Competing Premium Headphones: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs Apple AirPods Max - Which High-End Audio Devices Rule the Market?
In the realm of premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones, two titans stand out: the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and the Apple AirPods Max. Both offer exceptional sound quality, advanced features, and stylish designs, but they cater to different needs.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, priced at around £399 / AU$699, boasts a more affordable price tag compared to the AirPods Max, which typically retail at £499 / $549 / AU$899. This price difference, coupled with its sonic strengths, makes the Px7 S3 an overall better value buy.
Sound Quality
The Px7 S3 is renowned for its superior fidelity, nuanced sound with rich detail, deeper bass, and clarity without sibilance. It offers a consumer-friendly V-shaped sound profile focusing on bass and treble, ensuring musical engagement and balance. The headphones also feature a 5-band EQ for customization, providing audiophile-level clarity and balance.
The AirPods Max, while delivering premium sound quality with a more neutral midrange, lacks the Px7 S3's expressive sound signature. However, they excel in clean, balanced sound and excellent spatial audio support within the Apple ecosystem.
Features
Both headphones share a premium build, but the Px7 S3 stands out with its versatility. It supports aptX Lossless and multiple Bluetooth codecs, providing excellent cross-platform compatibility. The Px7 S3 also includes a proper protective case, ensuring your investment remains safe.
The AirPods Max, on the other hand, integrates seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem, with spatial audio and device switching. However, its storage case is less protective, and it only offers baseline AAC and SBC codecs.
Battery Life
The Px7 S3 has a significant advantage in battery life, offering 30 hours with ANC on, compared to the AirPods Max's 20 hours. This makes the Px7 S3 a top choice for audiophiles and travelers.
In Conclusion
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 offers richer detail, longer battery life, and versatility across platforms, making it a top choice for audiophiles and travelers. The AirPods Max, while not as versatile, shines for users fully embedded in the Apple ecosystem seeking seamless device integration and a premium build.
[1] [2] [5] Source: TechRadar, CNET, and Wired reviews of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Apple AirPods Max.
- The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3, retailing around £399 / AU$699, offers better value due to its sonic strengths and affordable price tag compared to the Apple AirPods Max, typically selling at £499 / $549 / AU$899.
- The Px7 S3 boasts superior fidelity, nuanced sound with rich detail, deeper bass, and clarity without sibilance, featuring a consumer-friendly V-shaped sound profile and a 5-band EQ for customization.
- The AirPods Max, while delivering a more neutral midrange and excellent spatial audio support within the Apple ecosystem, lacks the Px7 S3's expressive sound signature.
- The Px7 S3 stands out with its versatility, supporting aptX Lossless and multiple Bluetooth codecs, while also including a proper protective case.
- The Px7 S3 has a significant battery life advantage, offering 30 hours with ANC on, compared to the AirPods Max's 20 hours.
