My noise canceling headphones - after 5 honored years of service - are falling apart. And so, when the Bowers & Wilkins PX5, I immediately offered to review them. In fact, I wanted to understand if they could do for me, if they can really replace that accessory that has kept me company on countless flights and that has allowed me to sleep peacefully even in the noisiest places.
The answer? I'll reveal it to you at the end of our review.
Bowers & Wilkins PX5 recensione: on-ear, non over-ear
Le Bowers & Wilkins PX5 sono cuffie wireless on-ear e non over-ear. This means that they do not wrap around your ear, but rest on your auricle. A choice that brings with it a series of natural consequences. On the one hand, in fact, we have a more compact and much less bulky device compared to the most famous and popular over-ear headphones, including the PX7 produced by Bowers & Wilkins. On the other hand the on-ear design makes them slightly less comfortable than over-ear products, which means it will be more difficult to use them for long periods.
Why start with these considerations? In reality, the choice to adopt one or the other format already defines the target audience of these headphones. In fact, if you are looking for a product to use for hours, to keep in the office all day, to use on transatlantic flights, perhaps this is not the product that best suits your needs. On the contrary, if you plan to use them on public transport to get to work, if you usually take them off and on several times a day, if you want an accessory designed for commuters, then the Bowers & Wilkins PX5 are strongly in play.
To make them attractive, however, it is not only the on-ear format, but a set of factors that make the portability one of their greatest strengths. The headphones were in fact made in carbon fiber, which makes them incredibly light and just as strong. So you can keep them around your neck or throw them in your backpack without worrying too much about their safety. Also the external parts in fabric they do not seem particularly subject to daily wear. In fact, after two weeks we found them as clean as the first day, despite having collided with the smog of the city, the poor maintenance of regional trains, the chaos of the office and that of subways and buses. Internally, on the other hand, we have the arch and pavilions made in memory foam and covered in leather, so as to maximize comfort during use.
Finally, we cannot forget the aesthetics of the PX5. Yes, because the glance is really pleasant. The parts in blue fabric (or space gray if you prefer a classic look), the slightly embossed logo, the curves of the two arms, the barely visible but extremely comfortable keys ... Everything is studied in detail and testifies to the will of the English company to place on the market only products of the highest quality.
Let's open the box
Before telling you how these on-ear headphones behave, let me dedicate a short paragraph to the packaging of the Bowers & Wilkins PX5.
Let's be clear, the box has nothing unusual, but it is the contents that will surprise you.
In recent years I have seen and tried an important number of headphones and, when it comes to their transport, the solutions adopted by the different manufacturers are usually two: a rather rigid case - which presupposes the possibility of folding the headphones in some way - or a fabric bag.
But the PX5s can't be folded and the bag wouldn't do the British company justice. This is where it comes into play the rigid fabric “envelope” that you find inside the package. A solution that keeps the product safe and that, in its simplicity, is extraordinarily elegant. In addition, inside you will find a small pocket where you can insert the 3,5 mm cable (because wireless is ok, but you never know when you will have to use the classic jack) and the USB-C one for charging.
Bowers & Wilkins Px5 - Wireless Canceling Headphones ...
- Modern sound: the px5 is light and compact and offers sound quality based on the stringent standards of bowers ...
- Say goodbye to noise: from a library to a large central station, adaptive noise cancellation adjusts ...
- Play 25 hours at a time: a charged battery and just over a day of music; if for some reason you need ...
Controls and autonomy: a real bomb
Put the packaging and design aside, it's time to put on the headphones and start using them. Such as? First of all by pairing them with a smartphone, tablet or computer. To do this you will have to turn on the headphones using the small switch on the right and then you will have to push it upwards for a few moments to activate the pairing. I point out that you can connect up to two devices at the same time and trust me, it's a feature you will love, especially if you use them for work. For example, I kept them connected to both my PC and smartphone, which allowed me to answer any call even while editing a video, editing a podcast or just watching a movie.
