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Sony’s 1000X The Collexion headphones take what Sony has realized within the client headphone area over the previous decade and pack these classes right into a high-end, luxury-focused physique. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones are luxurious, too — and arguably extra so — however additionally they get pleasure from Bowers & Wilkins’ hi-fi pedigree.
Additionally: I flew 2,700 miles with Apple, Sony, and Sennheiser headphones – this pair had the best audio
Each pairs sit within the prime tier of client headphones, so the $150 hole between them is significant however comparatively small in context. At this degree, you are actually selecting a philosophy. Sony is the rational, on a regular basis decide, whereas Bowers & Wilkins is the one you purchase for pure listening pleasure and a little bit of status. Here is how one can determine which philosophy is yours.
Specs
| Sony 1000X The Collexion | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | |
| Wired connectivity | 3.5mm jack | USB-C; 3.5mm jack |
| Codec assist | SBC; AAC; LDAC; LC3 | SBC; AAC; aptX Traditional, Adaptive, Lossless, HD |
| Weight | 320g | 310g |
| Foldable? | No | No |
| Spatial audio | Sony 360 Actuality Audio Upmix | Firmware replace TBD |
| Audio modes | ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, Adaptive Sound Management | ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, Adaptive ANC |
| Battery life | 24 hours | 30 hours |
| Value | $460 | $799 |
You should purchase the Sony 1000X The Collexion if…
1. You need higher noise cancellation
Sony has been on the prime of the ANC race for years, and 1000X The Collexion continues that streak. Low-frequency noise discount is superb, as engine drone, site visitors rumble, and prepare noise all however disappear, and the mid-band efficiency handles workplace chatter properly, too. If you happen to’re a frequent flyer or a each day commuter, Sony’s noise cancellation makes an enormous distinction in the way you journey.
The transparency mode can also be a step up from earlier generations, with adjustable ranges and a natural-sounding pass-through that does not make the skin world sound like a walkie-talkie. Whereas 1000X The Collexion’s ANC is excellent, it is not fairly nearly as good as Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones, which have a tighter clamp and seal.
Assessment: Sony 1000X The Collexion
The Px8 S2’s ANC is okay, and for lots of people, it will be completely satisfactory. Nevertheless it noticeably trails Sony, letting in additional low-frequency rumble and normal chatter. If ANC is a main cause you are shopping for headphones at this value, the Sony is the safer decide by a transparent margin.
2. You need good options
The hole in good options between the 2 is broad. 1000X The Collexion inherits a lot of what Sony has constructed over a number of generations of the 1000X headphones: adaptive sound management that adjustments ANC profiles primarily based on what you are doing, Communicate-to-Chat that pauses or lowers your music once you begin speaking, Fast Consideration for momentary pass-through, and multipoint pairing.
The Sony Sound Join app is steady and mature, and it features a strong EQ that allows you to form the sound profile as a lot or as little as you need. Bowers & Wilkins’ app, by comparability, is minimalist. You get respectable EQ and controls, and that is about it; there isn’t any equal to Sony’s adaptive or behavioral modes.
Additionally: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: How I’d justify spending $300 more for headphones
That stated, there’s an argument that Sony’s listing of options is overkill. If you happen to’d somewhat have easy controls and pure {hardware} efficiency with out layers of DSP between you and your music, Sony’s function density would possibly really feel extra like muddle than comfort. Nonetheless, for vacationers and multitaskers, it is genuinely helpful.
3. You desire a extra snug match
Sony’s 1000X The Collexion is not mild, however the roomy earcups make it forgiving proper out of the field, particularly in case you have bigger ears or put on glasses. The stainless-steel framework and full artificial leather-based end really feel extra “flagship” than earlier WH-1000X fashions, and the general aesthetic is sleeker and extra trendy than the Px8 S2’s analog hi-fi look. Which one you like visually is a matter of style, however by way of pure match, the Sony has the sting throughout extra head shapes.
There are caveats. 1000X The Collexion’s 320g weight is noticeable throughout lengthy classes. The Px8 S2 is simply 10 grams lighter, so it additionally is not feather-light, but it surely’s value figuring out getting in. And Sony’s artificial leather-based, whereas comfortable initially, might age in another way than the real supplies on the Px8 S2.
You should purchase the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 if…
1. You need probably the most detailed audio response
The Px8 S2’s 40mm angled drivers are tuned for texture, timbre, and midrange element. Vocals and acoustic devices stand out with a realism that Sony cannot fairly match, and the bass is authoritative however tight — managed somewhat than boosted. It is a hi-fi-like sound, particularly with high-quality sources. Sony’s 1000X The Collexion nonetheless sounds glorious, and most of the people could be proud of it. Nevertheless, its 30mm drivers can come throughout as barely extra digital and processed subsequent to the Px8 S2. The consequence may be very polished however lacks analog heat.
Assessment: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
The trade-off is flexibility. The Px8 S2 presents far much less EQ adjustment than the 1000X The Collexion, so if you wish to customise your sound closely — say, pushing the bass towards a extra consumer-friendly profile — you will discover the Bowers & Wilkins companion app limiting. The Px8 S2 is tuned by individuals with robust opinions about the way it ought to sound, and it largely expects you to agree.
2. You care about luxurious design and premium supplies
The Px8 S2 merely feels costlier than Sony’s 1000X The Collexion, and it’s. Aluminum parts, high-quality cables, and real Nappa leather-based add as much as headphones with refined, jewelry-like detailing that you just discover each time you decide them up.
The place the 1000X The Collexion goes for a modern, tech-forward look, the Px8 S2 leans conventional and prestigious, extra traditional hi-fi than trendy gadget. If supplies and craftsmanship are a part of what you are paying for at this value, Bowers & Wilkins delivers in a manner that Sony’s artificial leather-based would not.
3. You overlook to cost
The Px8 S2 will get about 30 hours of battery life with ANC engaged, which comfortably outlasts the Sony’s 24 hours. That quantity is a considerably shocking win for Bowers & Wilkins, for the reason that 1000X The Collexion’s battery endurance is a step down from earlier WH-1000X fashions — a casualty of the slimmer design.
Additionally: I listened to Sony, Bose, and Apple’s flagship headphones – and this pair’s ahead of the pack
The Px8 S2’s quick charging is strong, too. A 15-minute cost will get you roughly seven hours of playback, which is sufficient for a transatlantic flight from a espresso break’s value of charging. Fortunately, the Sony headphones cost fairly rapidly, too, as 5 minutes will get you about 1.5 hours of playback.
Author’s alternative
Each of those headphones are glorious choices, with nice sound total. That stated, I favor Sony’s 1000X The Collexion headphones, however solely by a little bit. They’re extra snug to put on for prolonged intervals, and I journey so much, which makes the higher ANC very useful. Once more, although, I nonetheless love the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, and positively would not keep away from them.
