Sony 1000X vs. B&W PX8 S2: Performance or Prestige?
Sony is making a bold play for the luxury audio market, directly challenging established brands like Bowers & Wilkins. Their latest offering, the Sony 1000X The Collexion Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, arrives with a premium price tag, aiming to redefine high-end personal audio. But how does it truly stack up against Bowers & Wilkins’ formidable flagship, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Draadloze Over-Ear Hoofdtelefoon met geavanceerde Noise Cancelling? We put both through their paces to find out.
Tech Specs
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- Sony 1000X The Collexion
- Weight: 320g
- Driver Size: 30mm
- Battery Life (ANC on): 24 hours
- Fast Charge: 5 min for 1.5 hours playback
- Audio Codecs: LDAC, LE Audio
- Price: $650
- Sony 1000X The Collexion
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- Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2
- Weight: 310g
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Battery Life (ANC on): 30 hours
- Fast Charge: 15 min for 7 hours playback
- Audio Codecs: aptX Lossless suite
- Price: $800
- Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2
Design & Build Quality
Both headphones are positioned as premium devices, and their construction reflects this, albeit with different philosophies. The Sony 1000X The Collexion weighs in at a substantial 320g, featuring stainless steel and full leather materials. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2, slightly lighter at 310g, opts for aluminum and Nappa leather, complemented by elegant braided fabric cables. While both feel undeniably luxurious, neither model folds, a design choice that prioritizes aesthetics and material integrity over portability. Sony offers two color options, while Bowers & Wilkins provides four, catering to a broader range of personal styles.
Carrying Cases & Accessories
The carrying cases offer a glimpse into each brand’s attention to detail. Sony’s case feels particularly premium, boasting a “sandwich maker look” with a convenient handle and a magnetic clasp for opening and closing. In contrast, the Bowers & Wilkins case is a more conventional hard-shell zipper case. A notable difference in accessories is that Sony only provides an audio cable, while Bowers & Wilkins includes a USB-C to C cable and a USB-C to 3.5mm cable, allowing for audio over USB-C – a feature inexplicably absent from the Sony.
Controls & Ergonomics
When it comes to controls, Bowers & Wilkins takes a traditional, button-centric approach. We appreciate this, as physical buttons are reliable whether your hands are wet or gloved. The play/pause button is textured for easy identification. Sony, on the other hand, has upgraded to three physical buttons on the left ear cup, alongside their signature swipe and touch controls on the right. While Sony’s touch controls are well-executed, we generally prefer the tactile feedback and reliability of physical buttons.
Despite both headphones exceeding 300g, their weight distribution is excellent, preventing them from feeling overly heavy during use. Both offer spacious ear cups and manage heat well over long periods. However, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 has a slightly tighter clamp, making it a more secure fit for active users, whereas the Sony tends to slide a bit more. For longevity, the Bowers & Wilkins allows for replaceable headbands and ear cushions, while Sony only offers replaceable ear cushions.
Active Noise Cancellation & Ambient Mode
Both headphones deliver very good active noise cancellation (ANC), but there’s a clear winner. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2, after a recent software update, has improved its ANC to a Tier A performance, which is impressive. However, the Sony 1000X The Collexion remains superior, achieving a Tier S rating across all frequencies, effectively suppressing more background noise. In terms of transparency or ambient mode, both are excellent, offering a natural pass-through of ambient sounds that are almost indistinguishable from each other.
Sony offers extensive customization for its ANC and transparency modes, with numerous sliders and features for those who enjoy fine-tuning their audio experience. Bowers & Wilkins, by contrast, keeps it simple with basic ANC, transparency, and off modes, lacking the granular control found in Sony’s app.
Microphone Performance
In quiet conditions, both headphones perform well for calls. However, in noisy environments, the Sony 1000X The Collexion pulls ahead, offering clearer voice pickup with less background noise bleed-through compared to the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2. Neither is ideal in windy conditions, but if forced to choose, the Sony would be our preference. For call controls, both allow answering/hanging up and adjusting volume and ANC modes directly from the headphones. Uniquely, Sony also allows muting and unmuting the microphone directly, a convenience missing from the Bowers & Wilkins, which requires reaching for your phone.
To hear the raw microphone samples, check out the video embedded at the top of this post!
Battery Life & Charging
Sony has reduced the battery life on the 1000X The Collexion to 24 hours, citing its slimmer profile. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2, however, maintains a competitive 30 hours of battery life. Both feature fast charging:
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- Sony 1000X The Collexion: 5 minutes of charge yields 1.5 hours of playback.
- Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2: 15 minutes of charge yields 7 hours of playback.
Audio Fidelity
The Sony 1000X The Collexion features 30mm bespoke drivers, while the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 boasts larger 40mm drivers. Sony supports the LDAC codec and LE audio, offering superior audio quality on most Android devices. Bowers & Wilkins utilizes a proprietary aptX lossless suite of codecs. A significant advantage for Bowers & Wilkins is its ability to deliver audio over USB-C, a feature Sony inexplicably omits.
On initial listen, many might find the Bowers & Wilkins to have a more immediate “wow” factor due to its brighter tuning. Vocals can sound thinner, mids are somewhat recessed, and the treble is notably bright. The minimum volume on the Bowers is also quite high, which can be an issue for some listeners. We found ourselves needing to heavily EQ the Bowers & Wilkins to achieve a more balanced sound, even with its five-band EQ. This suggests great hardware is somewhat “handicapped by really ordinary tuning and choices.”
The Sony, by contrast, offers a more effortless sound out of the box, with a slightly darker default tonality. While the bass quality on the Bowers is arguably better and more controlled, Sony’s 10-band EQ and generally superior default tuning make it our preferred choice for overall sound. Sony also includes a 360 upmix feature that spatializes sound, which works surprisingly well.
Smart Features & App Experience
Both headphones support multipoint connectivity, allowing simultaneous connection to two devices. The Bowers & Wilkins’ slider button makes entering pairing mode immediate, while Sony requires powering off and holding the power button. Both apps include a device list for easy reconnection.
Wear sensors are present in both, pausing music when removed and resuming when put back on. Sony’s wear sensor is generally better calibrated. While Bowers & Wilkins has addressed some previous sensitivity issues with a recent update, Sony’s implementation still feels more refined.
The Bowers & Wilkins app is notably basic, offering minimal customization and a somewhat clunky user interface. Sony’s app, however, is extensive, packed with features like Adaptive Sound Control, Speak-to-Chat, Find Your EQ, 360 Reality Audio, and head gestures. For users who appreciate deep customization and advanced features, Sony is the clear winner.
Pricing
The Sony 1000X The Collexion Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones is priced at $650, while the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Draadloze Over-Ear Hoofdtelefoon met geavanceerde Noise Cancelling comes in at $800.
Final Verdict
Rationally, the Sony 1000X The Collexion is the superior choice. It excels in call performance, offers better noise cancellation, and provides a more versatile sound experience with its extensive EQ and features. Its comfort is on par, and while battery life is slightly less, it’s still respectable.
However, the heart often wants what the heart wants. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2, with its Nappa leather, aluminum accents, chamfered edges, and brushed steel, exudes an undeniable “sexy” luxury appeal. It’s a statement piece, a product you desire to own, even if its default tuning requires more work and its app is basic. If you prioritize raw performance and customization, Sony is your pick. If you’re drawn to exquisite design and brand prestige, and don’t mind a brighter sound signature or a higher price, the Bowers & Wilkins might just capture your heart.
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===DISCLOSURES===
✅ No one got input at any stage in the creation of this content. All opinions and bad jokes are strictly our own.
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