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 sibilance is quite jarring on the px8s2, try Mr Tamborine Man by Bob Dylan. Have a similar EQ as you. My only complain

I have a pair of PX8 S2s from Bowers and Wilkins. They're metal and actual leather. They don't feel nearly as solid as my audeze LCD 2s, but they're definitely the nicest feeling Bluetooth headphones I've ever seen. They're also overpriced and eventually disposable, so there's that.

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)

All these comments make me convinced I have gotten a bad unit of the PX8 S2. I found the sound profile so harsh that it makes many tracks unlistenable. The bass is super boomy, if I dial it down in the eq I’m losing its detail and punch. The mids are shouty and harsh, I dial them down they are going muffled. The highs are sharp and metallic to a point where I can’t listen to tracks like Let Down by Radiohead, every high register guitar pick is like a knife in my ear drum. I dial the highs down I’m losing clarity and detail. I have tried every possible eq combination and can’t get any good of these. I know sound is subjective but surely objectively a set of headphones that cost this much should not have bands drowning out the other frequencies on stock settings? In many tracks the soundstage is being overcrowded by the bloaty bass and shouty mids to the point where I can barely hear the details in the tracks. I have had them playing round the clock for 5 days straight hoping the drivers will break in and the sound will improve before my return window closes but so far not much of an improvement and it looks like I’ll be returning. So disappointed and can’t understand how comments like on here are praising these to the high heavens. Right now I actually hate them. Could I have a defected unit?

Yeah you have me even more convinced I have gotten a bad unit. I might return and order another one see if another copy might be someway better. Thanks for listening to those for me you have been super helpful 👍🏻

What EQ settings did you end up using on the px8 s2? Love mine and shifted the mids and highs -1 each to reduce the sibilance and sharp highs 

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

Hello everyone, I've been looking to upgrade my Sony XM4 and was looking at these 4 options,  however any other suggestions are welcome and appreciated.  Bose QC ultra 2 Sennheiser HDB 630 B&O H100 B&W Px8 S2 (tested them by felt too high-piched and 0 bass)  Budget - 1500 dollars/euro  Source - Wireless to my phone  Isolation - I want a pair of headphones with good Isolation/ANC when travelling  Use - Yes , there headphone will be used these headphones in public and at home  Preferred Type of Headphone - Over ear  Preferred tonal balance - I am basshead but also enjoy a very diverse genre of music , from Rap to Classical and would love a paid of headphones that can balance both strong base and beautiful details.  Past headphones - Sony XM4 , still have them after 5 year of use , love the strong base , noise cancelling and customisation.  Preferred Music - I listen Rap with a lot of base , also Bossa Nova , Laufey , a very diverse range  What would you like to improve on from your set-up - improved details and better sound quality , while the Sony XM4 are amazing , i still feel that the bass can either be too weak or too strong , no matter how I set it up. I want a paur of headphones that can give me a more punch with the vocals and instruments while still having a great bass , but not it overshadowing it  Location - Romania