Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 S2

I have tried the px7 s2 and px8 s2 and today my 630s came in….quick answer is the px8 s2 sound better…to me it sounds fuller and the separation is better….the 630s are no slouch they have great mids but they did not have that “full” bass that the px8 or px7 has…vocals sound better as well in the bowers…the bowers also get louder not by much but they are louder than the 630s…again you wont be disappointed with the 630s but since I have the px8 I’m keeping them and returning the 630s…. Also…build quality of the bowers is just more premium…the 630s are just hard plastic…they don’t feel like a toy but the px8 is aluminum and Napa leather lol…the 630s do feel better than anything Sony tho so there’s that lol

I have tried the px7 s3 and px8 s2 and today my 630s came in….quick answer is the px8 s2 sound better…to me it sounds fuller and the separation is better….the 630s are no slouch they have great mids but they did not have that “full” bass that the px8 or px7 has…vocals sound better as well in the bowers…the bowers also get louder not by much but they are louder than the 630s…again you wont be disappointed with the 630s but since I have the px8 I’m keeping them and returning the 630s…. Also…build quality of the bowers is just more premium…the 630s are just hard plastic…they don’t feel like a toy but the px8 is aluminum and Napa leather lol…the 630s do feel better than anything Sony tho so there’s that lol

Well don’t get me wrong…the px7 s3 sounds AMAZING!!!like really close to the px8 s2…but the 630s just had a bit more separation than the px7…and the separation on the px8 puts me in a trance…I really can’t explain it…however my biggest deciding factor was the build quality…the px8 feels like a million bucks…the px7 feels like half a million and the 630s feel like they should cost $350 lol….

Thanks for the push. Going to order them now and see for myself. I am largely disappointed in HDB 630 AptX performance. Px8 S2 checks all the boxes on AptX. How and where did you check both?

The PX8 S2 don't have a neutral tuning. It's like standing in a TV store comparing two TVs where one runs in Filmmaker mode and one in Dynamic and then claiming that the one in Dynamic has the better picture because colors pop more. I'm sure you can EQ the HDB 630 that it sounds exactly like you describe the PX8 S2 and with the app it's even possible with it's internal DSP and source-independent.

I am about to compare the px8 s2, px7 s3 and the p100 se this weekend. I’ve had the bowers for 3 weeks n bring the p100 today. Wide price range but I’m just looking for great sound and soundstage.

Wow that’s incredible. Had no idea. I am testing the frost blue px7 and the warm stone px8 but agree with what you said. I got a corporate discount on the Bowers that i can no longer get so i have to decide between what i got by next week. I was thinking of getting the black px8 but no longer possible as they pulled that discount. I do think they’re the best current colors of the two models. i should likely go with the px8… the px7 has been going on sale in the states for similar to what i got it for. The px7 tends to be the one that hits harder with some songs where it gives me a rush but can be not so great or natural sounding with some others- people call that fun and it is… it’s the fastest driving bass I’ve ever heard on headphones. The px8 can basically handle all genres and songs even if it can’t surge or have impact like px6- people describe that as more intimate or refined. You have to focus more on the px8 to hear the seperation in the music, the px7 when handed a good master does it easier. I find the px7 less worrisome cuz it’s cheaper and less vulnerable to damage vs the leather and metal. (Also trying Cambridge p100se which has a crazy good soundstage but can get very uncomfortable)

Px7 s3 and px8 s2 are kings of sound and build quality, the anc is decent i never understood sony fans choosing anc over sound and build quality

I am lucky to review headphones (as well as other stuff) and this does not surprise me at all. I love value and hate the overpriced stuff. Websites like tech radar, cnet, or what hifi never check out the less obvious brands.. Lazy really. There is so much alliance to brands that people just won't accept that something cheaper could possibly be better. Sony, Apple, Bowers and Bose must love this. I have recently reviewed the Bowers and Wilkins PX8 S2, and the Bose quietcomfort ultra 2, and both communities are fiercely defensive, I guess the same for the Sony lot too. A budget brand like Earfun for instance are shockingly good, better than the Sony offerings at the same price, same for Soundcore or Edifier. Even though I have over 100 pairs, my daily drivers are the Earfun air pro 4, at home it's either the Hifiman Edition XS or letshuoer S12 pro. The Bose/Sony/bowers etc just live in their boxes. Try telling the Bowers crowd that the new PX8 S2 sound boomy and they will proclaim that you know nothing.

I'd like to say ZMF Bokeh Open, but the PX8 S2 is more versatile.

They are good yes they are but them Bowers and Wilkins PX8 S2 are out of this world they are superior in every way 👌🏻

Agreed. I bought the Momentum 4s and B&W PX8s on prime day to compare and return the pair I liked less. I like a PX8 a little more for the sound but the momentums are a little better overall. A little more punchy with bass but the app is good for tuning into your specific taste. And the battery is better than any other set I've tried. I just finished a flight from east coast US to SEA and used them through each flight and in during layovers and they didnt die.

I’ve tried most of what’s out there since getting APM around launch and the PX8 is the only bluetooth over-ear headphone I kept besides my APM. In a/b testing everything else failed to impress vs the APM no matter the codec or file type. I found the S3 to be a bit too v-shaped. Even after eq the mids were muddled and the layers were flattened. The PX8 to me is full, rich, layered, and better balanced. It provokes an emotional response in me. APM are like 10% less moving than the PX8 but the ecosystem integration is helpful and the transparency is tip top. Only headphone with transparency that makes my voice sound like I have nothing on at all. Headphone enjoyment is so personal. Tons of folks swear by the Momentum 4 but I didn’t appreciate them. I suppose a lot comes down to music genre as well. Some genres play better and get into that emotional zone with a consumer tuning.