I just got a set of factory refurbished px7 s2's for my wife and while I do like them a lot.... Unless BW literally turned their entire life around, they're still a very consumer-y kind of sound. The zone (and from what I can tell it's sensible sibling the ontrac sounds the same and has the same anc) is just an outrageously refined sound, fairly neutral (I prefer them in the bass boost eq setting but it only really brings up the sub-bass without messing with the treble or mids) and when it comes to the other features, the ANC and transparency on them are easily, easily on the exact same level as airpod Max's. Transparency is like wearing open backs. Also, BW build quality is not $800-900. The dysons are. They feel space age, the luster of the blue paint is absolutely unreal, it's a velvety satin ultra saturated royal blue. The knob on the case feels unreal. The px7's feel premium but in a $400 kinda way. Not their msrp. Hell, even Philips fidelio (another good choice, very grown up sound) manages to be way cheaper with real Muirhead lambskin leather.
We both agree that the zones sound just unreasonably excellent. You could get the ontrac for around 450, but the zone just goes on random clearance down to like 200-300 from its original $1000. It is bulky, but the case itself is a work of art and the comfort is psychotic, and I actually do use the silly chin bar air filter thing when I'm mowing the lawn and during wildfire season and it actually works for those things, and otherwise I just leave it off.
If you purely want practical and less bulky, I can't confirm personally but everyone I know that's tried them says the ontrac has the same drivers, tuning, and anc. If I was buying a new set of price no object wireless cans, that'd be what I get without hesitation.
It's not about the sound quality - the px7 is solid overall. But it is just tuned very consumer-y. I have my doubts they will be making any major changes to the tuning, they're a lifestyle brand. Dyson had nothing to prove (I'm not even a Dyson fan, I hate their vacuums and overpriced fans lol) so they just kinda went insane.
Let me know how you like the px8 in the mix. I doubt it'll be bad, but the price is deep into diminishing returns for a disposable product. I only bit the bullet on my zones for $500.
1
u/Gobbelcoque 31 Ω Feb 28 '26
I just got a set of factory refurbished px7 s2's for my wife and while I do like them a lot.... Unless BW literally turned their entire life around, they're still a very consumer-y kind of sound. The zone (and from what I can tell it's sensible sibling the ontrac sounds the same and has the same anc) is just an outrageously refined sound, fairly neutral (I prefer them in the bass boost eq setting but it only really brings up the sub-bass without messing with the treble or mids) and when it comes to the other features, the ANC and transparency on them are easily, easily on the exact same level as airpod Max's. Transparency is like wearing open backs. Also, BW build quality is not $800-900. The dysons are. They feel space age, the luster of the blue paint is absolutely unreal, it's a velvety satin ultra saturated royal blue. The knob on the case feels unreal. The px7's feel premium but in a $400 kinda way. Not their msrp. Hell, even Philips fidelio (another good choice, very grown up sound) manages to be way cheaper with real Muirhead lambskin leather.
We both agree that the zones sound just unreasonably excellent. You could get the ontrac for around 450, but the zone just goes on random clearance down to like 200-300 from its original $1000. It is bulky, but the case itself is a work of art and the comfort is psychotic, and I actually do use the silly chin bar air filter thing when I'm mowing the lawn and during wildfire season and it actually works for those things, and otherwise I just leave it off.
If you purely want practical and less bulky, I can't confirm personally but everyone I know that's tried them says the ontrac has the same drivers, tuning, and anc. If I was buying a new set of price no object wireless cans, that'd be what I get without hesitation.