By: Dipin Sehdev

Bowers & Wilkins and McLaren have spent nearly a decade proving that performance engineering and acoustic innovation make a natural pair. That partnership is now expanding once again with the launch of the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition, a new premium wireless headphone that fuses cutting-edge sound technology with the unmistakable design language of McLaren Automotive and the McLaren Formula 1 Team. The Px8 S2 platform already stands at the top of the luxury headphone landscape—earning a 90% CE Critic Score—and this latest McLaren-branded variant elevates both style and audio performance even further.

Available now through Amazon, Audio Advice, and select retailers, the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition arrives at a retail price of $899—with Audio Advice currently offering a 35% discount, making it an especially compelling upgrade moment for audiophiles and McLaren fans alike.

A New Chapter in a Long-Term Branded Partnership

Since 2015, Bowers & Wilkins has been the audio force behind McLaren’s most advanced supercars and Ultimate Series vehicles. What started as an engineering alignment has evolved into a full-scale branded partnership, spanning in-car audio systems, collaborative design projects, and—more recently—premium personal audio products like the Pi8 McLaren Edition released earlier this year.

The Px8 S2 McLaren Edition is the third headphone emerging from this collaboration, symbolizing how deeply the two brands’ values interlock: meticulous craftsmanship, uncompromising performance, and a relentless push toward innovative design.

Design: McLaren Performance Meets B&W Craftsmanship

From the moment the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition leaves the box, its design identity is unmistakable. The headphones feature a refined Anthracite Grey finish accented with McLaren’s iconic Papaya orange, a color pulled directly from the team’s Formula 1 heritage. Subtle Speedmark motifs are integrated into the headband and earcups, while each earcup is finished with diamond-cut bright metal plates that bring an automotive-style precision to the build.

Soft Nappa leather wraps the headband and memory-foam cushions, delivering a comfort profile worthy of a high-performance cockpit. Meanwhile, diecast aluminum arms and meticulous detailing complete the aesthetic—resulting in a look and feel that captures the spirit of McLaren’s road and racing machines.

Acoustic Architecture: The Most Advanced Px8 Yet

While the McLaren Edition’s design draws the eye, its engineering is where Bowers & Wilkins’ legacy truly shines.

At the heart of the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition are upgraded bespoke 40mm Carbon Cone drive units, the most advanced drivers the brand has ever placed in a wireless headphone. The Carbon Cones feature a fully redesigned chassis, suspension, voice coil, and magnet system, built for ultra-low distortion and exceptionally clear resolution.

Each driver is precisely angled inside the earcup to maintain an equal distance between sound source and ear—ensuring improved stereo imaging, a more spacious soundstage, and refined high-frequency accuracy. The result is reference-grade wireless sound that punches far above what most ANC headphones attempt.

Adaptive Noise Cancellation With No Compromises

Noise cancellation is often where premium headphones show their trade-offs, but the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition uses B&W’s proprietary system optimized in-house to preserve musical detail while suppressing external noise. The ANC engine is paired with Qualcomm aptX™ Adaptive 24/96, aptX Lossless, and robust custom DSP—making the headphone capable of delivering true 24-bit/96 kHz high-resolution audio over wireless connections.

This ensures that premium sources—like Lossless streaming platforms—are reproduced with a clarity that honors the original recording.

Software, Controls & Battery Life

The Bowers & Wilkins Music app serves as the control hub, enabling listeners to toggle noise cancellation, customize the Quick Action button, and monitor battery levels. This generation adds a new five-band EQ, allowing users to shape sound to their exact preference and store multiple preset profiles.

With a massive 30-hour battery life, the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition is built for long listening sessions. Even better, a 15-minute quick charge delivers up to seven additional hours—ideal for travel, commutes, or late-night sessions when the battery runs low.

Engineering Heritage Shared Across Road and Track

Bowers & Wilkins engineers have collaborated with McLaren Automotive's teams for more than a decade, contributing audio systems to legendary models from the 540C to the brand-new McLaren W1. Technologies like the Continuum Cone, first developed for B&W’s flagship 800 Series Diamond speakers, now appear in McLaren’s in-car audio systems—showcasing how deeply integrated the brands’ engineering philosophies have become.

This new headphone is more than a stylistic fusion; it’s rooted in a technical relationship that continues to shape both brands’ product ecosystems.

Availability

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 McLaren Edition is available now at:

• Amazon - available here

• Audio Advice (currently 35% off) - available here

• Bowers & Wilkins’ official site - available here

• Select premium retailers

With its blend of precision audio, premium materials, and motorsport heritage, the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition stands as one of the most distinctive high-performance headphones on the market—perfect for anyone who values engineering excellence on the road, on the track, or in their personal listening space.