Bowers & Wilkins

Px8 S2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones, Midnight Blue

For him if he flies often or loves albums

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$799.00Price as of Nov 13, 6:17 PM ET Details

A strong gift for a man who listens closely — whole albums, long flights, a commute he'd rather spend with music — and wants headphones built from leather and metal rather than plastic. Skip it if he already owns a recent flagship pair or prefers earbuds.

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Gift notes by Shnoop Editors · Updated November 13, 2026

Why it works as a gift

The Px8 S2 is Bowers & Wilkins' flagship over-ear headphone, and the company leads with sound and materials: two 40mm carbon-cone drivers, a 24-bit DSP with its own DAC and amplifier, and a frame of die-cast aluminium wrapped in soft Nappa leather. Eight microphones, four in each earcup, handle the noise cancelling and calls.

That build is what makes it read as a gift rather than a gadget. It looks and feels like something chosen with care, and it improves time he already spends listening, so there is no new habit to start. Bowers & Wilkins rates it at 30 hours per charge, with a 15-minute charge giving about seven hours, which covers a long-haul flight and the trip home.

The obvious alternative at a lower price is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, which Shnoop also carries. Choose the Bose if you want to spend less; choose the Px8 S2 when he cares about the materials and wants to listen wired as well as wireless. It connects to two devices at once over Bluetooth 5.3 and supports aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive, and it can also play wired over USB-C or the included 3.5mm cable.

Who it’s for

A husband who travels for work and spends hours on planes and trains
A dad who plays records or high-resolution streams at home and still uses old wired headphones
A man who switches between a laptop and a phone all day and wants one pair for both

Skip it if

He already owns a recent flagship pair from Sony, Bose, Apple or Bowers & Wilkins; the upgrade will feel small
He prefers earbuds or finds over-ear headphones too warm or heavy (about 310 g, per Bowers & Wilkins)
You want something compact for a jacket pocket: the case is about 23 cm tall, per Bowers & Wilkins

Giving it

The box includes a carry case, a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to 3.5mm cable, so it is ready to use on day one
Bowers & Wilkins offers four finishes (Onyx Black, Warm Stone, Midnight Blue, Pearl Blue); this card is Midnight Blue
Pair it with a Bellroy or leather travel piece from Shnoop's men's edit for a travel-themed gift

The facts

Drivers: Two 40mm full-range carbon-cone drivers
Materials: Nappa leather and die-cast aluminium
Battery: Up to 30 hours; 15-minute charge for about 7 hours
Wireless: Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint; aptX Lossless, Adaptive, HD, AAC, SBC
In the box: Carry case, USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C to 3.5mm cable

Consider instead

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones — A lower-priced over-ear pair with noise cancelling
Sonos Era 100 — Music for the whole room rather than one listener

Shnoop hasn’t tested this product. These notes come from the maker’s and retailer’s published information, read against our gift criteria. How we pick. Sources: Bowers & Wilkins: Px8 S2, Amazon: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, Midnight Blue.

A note from the editors

Not quite right? Here’s what we’d look at next.

The best gift fits the person and the moment, not just the category. If this one misses on price or feel, these are close cousins we’d suggest for him.