ZDNET Picks Sony 1000X The Collexion Over $799 Px8 S2 on Comfort and ANC

Q: Sony's new flagship now dominates noise-cancelling. Is the Bowers & Wilkins' audio still worth the price gap?

Yes—but only for a narrower buyer. Sony’s 1000X The Collexion is the better overall purchase for most people because it now leads this matchup in active noise cancellation, ambient mode, comfort, app maturity, and smart features, while costing far less. For commuters and frequent flyers, that advantage is practical and immediate: better suppression of engine rumble, chatter, and wind matters more day to day than marginal gains in sound quality. The case for the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is almost entirely about sound and luxury. Multiple reviews describe it as the more hi-fi, more revealing headphone, with stronger texture, timbre, midrange detail, tighter bass, and a wider, more precise soundstage. With high-quality sources, aptX Lossless support, and its 40mm carbon-cone drivers, it can sound more dynamic and emotionally engaging than Sony’s smoother, more relaxed tuning. But that premium comes with tradeoffs. Its ANC is clearly behind Sony’s, its ambient mode sounds less natural, its app and EQ options are more limited, and some reviewers note its snugger fit and heavier luxury build can be less comfortable over long sessions. In pure value terms, Sony is the rational winner. The price gap is worth paying only if you are specifically buying for reference-grade wireless sound, premium materials like Nappa leather and aluminum, and brand prestige. If your priority is travel, daily use, and all-around performance, Sony’s lead in ANC makes the Bowers & Wilkins harder to justify.

1 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 10

ZDNET favored Sony's 1000X The Collexion over Bowers & Wilkins' Px8 S2 by a narrow margin, citing stronger active noise cancellation and a more comfortable fit for long wear.
Sony's $460 model was also judged better for travelers and multitaskers because it offers adaptive sound control, Speak-to-Chat, multipoint pairing and a more mature companion app.
Bowers & Wilkins' $799 Px8 S2 still led on audio detail, luxury materials and battery life, delivering 30 hours with ANC versus 24 hours for Sony and about seven hours from a 15-minute charge.
The comparison framed the choice as everyday practicality versus hi-fi prestige, with Sony positioned as the rational pick and the Px8 S2 as the purer listening-focused option.