Over-Ear
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
76Great
$428
Full review dataBowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e vs HiFiMAN Arya: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Arya comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN Arya - Outstanding overall at around $769.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya
88Outstanding
$769
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
Sound8.5
Noise cancelling6.5
Battery8.0
Value7.0
HiFiMAN Arya
Sound9.5
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e | HiFiMAN Arya |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $428 | $769 |
| HearWiki score | 76 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | Planar |
| Driver size | 40 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 10-20000 Hz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | 33 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 90 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | - |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | - |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life (ANC on) | 30 h | - |
| Quick charge | 15 min = 7 h | - |
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | - |
| ANC type | hybrid | - |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | Yes | - |
| Controls | touch | - |
| Voice assistant | supported | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 307 g | 430 g |
| Water resistance | none | - |
| USB-C | Yes | No |
| Balanced connection | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 6 | - |
What reviewers said
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e is a premium over-ear wireless headphone that prioritizes refined audio tuning and elegant construction. It delivers a long-lasting 30-hour battery, hybrid noise cancellation, and modern conveniences like multipoint Bluetooth and wear detection, though its ANC performance is competent rather than class-leading. This model is best viewed as a subtle improvement over its predecessor, focusing on sonic polish rather than major feature changes.
- Pro:Refined, natural sound signature with excellent detail
- Pro:Premium, luxurious build quality and stylish design
- Pro:Long battery life that often exceeds the rated 30 hours
- Con:Noise cancellation is good but not top-tier for the price
- Con:Slightly heavy on the head for extended wear
- Con:Only AAC codec support, no aptX or LDAC
HiFiMAN Arya
The HiFiMAN Arya is a premium planar magnetic headphone known for its exceptionally fast, detailed, and airy sound. Its bright-neutral tuning delivers a highly resolving, spacious presentation with excellent technical performance, making it a strong choice for critical listening, though it requires a good amplifier to shine. With a comfortable open-back design and a relatively affordable price for its class, it balances high-end performance with accessibility.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and transparency
- Pro:Wide, open soundstage with precise imaging
- Pro:Fast and articulate planar driver response
- Con:Bright treble can be fatiguing for sensitive ears
- Con:Needs a powerful amp to reach full potential
- Con:Open-back leaks sound and offers little isolation
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.