Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 McLaren Edition Gets New Drivers

The announcement follows hot on the heels of our recent Px8 S2 review, where we praised the model’s more refined tuning, greater openness and improved imaging over the original Px8 launch. For those keeping track, this is now the third McLaren tie-in from B&W, following the brand’s earlier limited-run collaborations, including the first-generation Px8 McLaren Edition, which we previously reported on.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Lyle Smith, President of Sound United at HARMAN, told StereoNET:  

This exciting new edition of our exceptional Px8 S2 headphones perfectly celebrates our long-term partnership with McLaren, and gives fans another industry-leading audio product showcasing McLaren’s design DNA to express their passion for their team.

In this latest version, the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition may share the upgraded acoustic platform of the standard S2, but it’s far from a simple cosmetic spin-off. It features the full suite of S2 engineering, including Bowers & Wilkins’ bespoke 40mm Carbon Cone drivers, angled inside each earcup to provide the headphone with a greater sense of openness and lower distortion. Those improvements form the backbone of the McLaren Edition’s performance. Yet, the model still asserts its own character through a revised chassis finish, richer materials and the more assertive design cues drawn from Woking’s playbook.

Visually, the headphones lean even more confidently into McLaren identity. Anthracite Grey forms the base finish, while the signature Papaya orange accents appear along the headband, earcups and elliptical logo plates. B&W has also added diamond-cut metal detailing and soft Nappa leather across the cushions and headband, giving this version a slightly more premium feel than the earlier McLaren variant.

Under the hood, performance mirrors the standard Px8 S2: adaptive noise cancellation tuned by B&W, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless support, and the company’s own DSP handling 24-bit/96kHz playback. Battery life remains rated at 30 hours, with a 15-minute quick recharge delivering up to seven additional hours of listening time.

Fans of McLaren’s Formula 1 team will note the timing. The Px8 S2 McLaren Edition follows earlier brand collaborations, including the Pi8 McLaren Edition, reinforcing B&W’s role as McLaren’s Official Audio Partner across both automotive and F1 operations. According to the company, the two brands are marking a decade of co-development, from early supercar systems through to the latest McLaren W1 flagship, which incorporates technology drawn directly from B&W’s 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers.

The Px8 S2 McLaren Edition lands at £729 | €829 | US$899 | A$1,499. Availability begins today through Bowers & Wilkins and selected retailers.

Visit Bowers & Wilkins for more information