Over-Ear
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
85Outstanding
$800
Full review dataBowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 vs Focal Bathys MG: 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
Focal Bathys MG
83Outstanding
$1,500
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Focal Bathys MG leads on 4 of 7 measures.
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- Focal Bathys MG
HearWiki score
85
83
Sound
9.5
9.6
Noise cancelling
8.0
8.4
Battery
8.5
7.7
Calls
7.0
7.8
Value
5.5
6.2
Price (USD)
$800
$1,500
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?
New platform
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 (2026) against Focal Bathys MG (2024). The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.2 and Top codec aptX Lossless against aptX Adaptive. It also adds Wear detection.
- Px8 S220262 yr newer
- Bathys MG2024
What differsPx8 S2Bathys MG
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.2
- Top codec
- aptX Lossless
- aptX Adaptive
- Wear detection
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
Px8 S2Bathys MG
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $800
- $1,500
- HearWiki score
- 85
- 83
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 2× 40 mm dynamic
- 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 2
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 10 Hz - 22 kHz
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.2
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 15 m
- Battery life
- 30 h
- 30 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 30 h
- 30 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 90 min
- Quick charge
- 15 min → 7 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- No
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- hybrid
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- Yes
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 310 g
- 350 g
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- USB-C
- USB-C
- Microphones
- 8
- 8
What reviewers said
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Focal Bathys MG
The Focal Bathys MG is a premium wireless over-ear headphone that pairs active noise cancellation with a natural, balanced sound signature. It offers robust connectivity options including aptX Adaptive and multipoint, along with a USB-C DAC mode, all wrapped in a comfortable, high-end build. While its sonic performance is top-tier, the steep price tag is its most significant hurdle for many buyers.
- Pro:Excellent natural and balanced sound quality
- Pro:Comfortable fit for extended listening sessions
- Pro:Effective active noise cancellation
- Con:Very high price point
- Con:Limited high-resolution wireless codec support
- Con:No wireless charging option
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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