&W Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5: value
The Sony WH-1000XM5 launchedin 2022 at £380 / $399 / AU$550, however have lately began to drop in value. Throughout October’s Prime Large Deal Days sale, they dropped as little as £258, and on the time of writing are presently promoting for £315 / $350 / AU$550.
B&W’s new challengers launched in September 2023 at across the similar value (£379 / $399 / AU$599), however being a brand new mannequin, that value continues to carry agency and is prone to keep there for the close to future.
The massive query is, are they price the additional?
**Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5**
B&W Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5: design
The Px7 S2e actually appear to be an costly pair of headphones. However then what else would you count on from the enduring British model? It has constantly produced glorious – and really dapper – audio equipment through the years.
The Px7 S2e comply with the Px7 S2, which positively oozed class. We’re large followers of the successors’ Forest Inexperienced end, however additionally they are available in Ocean Blue, Cloud Gray and Anthracite Black. That is two extra color choices than the XM5 (that are solely obtainable in black or silver).
The Px7 S2e have loads of good touches to assist justify the worth. The earcups have a textured end, gold accents and a cylindrical B&W badge, whereas the earpads and headband are clad in thick pleather. They’re comfortable to put on and really feel lighter than their 307g. And whereas their bodily buttons may look positively steam-age subsequent to rivals’ contact controls, you possibly can’t beat them for reliability.
For portability, they fold flat however do not collapse inwards to slot in a pocket, which is similar because the XM5. That is typical of most fashionable premium pairs, however the tradeoff is a extra refined design and have set.
The XM5 have a “noiseless” design, which mainly means they’re slimmer than their predecessors with fewer hinges. At 254g, they are a good bit lighter than the Px7 S2e, and really feel fairly a bit cheaper. However they’re very nicely made, with the ABS sliders to regulate the scarf and reminiscence foam ear cushions proving very snug certainly.
**Winner: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e**
B&W Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5: options
Now we get to the meat of the comparability. What can these headphones truly do?
The B&Ws aren’t a case of favor over substance. Their battery life matches the XM5’s at 30 hours, they usually ship a formidable seven hours from simply quarter-hour of charging. They assist Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive, one of many higher-quality Bluetooth codecs round. And for a pair of wi-fi headphones, they’re nicely linked in relation to cables, with assist for each USB-C and three.5mm. B&W even provides each cables within the field.
Just like the XM5, they are often managed by an app, however whereas B&W’s Music App may be very nicely carried out, it is not fairly as thorough as Sony’s Headphones Join app. B&W’s providing enables you to alter the EQ, assign button features, tweak the sensitivity of wearer detection, and alter noise cancelling. It additionally offers you entry to Deezer, Qobuz, Tidal and TuneIn, should you’re signed up, with extra providers coming quickly.
Sony’s XM5 have loads of the identical options because the Award-winning XM4. The DSEE Excessive engine upscales compressed music to close hi-res high quality, and whereas they do not assist any type of aptX, they do work with Sony’s personal LDAC format.
They’ve loads of revolutionary options away from sound high quality. Fast Consideration enables you to decrease the amount and have a dialog by masking the proper earcup along with your hand, whereas ‘Communicate to Chat’ senses whenever you begin speaking and pauses playback whereas participating the ambient sound mode so you possibly can hear what the opposite particular person is saying.
Sporting Detection is aware of whenever you take the headphones off and routinely pauses what you are watching or listening to, then resumes whenever you put them again on.
Rounding off the function set is Bluetooth Multipoint, which helps you to pair wirelessly with two gadgets without delay and swap between them with out having to re-pair.
**Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5**
B&W Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5: noise-cancelling
Lively noise cancellation (ANC) is without doubt one of the largest promoting factors of those headphones. So how do they examine?
The B&Ws fare nicely, however do not excel. Their ANC system includes six microphones which cancel exterior noise, they usually do a very good job of silencing bassy feels like bus engines. However the Sonys are extra achieved on this regard, particularly in relation to mid and higher frequencies.
That is likely to be partly all the way down to the truth that the XM5 have two extra microphones than the Px7 S2e. Or Sony’s processing may merely be extra superior. Both method, the XM5 are the best way to go if you wish to minimize out exterior sound.
**Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5**
B&W Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5: sound
And so to sound high quality, crucial issue of all of them. Right here the Px7 S2e pull out all of the stops – they’re rather less analytical than their predecessors, with an upgraded DSP and extra open soundstage. And so they have not misplaced any of the element that made the Px7 S2 a five-star pair, nor the power to speak delicate dynamic shifts.
Decrease frequencies stay a spotlight, with bass depth and punch in head-bopping provide. Bowers has not solely aired out the soundstage for better coherency, but in addition smoothed the presentation to create a sweeter and simpler pay attention.
The Px7 S2e are nonetheless an analytical pair, however they now come a lot nearer to the XM5’s musicality. Which is actually saying one thing, because the XM5 are among the best-sounding cans at this stage. With better readability and a extra open presentation than their Award-winning predecessors, together with a extra exact low finish, they continue to be the headphones to beat.
**Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5**
B&W Px7 S2e vs Sony WH-1000XM5: verdict
The Px7 S2e are an actual step on for B&W. The construct high quality and end make the XM5 really feel low cost, whereas the function set is impressively stacked. However with a cheaper price, extra complete app, higher sound and simpler noise cancelling, the Sonys stay prime canine on this planet of over-ear ANC headphones.
MORE:
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose 700: that are greatest?
Our choose of the greatest noise-cancelling headphones
See our record of Sony WH-1000XM5 ideas and methods
