Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless On-Ear Headphones w/ ANC

MSRP 300 USD71% External
Keywords: aptx-hdbowers-wilkinsdynamic-headphonesflagshipheadphonesnoise-cancellationon-earwireless-headphones

Product Gallery

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Product Overview

Bowers & Wilkins PX5 are premium wireless on-ear headphones with active noise cancellation. They are powered by B&W's 35.6mm dynamic drivers and boast a 25-hour battery life with support for fast charging.
The PX5's dynamic drivers, while smaller than those found in the over-ear PX7, are designed by the same engineers who also masterminded the company's flagship 800 Diamond series loudspeakers. They offer a similar performance profile in terms of bass extension, high-frequency control, and musicality.
With four microphones, the PX5 provide strong active noise cancellation. For convenience, the headphones can also be used wired via 3.5mm headphone jack or USB-C audio. Five hours of battery life can be added with just 15 minutes of quick charging.
Essentially, the PX5 differ from the PX7 only in form factor: the on-ear design makes the PX5 lighter, but for long listening sessions the lack of pressure on the ears offer by a set of over-ear headphones may be preferable.

Ratings

What we found**

Pros
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Excellent on-ear noise cancellation
  • Excellent battery life
  • Comfortable fit
Cons
  • Sound quality could be better

What external reviewers found***

External score 71% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Decent audio performance
  • Good battery life
Cons
  • Weak noise cancellation
  • Poor battery life
  • Mediocre integrated microphone
  • No aptX Adaptive support
  • No EQ adjustment
  • Noise cancellation isn’t as effective as over-ear headphones
Read More

Price Comparison

Specifications

Connectivity

Ports
3.5mm stereo jack + USB-C
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth

Construction

Cable
1.2m stereo audio cable + 1.2m USB-A to USB-C cable
Carrying Case
Yes
Colors
Space Grey, Blue
Drivers
35.6mm full range
Form Factor
Wireless Headphones, On-Ear
Headphone Type
Dynamic headphones
Microphone
4x mics for ANC + 2x mics for telephony

Dimensions

Weight
241 g

Function

Bluetooth Codecs
AptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Classic, AAC, SBC
Bluetooth Profiles
A2DP v1.3.1, AVRCP v1.6.1, HFP v1.7.1, HSP v1.2, BLE GATT
Fast Charging
5hrs with 15min charge
Noise Cancellation
Yes

Performance

Battery Life
25 hrs Bluetooth with ANC
Frequency Response
10Hz ~ 30kHz
Impedance
20k Ohms
Total Harmonic Distortion
0.3% (1kHz/10mW)

Production

Debut
2019-09

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Launch Comparison
Clear List

3rd-Party Review Videos

External Reviews

nextpit[1]

Reviewer score 76%
Reviewers from nextpit have found the following***:
The Bowers & Wilkins PX5 are packed with audio technology for playback and adaptive noise cancellation. Sound is delivered by custom-designed 35.6mm drivers which the manufacturers says have been designed and tuned by the same team behind its 800 Diamond Series speakers used in Abbey Road Studios. There are six mics in these headphones, four for noise cancellation and two for making phone calls.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Excellent sound quality
  • Comfortable fit
  • Good battery life
Cons
  • Weak noise cancellation
  • Poor battery life

pcmag[2]

Reviewer score 78%
Reviewers from pcmag have found the following***:
The PX5's noise cancellation circuitry is most effective against low-frequency rumble. Keyboard clicks and office chatter are still audible, but get tamped down significantly. There's very little hiss added by the ANC, which is often an issue with less-capable models. The ANC seems to have very little effect on the audio, which isn't always the case with wireless models.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Excellent noise cancellation
  • Good battery life
  • Decent audio performance
Cons
  • No EQ adjustments

rtings[3]

Reviewer score 33%
Reviewers from rtings have found the following***:
The Bowers & Wilkins PX5 are decent for mixed usage. They're well-built, block out plenty of ambient noise, and feature an easy-to-use control scheme. Unfortunately, their bass-heavy sound profile isn't for everyone, and their mediocre integrated microphone limits their usage for phone calls.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Excellent multi-device pairing capability
  • Long battery life
  • Comfortable on-ear fit
  • Very low latency on mobile devices
Cons
  • Bass-heavy sound profile
  • Mediocre integrated microphone
  • No EQ in companion app

t3[4]

Reviewer score 83%
Reviewers from t3 have found the following***:
The Bowers & Wilkins PX5 have an impeccably balanced sonic signature. They're a vibrant, energetic listen, giving every impression of being just as engaged by the music you enjoy as you are yourself. There's enough dynamic headroom here to make the difference between ‘quiet and intimate' and ‘full-on attack' perfectly obvious, even if they occur immediately after each other. The only area of performance that deserves a less than fulsome mention is noise-cancelling.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Impressive sound quality
  • Impressive noise-cancelling
  • Comfortable fit
Cons
  • No EQ adjustment

techradar[5]

Reviewer score 82%
Reviewers from techradar have found the following***:
The Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless On-Ear Headphones sound fantastic, with a detailed, natural-sounding profile. They have slightly smaller drivers than the flagship PX7, they may not sound quite as powerful, but it's a small trade off if you want that compact design. Battery life is very good, while noise cancellation could be stronger during long listening periods.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Powerful passive noise cancellation
  • Comfortable fit
  • Good battery life
Cons
  • Noise cancellation isn’t as effective as over-ear headphones

techradar[6]

Reviewer score 74%
Reviewers from techradar have found the following***:
Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless On-Ear headphones are aimed at those who want the immersive sound of over-ears without the bulk. Kitted out with Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive audio codec, they're among the first cans to sport the technology. They look great, with attractive fabric-covered housings and subtle buttons on the earcups that allow you to control the playback of your music, as well as the level of noise cancelation.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Wide soundstage and natural soundstage
  • High-quality build
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • No aptX Adaptive support

User Reviews

Comments

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References

  1. ^ Bowers & Wilkins PX5 review: classy on-ear wireless headphones. [nextpit]. https://www.nextpit.com/bowers-wilkins-px5-review. 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
  2. ^ Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/bowers-wilkins-px5. 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
  3. ^ Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Headphones Review. [rtings]. https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/bowers-wilkins/px5-wireless. 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
  4. ^ Bowers & Wilkins PX5: What’s the quickest, easiest way to turn a good product into a great one?. [t3]. https://www.t3.com/reviews/bowers-and-wilkins-px5-whats-the-quickest-easiest-way-to-turn-a-good-product-into-a-great-one. 2020-08-25. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  5. ^ Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless Headphones review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/bowers-and-wilkins-px5-wireless-headphones-review. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
  6. ^ Hands on: Bowers & Wilkins PX5 Wireless On-Ear Headphones review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/bowers-and-wilkins-px5-wireless-on-ear-headphones. 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2021-05-15.

The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.

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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.

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