Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs Sony WH-1000XM6
Quick take: The Sony WH-1000XM6 costs $1 less.
Which one to buy
Owners describe this matchup as Sony's brains and quiet against B&W's ears and craftsmanship, and that's a fair summary. Both sit at about $399. The Px7 S3's 40mm bio-cellulose drivers are why people buy it: owners describe a textured, detailed sound that makes the XM6 seem processed for pure music listening. The XM6 counters with clearly stronger ANC (voices and sharp sounds leak through the B&W), better calls, and a 10-band EQ against B&W's spartan five bands.
The codec split matters more here than it usually does. The Px7 S3 supports aptX HD, Adaptive and Lossless plus USB-C wired audio, so a Snapdragon Android phone gets the most from it. The XM6 only does LDAC and LC3, and owners point out it can't play audio over USB-C. iPhone users get AAC on both, which takes away much of the B&W's technical edge and leaves only the tuning.
Physically the XM6 is the better traveller: 254g against 300g, folding hinges and a magnetic case, while the B&W only lies flat in a bulky case. The B&W is better made, with fabric and metal and physical buttons for everything, compared with Sony's touch panel that misfires in the cold. Both last about 30 hours. B&W's quick charge is about 7 hours from 15 minutes, and Sony's about 3 hours from 3 minutes. Both have known annoyances: B&W shipped features late and the Px7 line's wear sensor has a history of false triggers, while the XM6 has early hinge cracking and multipoint glitches after firmware updates.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
If music quality outranks everything, especially on a Snapdragon Android phone that can use aptX Lossless, and you prefer physical buttons to touch controls.
Sony WH-1000XM6
For serious quiet on planes and in offices, lots of calls, or a lighter headphone that folds into a small case.
| Spec | Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 | Sony WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$399 | ~$398 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Over-Ear Headphones | Over-Ear Headphones |
| Noise Cancelling | ANC | Adaptive ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 30 hrs | 30 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | 15 min = 7 hrs | 3 min = 3 hrs |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 30 mm |
| Weight | 300 g | 254 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
- ✓Bio-cellulose 40mm drivers many reviewers rank above the XM6
- ✓aptX Lossless for Snapdragon phone owners
- ✓Physical buttons beat touch-panel guesswork
- ✓15-minute charge buys 7 hours
- ✓Fabric-and-metal build looks properly premium
- ✓8-mic ANC took a real step forward this gen
- ✗ANC still a notch behind Bose on a plane
- ✗Spatial audio arrived a year late via firmware 1.4.0
- ✗Promised LE Audio and Auracast support still pending
- ✗Non-folding design means a bulky case
- ✗Firm clamp punishes bigger heads at first
Sony WH-1000XM6
- ✓Arguably the best ANC money buys right now
- ✓Folding hinges return after the XM5's rigid design
- ✓12-mic array delivers excellent call quality
- ✓3-minute charge buys 3 hours of playback
- ✓Wider headband spreads pressure better than the XM5
- ✓LDAC and LC3 codecs plus reliable multipoint
- ✗$449 list price stings versus the discounted XM5
- ✗30-hour battery is now merely average — Momentum 4 doubles it
- ✗LDAC streaming drains the battery noticeably faster
- ✗Matte finish picks up skin oils quickly
- ✗Power button sits awkwardly close to the ANC button
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: common questions
Is the B&W's ANC good enough for flights?▾
Owners say it's solidly good now and fine for flights, a big step up from the Px7 S2. It still lets voices and sharp sounds through where the XM6 doesn't. If you bought it mainly to block noise, owners say you'd likely be disappointed.
Does the Px7 S3's sound advantage survive on an iPhone?▾
Partly. The tuning and the drivers are still the reason owners prefer it for music. On an iPhone, though, both headphones fall back to AAC, so aptX Lossless does nothing and the XM6's LDAC goes unused too. The difference becomes tuning only.
Is the 254g, folding XM6 easier to pack than the Px7 S3?▾
The XM6, by a clear margin. It weighs 254g against 300g, its hinges fold, and its case closes with a magnet. The B&W cups only lie flat, and owners call the case bulky.