Over-Ear
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
85Outstanding
$800
Full review dataBowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 vs Shanling Hw600: 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
Shanling Hw600
73Great
$1,100
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
- Shanling Hw600
HearWiki score
85
73
Sound
9.5
8.4
Noise cancelling
8.0
-
Battery
8.5
-
Calls
7.0
-
Value
5.5
6.7
Price (USD)
$800
$1,100
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?
Same generation
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is 2 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. The platform is level; the newer hardware shows up in convenience features instead - the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 adds USB-C.
- Px8 S220262 yr newer
- Hw6002024
What differsPx8 S2Hw600
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Everyday features
Specifications
Px8 S2Hw600
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $800
- $1,100
- HearWiki score
- 85
- 73
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 2× 40 mm dynamic
- 110 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 110 mm
- Drivers per side
- 2
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 12 Hz - 40 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral-warm
- Impedance
- -
- 30 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 104 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
- -
- ANC type
- hybrid
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- Yes
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- none
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 310 g
- 480 g
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- USB-C
- 3.5 mm
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- 8
- -
What reviewers said
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Shanling Hw600
The Shanling HW600 is a premium open-back planar headphone featuring a large 110mm driver that delivers a neutral-warm signature with strong vocal emphasis and detailed, energetic presentation. Its high sensitivity and relatively low impedance make it easy to drive despite its wired-only design, while the detachable cable and balanced support add flexibility for audiophile setups. The main trade-offs are a somewhat confined soundstage and sparse accessory package, but it stands as a compelling high-end debut from Shanling.
- Pro:Large 110mm planar driver offers impressive detail and clarity
- Pro:Easy to drive with high sensitivity and low impedance
- Pro:Neutral-warm tuning suits vocal and acoustic music well
- Con:Soundstage feels somewhat constrained for an open-back model
- Con:Limited accessories included in the box
- Con:Bass response can be slightly uneven at times
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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