Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 vs Grado GS1000: 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 data

Over-Ear

Score 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.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
Grado GS1000

HearWiki score

Sound

9.5

7.2

Noise cancelling

8.0

Battery

8.5

Calls

7.0

Value

5.5

Price (USD)

$800

$1,200

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 Grado GS1000 (2003). The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Hybrid against None. It also adds USB-C.

Px8 S2202623 yr newer
GS10002003

What differsPx8 S2GS1000

ANC type: Hybrid; None
USB-C: Yes; No

Specifications

Px8 S2GS1000

Type: Over-Ear; Over-Ear
Price (USD): $800; $1,200
HearWiki score: 85; 57
Released: 2026; 2003
Availability: Sold new; Still sold new
Driver: 2× 40 mm dynamic; 50 mm dynamic
Driver type: dynamic; dynamic
Driver size: 40 mm; 50 mm
Drivers per side: 2; 1
Impedance: -; 38 Ω
Sensitivity: -; 99.8 dB/mW
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: Yes; No
ANC type: hybrid; -
Transparency mode: Yes; -
Companion app: Yes; -
Custom EQ: Yes; -
Wear detection: Yes; -
Controls: buttons; none
Voice assistant: Yes; -
Weight: 310 g; -
Foldable: Yes; -
Detachable cable: Yes; -
USB-C: Yes; No
Connector: USB-C; -
Microphones: 8; -

Specification comparison of Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 vs Grado GS1000
Spec	Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2	Grado GS1000
Type	Over-Ear	Over-Ear
Price (USD)	$800	$1,200
HearWiki score	85 / 100 Outstanding	57 / 100 Average
Released	2026	2003
Audio
Driver	2× 40 mm dynamic	50 mm dynamic
Driver type	dynamic	dynamic
Driver size	40 mm	50 mm
Drivers per side	2	1
Impedance	-	38 Ω
Sensitivity	-	99.8 dB/mW
Wireless
Bluetooth	5.3	-
Codecs	SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless	-
Multipoint pairing	Yes	-
Battery
Battery life	30 h	-
Battery life (ANC on)	30 h	-
Quick charge	15 min → 7 h	-
Wireless charging	No	-
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	No
ANC type	hybrid	-
Transparency mode	Yes	-
Companion app	Yes	-
Custom EQ	Yes	-
Wear detection	Yes	-
Controls	buttons	none
Voice assistant	Yes	-
Design
Weight	310 g	-
Foldable	Yes	-
Detachable cable	Yes	-
USB-C	Yes	No
Connector	USB-C	-
Calls
Microphones	8	-

What reviewers said

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2

No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.

Grado GS1000

The Grado GS1000 is a high-end, open-back wired headphone that prioritizes musical engagement and an expansive soundstage over neutrality, delivering rich detail and dynamic expression. Its 50mm dynamic drivers are easy to drive, but the design is strictly for quiet home listening—there’s no isolation, no controls, and it leaks sound heavily. This is a specialist tool for audiophiles who value character and treble sparkle, not a versatile everyday headphone.

Pro:Expansive, immersive soundstage
Pro:Revealing and emotionally engaging treble detail
Pro:Excellent dynamics and clarity

Con:Very expensive for the feature set
Con:No noise isolation; leaks sound heavily
Con:Unusual, bulky on-ear design

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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