Over-Ear
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
85Outstanding
$800
Full review dataBowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 vs HiFiMAN Edition X V2: 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.
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
- HiFiMAN Edition X V2
HearWiki score
85
63
Sound
9.5
8.3
Noise cancelling
8.0
-
Battery
8.5
-
Calls
7.0
-
Value
5.5
-
Price (USD)
$800
$1,300
Specifications
Px8 S2Edition X V2
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $800
- $1,300
- HearWiki score
- 85
- 63
- Released
- 2026
- 2016
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 2× 40 mm dynamic
- 80 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 80 mm
- Drivers per side
- 2
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 8 Hz - 50 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral
- Impedance
- -
- 25 Ω
- 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
- -
- ANC type
- hybrid
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 310 g
- 399 g
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Connector
- USB-C
- -
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- 8
- -
What reviewers said
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
HiFiMAN Edition X V2
The HiFiMAN Edition X V2 is a high-end open-back planar magnetic headphone with a neutral tuning that prioritizes accuracy and detail. Its large 80mm drivers deliver a wide, open soundstage and impressive transient response, making it a solid choice for critical listening. The lightweight magnesium-alloy frame and detachable cable add to its appeal for audiophiles seeking a reference-level wired experience.
- Pro:Neutral, accurate sound signature
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and clarity
- Pro:Very low 25-ohm impedance, easy to drive
- Con:High price point
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound and offers no isolation
- Con:Build quality feels less premium than some rivals
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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