Not all loudspeaker manufacturers succeed in making a name for themselves in the headphone market. Bowers & Wilkins has achieved this feat. Thanks to further research by a competent team, however, the reputation gained is not of a temporary but now of a constant nature, as the fabulous performance of the Px7 S2 proved as the most recent example at i-fidelity.net. Our curiosity about the subsequent Px8 was therefore not so great, because we did not assume that the difference between a 40-millimetre paper cone and the equally large carbon cone in the eight-model would be relevant to the sound. After all, the Px7 is already a stunner.

But we couldn't be sure, Bowers & Wilkins must have had something in mind with this new concept. So how does the difference between the two models make itself felt? Is the extra investment in the Px8 worth it after all? Only a direct comparison can provide the answer. Weighing 320 grams, the Px8 is 13 grams heavier than its little brother. Once the battery is charged after about two hours, the headphones can be used to listen to music for thirty hours. When the battery is empty, 15 minutes of recharging is enough for another seven hours of use. So the Bowers & Wilkins offer more than is necessary for everyday use. It is controlled wirelessly in 5.2 aptX mode or via the supplied 1.2-metre USB-C cable. The latter also enables use on the plane while watching a film or browsing through the music library.

Speaking of aeroplanes: The Px8 has a noise-cancelling function that is one of the best we know. When activated, the roar of the engines disappears and a train becomes a hovercraft. This is made possible by two microphones on each ear cup, whose recorded signal is simply cancelled out by adding the signal in phase opposition. Whereby: What is physically described as "simple" requires some know-how in the technical implementation to make it work reliably. If you are approached while noise-cancelling is activated, you can use the "Ambient" button to let the ambient noise through; alternatively, you take off the headphones, whereupon playback stops if desired. The sensitivity of this "wear sensor" can be adjusted to three levels via the Bowers & Wilkins "Music" app - perfect.