There is no soft touch surface, but in reality the buttons featured are excellent substitutes. They are well positioned, easily accessible and with clear functionality. On the right pavilion we find those dedicated to volume and a central button that allows you to start playback, pause, answer the phone and reject a call. All with a single press. A double click, on the other hand, allows you to go to the next track, while pressing it three times will go to the previous track. Finally, the long press will call up the voice assistant on duty. On the left, however, we have a single button dedicated to cnoise cancellation. Press it to switch between Off to High, Low and Auto.
Let's not forget two further functions. The first is related to Wear-Detection Sensor, a sensor that helps the PX5 understand if you are wearing or taking them off, so as to automatically stop the music and then resume playback once the headphones are repositioned.
The second is the Transmission of the environment and can only be managed through the dedicated application - Bowers & Wilkins Headphones -, available on both iOS and Android.
What do you need it for? Imagine traveling with the PX5. Wouldn't you like to hear the cars anyway? Or announcements in case of train delay? Or the communication that boarding has begun? If the answer is yes, then you will love this option. The operation is quite simple: microphones are used to capture ambient noise and then reproduce it via headphones, thus eliminating the natural isolation.
The app obviously isn't just for this purpose. You can also use it to adjust noise cancellation, to check the devices you are connected to, to activate or deactivate the function that automatically manages the battery (turning off the headphones when not in use), to update the firmware or to play a series of relaxing ambient noises.
Download
QR-Code
Bowers & Wilkins Headphones
Developer:
B&W Group Ltd
Price:
Free
Download
QR-Code
Bowers & Wilkins Headphones
Developer:
Bowers & Wilkins
Price:
Free
Before moving on to sound quality, let's talk about autonomy. I used these Bowers & Wilkins PX5s intermittently for a week without being able to download them. To really put them to the test I tried to use them 8 hours a day for 3 days and yes, at the end of the third day I had to run for cover using the 3,5mm jack prime and the USB-C cable for charging afterwards. In total then we cover about 24/25 hours of use, more than enough for a long transoceanic flight or for a 2/3 day trip.
Bowers & Wilkins PX5 review: sound quality and ANC
The PX5s fit driver from 35,6 mm designed ad hoc, they are equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 and take advantage of technology apX Adaptive di Qualcomm. All of this results in a very low latency, perfect especially for video content users, and in a Hi-Res audio really satisfying.
There hasn't been a song from my trusted playlist (link here) that hasn't given me satisfaction. Hunger by Florence + The Machine offered an enveloping sound and a very high definition that enhanced Florence's singing skills, while Pray for Me by Kendrick Lamar showed the muscles with deep and well-balanced bass. In A Thousand Years by The Piano Guys, on the other hand, it is possible to easily recognize the different instruments and appreciate the gradual change of dynamics.
There is really no song or genre that is not enhanced by these PX5s that yes, they will make audiophiles happy too.
The noise cancellation is less exciting. As mentioned above, there are four modes present, but in extremely noisy environments even the highest level cannot really isolate you from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, you will always hear something. A real shame for a very high quality product that he also performed well on call.
Bowers & Wilkins PX5 review: buy them or not?
We come to the final verdict, which I would actually like to divide into two parts.
Let's start with objectivity. The PX5s are truly an incredible product. They are light, with excellent autonomy and a very high level of sound quality. The user experience is also really intuitive, with easily accessible keys and a simple and clear app.
If you are looking for a product to use on the go and that is the priority for you, namely portability, the PX5s are an excellent option. However, they are expensive. 299,99 euros for a pair of headphones with unconvincing noise cancellation (and analog keys where the competition offers soft touch) are several.
Could they replace my old headphones, the ones that are flaking off day after day? Honestly no. Not because the product is invalid, but because I'm not the kind of user these headphones were born for. In a standard work day, I spend at least 5-6 hours with headphones, both in smart working and in the office. Comfort for me is the first thing and, on that front, the over-ears have something more to offer. If you are like me and you want to stay at Bowser and Wilkins always, bet on the PX7.
Bowers & Wilkins PX5
Pro 
- Constructive quality
- Stylish Design
- Great sound quality
- Intuitive user experience
Cons 
- ANC that can be improved
- Important price
