Head to head
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e vs Sonos Ace
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e leads 3 to 0 on the 3 rankable specs and costs $50 less, which makes it the straightforward pick. Most of the 14 attributes tracked here are descriptive rather than numeric.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
Swap
Compare a different headphone
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Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 3 to 0
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e.
- Leads 3 of 3 rankable overall specs.
- Weight: 307 g vs 312 g
- Charging time: 2 hours vs 3 hours full charge
- It is also $50 cheaper.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · No (swivel earcups)Trips:Sonos Ace · No (swivels flat into slim magnetic fel…
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 307 g (10.8 oz)Trips:Sonos Ace · 312 g (11.0 oz)
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · No official IP ratingTrips:Sonos Ace · No official IP rating
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Bowers & Wilkins
307 g (10.8 oz)
Sonos
312 g (11.0 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bowers & Wilkins
Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones)
Sonos
Yes (Active Noise Cancellation with 8 exterior and interior mics)
Battery life≠
Bowers & Wilkins
30 hours (ANC on)
Sonos
30 hours (ANC or Aware Mode enabled)
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Bowers & Wilkins: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Sonos: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 1-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | Over-ear, closed-back |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 307 g (10.8 oz) (wins this row: lower) | 312 g (11.0 oz) |
| Foldable | No (swivel earcups) | No (swivels flat into slim magnetic felt case) |
| Carrying case | Slim fabric hard-shell travel case included | Slim recycled felt travel case with magnetic cable pouch |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 40 mm dynamic full-range bio-cellulose drivers (angled) | Custom 40 mm dynamic neodymium driver |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones) | Yes (Active Noise Cancellation with 8 exterior and interior mics) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Ambient Pass-Through) | Yes (Aware Mode with natural voice passthrough) |
| Supported codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC | aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | 4 mics for ANC + 2 mics for telephony | 8 microphones with beamforming and noise suppression |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 1-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint pairing with 2 devices) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 30 hours (ANC on) | 30 hours (ANC or Aware Mode enabled) |
| Charging time | 2 hours (15 min quick charge gives 7 hours) (wins this row: lower) | 3 hours full charge (3 min rapid charge provides 3 hours) |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 2 years (wins this row: higher) | 1 year |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
Evolved wireless headphones with 24-bit DSP engine, custom 40mm bio-cellulose drivers, and luxe metal detailing.
- Exquisite musical detail, separation, and stereo imaging
- High-end construction with memory foam earcups and metal arms
- Direct 24-bit streaming support from Bowers & Wilkins Music App
What you give up
- ANC is good but not on par with class leaders Bose/Sony
- Microphone wind reduction in outdoor calls is average
Pick this one if
Sonos Ace
Premium wireless ANC headphones featuring instant TV Audio Swap with Sonos soundbars and lossless USB-C audio.
- Seamless one-button TV Audio Swap from Sonos Arc soundbars
- Lossless audio via USB-C and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound aptX Lossless
- Plush magnetic memory foam cushions with tactile physical buttons
What you give up
- TV Audio Swap feature is limited to Sonos soundbar owners
- No passive 3.5mm analog listening when battery is depleted
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
Too close to call on flights & commutes from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Calls & work
Too close to call on calls & work from the spec sheets.
Sound quality
Too close to call on sound quality from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e ↗ · Sonos Ace ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or the Sonos Ace?
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e costs $50 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or Sonos Ace?
Both has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or the Sonos Ace?
Too close to call on flights & commutes from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here. Active Noise Cancelling: Yes vs Yes Transparency mode: Yes vs Yes
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 11 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.