Px7 S3 & Px8 S2 Headphones
Client
Bowers & Wilkins
Year
2025
Type of Work
Design development
Ergonomics
CMF development
Design for manufacture
Following the phenomenal success of the Px7 S2 and Px8 headphones, Bowers & Wilkins approached Goodwin Hartshorn to develop the next generation of products.
Building on the look and feel of the previous range, our focus was to create world-class headphones that are even more comfortable for as broad a range of users as possible with a design that is unmistakably Bowers & Wilkins. We were keen to move the aesthetics forward and so spent time evolving the design language. This change not only created a new, unique product but also helped to provide technical improvements: better battery access and shallower earcups. We now have a more cohesive look that relates to other B&W products but also enables technical benefits. A win-win.
In their development, the team paid particular attention to serviceability so that the battery and cushions are all now replaceable. Ultimately, these are the finest sounding, most comfortable headphones that B&W have ever made.
Following the success of the acoustic design of the Pi6/8 earbuds in terms of mic locations/ports/vents etc., we implemented a similar annular acoustic gap for these Px7 and Px8 headphones. And with a new acoustic architecture, we’ve been able to reduce the external depth of the earcups dramatically (whilst maintaining the same space for users’ ears). Excluding the cushions, the earcups are now 23% shallower than the previous generation.
As with the previous generation of products, here the brief was broad: concept development, detailed design, ergonomics and anthropometrics, material selection, manufacturing refinement and trend analysis/CMF development. Above you can see the more economically priced Px7 S3 headphones. Below you can see the more luxurious, higher performing Px8 S2 headphones.
The initial launch of the Px7 S3 included three different colourways: anthracite black, indigo blue and canvas white. These all have metal decoplates with fabric-wrapped earcups and headbands. For the leather Px8 S2 there were two colours at launch: onyx black and warm stone. The onyx black headphones look darker than the Px7s owing to the darker decoplate. The warm stone colour is darker and richer than the Px7 light headphones thanks to the dove-coloured Napa leather. Additional colours will be added after launch so watch this space!
The process of designing and developing a new range of headphones that needs to work for a global audience (both aesthetically, ergonomically and acoustically) is no small task and takes a lot of time and effort from a great many people. We worked closely with teams in manufacturing, acoustics and electronics at B&W influencing almost all aspects of the headphones. Once again, it’s been a huge privilege for us to work with such exceptionally skilled people on such an amazing range of products.
