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Why I put my Bose QuietComfort Ultra away shortly after trying these headphones

On paper, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 may look eerily similar to the midrange Px7 S3. But the price increase is greatly justified.

Conversely, brands like Focal, which offer headphones with exceptional sound quality and minimal digital features, have a $1,200 asking price and weaker noise-canceling capabilities. The power slider is relocated to the left ear cup, and the play/pause and volume up/down buttons are redesigned to encourage enhanced tactile feedback and recognition. To my ears, the Px7 S3 reproduce a more "consumer-friendly" sound profile: a warm tuning with an extended, weighty bass response, full mids that accentuate vocals and instruments, and a slight peak in the higher frequencies that adds a shine to the treble.

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