As if we needed another reason to lust after Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones, now the British high-end audio company has teamed up with British high-end auto company McClaren Automotive to create a very special edition of the company's flagship wireless 'phones.
The Bowers & Wilkins McLaren Edition Px8 wireless ANC headphones sport a Galvanic grey finish with Papaya orange accents. The papaya color is inspired by founder Bruce McLaren's early supercars. Bowers & Wilkins already provides the premium audio system for McLaren's supercars. But you won't want to leave this McLaren in your garage. Better to leave the Px8 'phones on your ears where they belong.
Like the standard version, the McLaren Edition Px8 offers the same best-in-class ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) technology which reduces unwanted outside noise without impacting sound quality. The headphones include a "situational awareness" feature which allows some outside sound to come in while you are enjoying the music.
Will Jennings at Ecoustics reviewed the standard edition Px8 headphones and called them "true high-end audiophile wireless headphones." When comparing them to other similarly priced options, Will continued that there is "no comparison when it comes to build quality, comfort, or sound quality."
The Px8 features all-new bespoke 40mm Carbon Cone drive units, inspired by technology used in Bowers & Wilkins reference home loudspeakers. The drive units are angled inside each earcup to ensure a consistent distance relative to the listener's ears from every point across the surface of each driver. This is done to produce a more immersive and accurate soundstage.
The Px8 uses Qualcomm's aptX adaptive wireless technology to ensure the best possible Bluetooth sound quality from compatible phones, tablets and computers. USB-C and 3.5mm analog cable jacks are also available with both cable types included in the custom-designed matching case that comes with the headphones.
Six high-performance microphones work together to deliver the best results: two measure the output of each drive unit, two react to ambient noise from the outside world and two provide outstanding voice clarity with enhanced noise suppression while making calls.
The Px8 McLaren Edition uses the recently updated Bowers & Wilkins Music App for iOS and Android for set-up and use. The Music App allows Px8 users to stream their chosen music directly from their mobile device to their headphones, with Deezer, Qobuz and TIDAL all supported.
The Music App simplifies connection of Bowers & Wilkins headphones to a mobile device, supports fine-tuning of the sound through adjustable EQ, and allows owners to configure their preferred noise-cancelling mode, all while monitoring the headphone's charge level.
Dan Shepherd, Bowers and Wilkins' Vice President, Licensing & Partnerships commented: "We are tremendously proud of our long-standing relationship with McLaren Automotive, which is rooted in a shared desire to lead in performance. The Px8 McLaren Edition celebrates this partnership, extending the appeal of our industry-leading sound performance and McLaren's DNA to outside the car."
Meanwhile, George Biggs, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, McLaren Automotive had this to say about the partnership: "We are delighted to unveil the Px8 McLaren Edition, which builds on the award-winning and long-standing collaboration between McLaren and Bowers & Wilkins. The shared ethos of pushing the boundaries, innovation and the pursuit for perfection is apparent in all products that both brands have collaborated on to-date. With the new headphones, the immersive audio experience that all receive in our supercars can now go beyond the road."
The new Px8 McLaren Edition is available to order from the Bowers & Wilkins website, mclarenstore.com and select retailers. The price is $799 (a $100 premium over the standard edition Px8). The Standard Edition Px8 is available on Amazon.
Related:
Bowers & Wilkins Unveils Major Upgrades with 700 Series S3 Loudspeakers
