Over-Ear Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5
8.6/10SoundGuys scoreRead our review ›
$239.99at Amazon
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1 / 10Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 standard edition
noise cancelling & sound
8.4/ 10
ANCNoise cancelling8.4
0.010.0
At 8.4, its noise cancelling beats 61% of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 61 of the 238 we've cataloged.
4.2/ 5
SoundMDAQS Overall4.2
1.05.0
A 4.2 puts its audio quality in the top half of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 44 of the 238 we've cataloged.
See the lab data ↓Frequency response · Isolation · Noise cancelling · Audio quality
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Key specs
Battery Life Wireless
40.65 hBelow average40.65 h
11 h100 h
below average for over-ear headphones — based on 156 of 238 we've cataloged.
Charging Method
USB-CMost commonUsb-c89%Micro usb8%Others3%
Usb-c is the most common — on 89% of the 135 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 238).
Bluetooth Version
5.25.028%5.325%5.216%5.411%
5.2 appears on 16% of the 147 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 238).
Connection Type
Wired-3.5mm48%Bluetooth44%Wired-usb-c7%Others2%
Bluetooth appears on 44% of the 239 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 238).
Battery
- Battery Life Wireless
- 40.65 h
- Charging Method
- USB-C
- Full Charge Minutes
- 120 min
- Battery Life Anc On
- 30 h
- Battery
- Yes
- Fast Charging
- Yes
Connectivity
- Bluetooth Version
- 5.2
- Connection Type
- Bluetooth wireless
- Bluetooth Codec
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-HD, aptX Adaptive
- Multipoint Devices
- 2 devices
- Headphone Jack
- Yes
- USB Charging
- Yes
Design
- Weight
- 320 g
- Clamping Force
- Perfect g
- Color Options
- Black, tan
- Ear Pad Type
- Memory foam, Nappa leather
- Foldable
- No
- Headband Type
- Adjustable over-head
Build
- Material Chassis Primary
- Aluminum frame with Nappa leather trim
- Water Resistance
- No
- Material Ear Cups
- Memory foam, Nappa leather
- Material Headband
- Metal with Nappa leather padding
Features
- Companion App
- IOS + Android
- Control Type
- Physical buttons
- Eq Customization
- Presets only
- Auto Pause
- Yes
Microphone
- Count
- 6
- Microphone
- Yes
- Wind Noise Reduction
- No
- Noise Reduction Type
- Active noise cancellation
- Type
- 6-mic beamforming array
Sound
- Acoustic Design
- Closed-back
- Ambient Mode
- Standard
- Anc Modes
- Off,anc,transparency
- Driver Count
- 2
- Driver Size
- 40 mm
- Driver Type
- Dynamic driver
- Frequency Response Signature
- V-shaped
- Noise Cancellation Type
- Active
Identity
- Model Number
- PX8
Release
- Date
- 2022-09-28
- Msrp Usd
- 699 USD
- Year
- 2022
Lab data
How we test ›Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 8.5 |
| 25 | 8.6 |
| 32 | 8.0 |
| 40 | 6.9 |
| 50 | 6.4 |
| 63 | 7.3 |
| 80 | 6.4 |
| 100 | 5.4 |
| 125 | 5.0 |
| 160 | 4.7 |
| 200 | 3.9 |
| 250 | 2.3 |
| 315 | 0.4 |
| 400 | -0.8 |
| 500 | -0.5 |
| 630 | 0.3 |
| 800 | 0.7 |
| 1000 | 0.0 |
| 1250 | -0.7 |
| 1600 | -0.6 |
| 2000 | 0.9 |
| 2500 | 1.8 |
| 3150 | 7.5 |
| 4000 | 9.2 |
| 5000 | 5.7 |
| 6300 | 3.9 |
| 8000 | 7.5 |
| 10000 | 1.5 |
| 12500 | -6.9 |
| 16000 | -10.4 |
| 20000 | -23.0 |
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 6.5 |
| 26 | 9.3 |
| 33 | 0.6 |
| 41 | 0.8 |
| 52 | -0.3 |
| 65 | 1.3 |
| 82 | -0.6 |
| 103 | -0.8 |
| 130 | 1.1 |
| 163 | 2.9 |
| 205 | 4.8 |
| 259 | 5.5 |
| 325 | 8.6 |
| 410 | 9.5 |
| 516 | 10.9 |
| 613 | 12.1 |
| 772 | 15.8 |
| 972 | 23.4 |
| 1220 | 24.1 |
| 1540 | 24.1 |
| 1940 | 30.2 |
| 2440 | 33.5 |
| 3070 | 35.0 |
| 3870 | 30.2 |
| 4870 | 41.8 |
| 6130 | 46.2 |
| 7720 | 51.9 |
| 9720 | 45.7 |
| 12200 | 46.8 |
| 15400 | 46.0 |
| 19400 | 38.4 |
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Total attenuation (dB) with ANC on — passive isolation plus active noise cancelling. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Total attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | 11.0 |
| 26 | 15.1 |
| 33 | 8.4 |
| 41 | 9.7 |
| 52 | 13.3 |
| 65 | 14.9 |
| 82 | 21.7 |
| 103 | 26.0 |
| 130 | 23.8 |
| 163 | 21.5 |
| 205 | 18.9 |
| 259 | 19.5 |
| 325 | 20.8 |
| 410 | 19.1 |
| 516 | 21.4 |
| 613 | 25.3 |
| 772 | 29.8 |
| 972 | 23.5 |
| 1220 | 22.7 |
| 1540 | 25.8 |
| 1940 | 31.2 |
| 2440 | 32.9 |
| 3070 | 33.9 |
| 3870 | 28.9 |
| 4870 | 38.3 |
| 6130 | 44.6 |
| 7720 | 41.0 |
| 9720 | 42.5 |
| 12200 | 47.0 |
| 15400 | 44.0 |
| 19400 | 29.2 |
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
4.0
4.4
4.8
4.2
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (1–5), modeled from the measured response. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
SoundGuys review
Noise cancelling8.4
Isolation7.4
Battery life9.8
Comfort & fit8.8
Connectivity9.5
Design8.0
The verdict
The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 is a competent, but expensive set of ANC headphones. Consequently, it's less of a question of getting the most for your dollar, but whether or not you're looking for something a little more posh than your average headphones.
✓Liked: Sound, ANC, Connectivity options, Aesthetics
✕Could be better: Mass, Odd performance in some ways, Price
Owners
How we verify ownersNobody who owns the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 has written in yet.
Owner notes are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not edited by us. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from notes.
Own the Bowers & Wilkins Px8?
Three answers, four quick reads, one sentence nobody tells you before buying. Shown under a pseudonym.
Video reviews and comparisons for this product.
Features & Opinions
More from the team ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
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Tom TriggsContributor
Adam BirneyManaging EditorI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help youChristian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.Tom TriggsContributorMore Over-Ear Headphones
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