Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 vs HiFiMAN HE 1000 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.
Score 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
- HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2
Specifications
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $800
- $1,400
- HearWiki score
- 85
- 71
- Released
- 2026
- 2016
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 2× 40 mm dynamic
- 131.2 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 131.2 mm
- Drivers per side
- 2
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 8 Hz - 65 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral
- Impedance
- -
- 35 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
- 420 g
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- Detachable cable
- 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 HE 1000 V2
The HiFiMAN HE 1000 V2 is a high-end open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers a neutral and highly resolving sound. With its large 131.2 mm driver and lightweight 420g build, it offers excellent technical performance for critical listening, though it requires a quality amplifier to shine. Its balanced connection option adds flexibility for audiophile setups.
- Pro:Excellent neutral tuning with high clarity
- Pro:Large planar driver for fast, detailed transients
- Pro:Lightweight for a flagship planar design
- Con:Requires a powerful amp to sound its best
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound and offers no isolation
- Con:High price point may not suit casual listeners
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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