Over-Ear
AKG K812
56Average
$1,110
Full review dataAKG K812 vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 - Outstanding overall at around $799.
Over-Ear
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
85Outstanding
$800
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 leads on 7 of 7 measures.
- AKG K812
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
HearWiki score
56
85
Sound
6.8
9.5
Noise cancelling
-
8.0
Battery
-
8.5
Calls
-
7.0
Value
3.9
5.5
Price (USD)
$1,110
$800
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Half a step newer
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 (2026) against AKG K812 (2014). The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Hybrid against None. It also adds USB-C.
- K8122014
- Px8 S2202612 yr newer
What differsK812Px8 S2
- ANC type
- None
- Hybrid
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
K812Px8 S2
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $1,110
- $800
- HearWiki score
- 56
- 85
- Released
- 2014
- 2026
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 53 mm dynamic
- 2× 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 53 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 5 Hz - 54 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- 36 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 96 dB/mW
- -
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- 110
- -
- Bluetooth
- -
- 5.3
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- Yes
- Battery life
- -
- 30 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 30 h
- Quick charge
- -
- 15 min → 7 h
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- -
- hybrid
- Transparency mode
- -
- Yes
- Companion app
- -
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- -
- Yes
- Controls
- -
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- Yes
- Weight
- 390 g
- 310 g
- Foldable
- No
- Yes
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- No
- Yes
- Connector
- 3.5 mm
- USB-C
- Model code
- 3458X00010
- -
- Microphones
- -
- 8
What reviewers said
AKG K812
The AKG K812 is a premium open-back reference headphone built around a large 53 mm dynamic driver, aiming for high-resolution, studio-grade sound. Its detailed and transparent tuning rewards careful pairing with quality upstream gear, though its measured performance has drawn some criticism regarding transient response and distortion. Overall, it's a technically ambitious flagship that prioritizes analytical listening over casual convenience.
- Pro:Exceptional detail retrieval and clarity
- Pro:Large 53 mm driver with wide frequency response
- Pro:Detachable cable adds versatility
- Con:Demanding of high-quality source gear
- Con:Measured distortion and transient issues noted
- Con:No noise cancellation or wireless features
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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