Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black
Over-ear · 2022
91
/ 100
From $699
VS
Audeze LCD-5 wins by 5
Audeze
Audeze LCD-5
Planar magnetic
96
/ 100
From $4,500
Specdex verdict
Audeze LCD-5 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black lands at 91 and Audeze LCD-5 at 96. That puts Audeze LCD-5 ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Pick Audeze LCD-5 if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Score breakdown
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black
91 anc 89
sound 91
comfort 90
battery 82
features 87
Audeze LCD-5
96 anc 0
sound 96
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Specs side-by-side
Spec
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black
Audeze LCD-5
Type
Over-ear
Planar magnetic
Release year
2022
—
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black
Pros
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
Audeze LCD-5
Pros
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
FAQ: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black vs Audeze LCD-5
Which is better, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black or Audeze LCD-5? +
Audeze LCD-5 scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black worth the price? +
At $699, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in sound.
Is Audeze LCD-5 worth the price? +
At $4,500, Audeze LCD-5 delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in battery.
Does Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Midnight Black or Audeze LCD-5 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.