Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 301165-06-00-308
Audio-Technica ATH-R50X
What Buyers Say
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 301165-06-00-308
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones receive overwhelmingly positive feedback for their exceptional sound quality, build materials, and comfort. Reviewers consistently praise the detailed, immersive audio with excellent instrument separation and balanced bass, though some note the ANC is slightly behind Bose and Sony. A few users mention the high price and minor comfort issues with the headband, but most agree the premium experience justifies the cost.
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality and detail
- Excellent build quality and premium materials
- Very comfortable for long listening sessions
- Great instrument separation and soundstage
- Good battery life
Cons
- High price point
- ANC not as good as Bose or Sony
- Headband comfort issues for some users
- Strong clamping force for some
- Bass not as punchy as competitors
Audio-Technica ATH-R50X
The Audio-Technica open-back headphones receive praise for their comfortable fit, lightweight design, and detailed soundstage that reveals nuances in music. However, the stock cable is widely criticized as poor, and some users find the tuning shouty or bright, recommending the R30x or R70xa instead. Overall, they are seen as a good value for the price, especially for mixing and guitar playing, but the cable and pad longevity are concerns.
Pros
- Comfortable and lightweight design
- Detailed and revealing soundstage
- Good bass response for open-back
- Great value for the price
- Crisp and clear audio
Cons
- Poor stock cable quality
- Shouty or bright tuning for some
- No replacement head pads available
- Short cable lacks 1/4" adapter threads
- Long cable can be a hazard
Scores
Specifications
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 301165-06-00-308 | Audio-Technica ATH-R50X | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed | open |
| Foldable | ✗ | — |
| Weight | 0.31 kg | 0.21 kg★ |
| Ear Cushion | Leather | velour |
| Headband | Aluminum, Leather | — |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 45 mm★ |
| Freq Min | — | 5 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | 24 kHz | 40 kHz★ |
| Impedance | — | 50 Ω |
| Sensitivity | — | 93.30000305175781 dB★ |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓★ | — |
| Codecs | aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive | Audio-Technica ATH-R50x Professional Open-Back Over-Ear Reference Headphones, Bundle with Desktop Stand, Black |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓★ | ✗ |
| ANC Type | proprietary active noise cancellation | — |
| Transparency | ✗ | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bluetooth | 5.2★ | — |
| Multipoint | ✓★ | — |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| Detachable Cable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cable Length | — | 3 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 30 hrs★ | — |
| Fast Charging | Yes★ | — |
| Charging | USB-C★ | — |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Mic Count | 8★ | — |
| NC Mic | ✓★ | — |
| Boom Mic | ✗ | — |
| Detachable Mic | ✓★ | — |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | Siri | — |
| App | Bowers & Wilkins Music | — |
Pros & Cons
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 301165-06-00-308
- Strong mic (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong social proof (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong build (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong sound (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Below average comfort (15th percentile)15th %ile
Audio-Technica ATH-R50X
- Strong social proof (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong sound (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong build (76th percentile)
- Strong comfort (67th percentile)
- Below average mic (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (22nd percentile)
- Below average anc (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Audio-Technica ATH-R50X offers 2.9x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 6 of 7 usage categories and 12 of 33 specs.
