Bowers & Wilkins PX Noise-Cancelling Over-ears

[ducatiti]

5 seconds from the time I launch the app and can change a setting. Sometimes quicker.

hmmm.. good to know. And you were able to connect this quickly with music already playing?

 

[ducatiti]

lol... just bought these again after returning them a few weeks back. It's been charging for more than 3 hours now, green light still blinking. Not a good sign haha

How long did it take for your to initially charge them?

 

[kismetsky]

hmmm.. good to know. And you were able to connect this quickly with music already playing?

Just tested this in a few scenarios (the app is running from the iPhone):

While playing a video from my Macbook - the app took the usual 4-5 seconds to connect.
While playing music from my AK300 - the app took the usual 4-5 seconds to connect.
While playing music from the iPhone - the app took 5 seconds to 'find' the headphones and another 3 seconds to connect.
When the music is paused on the iPhone - the app took 3 seconds to 'find' the headphones and another 3 seconds to connect.

Seems like the app is competing with iOS's audio stream in the bluetooth stack and takes anywhere from 3-10 seconds to 'find' the headphones.

 

[ducatiti]

So I let it charge out of the box for four hours and could not wait any longer. Looks like it won’t go higher than 93% charge. While updating the firmware, it reached 98%.

After the update, I turned it off and it stated 93% again about half an hour charging.

Anyone encounter this or my battery is simply defective? This pair sounds better out of the box compared to the first one I tried.

Edit: in the app while connected, it does not show the serial number. Does it show in yours?

 

[ryanmatic]

Anyone encounter this or my battery is simply defective?

Mine does the same (a full charge reports 93%). I'm pretty sure I've even seen different percentages reported by the app, and by the iOS battery widget. FWIW the P7W only ever reported a max charge of 90%, and only ever dropped in 10% increments (in my experience).

Edit: in the app while connected, it does not show the serial number. Does it show in yours?

It shows in mine while connected.

 

[ducatiti]

Mine does the same (a full charge reports 93%). I'm pretty sure I've even seen different percentages reported by the app, and by the iOS battery widget. FWIW the P7W only ever reported a max charge of 90%, and only ever dropped in 10% increments (in my experience).

It shows in mine while connected.

The thing is that it remains blinking, worried it might overcharge. The first pair I purchased charged to 100% in about an hour out of the box.

I was blown away with the sound quality this time around. Played the pink noise for three hours or so.

 

[ryanmatic]

Weird. I’ve left my set charging overnight and the light has always been solid when I unplug it in the morning. Maybe try running them down completely before recharging?

Glad to hear the sound is better this time around, at least

 

[szmarci]

I don't think you can overcharge modern devices these days. By the way mine reports back 100%. I use 90% of the time in USB mode from laptop so it charges while I'm using it.

 

[kismetsky]

Quick observation I had while using the headphones outdoors. The temp was around 21 degrees F and I had my mittens on. Put the headphones on and noticed some crackling static - this surprised me so I took them off and put them back on - same static. I pulled my hands away and the static stopped. Went to adjust the headphones and static again. It's actual STATIC (electricity!). The metal cups are susceptible to static charge and the audio will crackle whenever I run my wool mittens over them (this happens regardless of any music playing). The crackling noise seems to follow the earcup I'm touching and is easily reproduced.

 

[ducatiti]

Four or five years down the road, can I send the PX back to B&O for a battery replacement, for a fee of course? This is the only remaining concern I have between the H9i and PX.

 

[ducatiti]

I don't think you can overcharge modern devices these days. By the way mine reports back 100%. I use 90% of the time in USB mode from laptop so it charges while I'm using it.

I tried charging it overnight after 5-6 hours of use, still woke up to a blinking green light at 93%. These are going back to Bestbuy after I get off work unless someone can advise that this is normal.

 

[TheWalrus]

Four or five years down the road, can I send the PX back to B&O for a battery replacement, for a fee of course? This is the only remaining concern I have between the H9i and PX.

Yes a B&W retailer can replace the battery for a fee.
I got this email from B&W a few months ago when I asked about the cost:

“I have talked to the service department of our Scandinavian distributor Hi-Fi Klubben, and their «guesstimate» for a battery replacement outside warranty is somewhere between 700-900 SEK.”

700-900 SEK would be around 85-110$

This cost is for the battery itself and also the work of the retailer. Different retailers may have different prices.

 

[bedlamite]

Took the PXes off the selling block and thought I'd give them another go. Brought these out on the daily commute and this time I took off my glasses before putting the cans on. Suddenly, bass!

I'll be keeping them, but prospective buyers wearing glasses or even shades should note that the PX's earcups will not mold around your frames. If you need to keep your glasses on, look elsewhere.

 

[szmarci]

Took the PXes off the selling block and thought I'd give them another go. Brought these out on the daily commute and this time I took off my glasses before putting the cans on. Suddenly, bass!

I'll be keeping them, but prospective buyers wearing glasses or even shades should note that the PX's earcups will not mold around your frames. If you need to keep your glasses on, look elsewhere.

That is not necessarily true. I have glasses with a very thin frame and for me it makes absolutely no difference if I'm wearing my glasses or not. So before buying these make sure to test it with your glasses on and off. It might work.

 

[BigBobbie87]

That is not necessarily true. I have glasses with a very thin frame and for me it makes absolutely no difference if I'm wearing my glasses or not. So before buying these make sure to test it with your glasses on and off. It might work.

They also get better as as the earpads break in. My glasses have relatively thicker earpieces, and there is little difference between wearing glasses and not wearing glasses.