Over-Ear
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
85Outstanding
$800
Full review dataBowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 vs Grado Signature S550: 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
Grado Signature S550
74Great
$1,000
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 6 of 7 measures.
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- Grado Signature S550
HearWiki score
85
74
Sound
9.5
8.4
Noise cancelling
8.0
-
Battery
8.5
-
Calls
7.0
-
Value
5.5
7.2
Price (USD)
$800
$1,000
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?
Mixed generations
Both shipped in 2026. Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 brings Top codec aptX Lossless against LC3 and ANC type Hybrid against None, while the Grado Signature S550 answers with LE Audio (LC3). The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 answers on convenience features: it adds Multipoint pairing and USB-C.
- Px8 S22026
- Signature S5502026
What differsPx8 S2Signature S550
- Top codec
- aptX Lossless
- LC3
- LE Audio (LC3)
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- Hybrid
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Bluetooth.
Specifications
Px8 S2Signature S550
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $800
- $1,000
- HearWiki score
- 85
- 74
- Released
- 2026
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- 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
- Frequency response
- -
- 6 Hz - 44 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 38 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 112 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.3
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
- SBC, AAC, LC3
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- 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
- 335 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Foldable
- Yes
- No
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- USB-C
- 3.5 mm
- Microphones
- 8
- -
What reviewers said
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Grado Signature S550
The Grado Signature S550 offers a more wallet-friendly gateway into the brand's premium open-back line, pairing a 50mm dynamic driver with a modern detachable cable system. It delivers a warm, lush, and characterful sound with a strong midrange and smooth treble, though its soundstage is somewhat limited and long-term comfort may vary. As a wired-only option with no ANC or controls, it’s aimed squarely at purist audiophiles who prioritize tone and value over extra features.
- Pro:Warm, engaging sound with excellent midrange detail
- Pro:New detachable cable adds practicality and upgradeability
- Pro:Smooth treble that avoids harshness
- Con:Soundstage width is narrower than some rivals
- Con:Comfort may degrade during extended listening sessions
- Con:No wireless, ANC, or onboard controls
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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