The Hardest Headphone Decision — XM6 vs PX7 S3

Which pair would you choose?

Image courtesy of the author

This is the big one.

When I reviewed the Sony WH-1000XM6 recently, I asked a key question: which pair of headphones do you want me to compare them with? The answer came back loud and clear, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. And it wasn’t even close.

So here we are, pitting two of the most talked-about noise-cancelling headphones against each other. On one side, we have Sony, renowned for industry-leading ANC. On the other, Bowers & Wilkins, the British brand known for uber-premium design that prides itself on sound quality above all.

What makes this a particularly interesting comparison is that they are the exact same price: $499 in the US, £399 in the UK. Let battle commence!

Spec Comparison

• Weight: The Sony XM6 are lighter (254g vs the Px7 S3’s 300g).
• Drivers: Px7 S3 sport 40mm bio-cellulose drivers; Sony use 30mm neodymium drivers.
• Codecs: Sony supports LDAC and LC3; Px7 S3 supports aptX, aptX HD, Adaptive and Lossless — plus true 24-bit audio and EQ customisation.
• Battery Life: 30 hours with ANC on for both. Sony claims 40 hours with ANC off.
• Charging: Px7 S3 gives you 7 hours…