Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold
Over-ear · 2022
Sennheiser HD 800 S
Open-back
Sennheiser HD 800 S takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold lands at 91 and Sennheiser HD 800 S at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sennheiser HD 800 STuning, detail, and staging
Sennheiser HD 800 S leads on sound (95 vs 91).
Noise cancelling
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose GoldANC strength for commute and travel
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold leads on anc (89 vs 0).
Comfort
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose GoldLong-session wearability
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold leads on comfort (90 vs 88).
Value for money
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose GoldSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold more score per dollar ($699 vs $1,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold | Sennheiser HD 800 S |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | Open-back |
| Release year | 2022 | — |
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
Sennheiser HD 800 S
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
FAQ: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold vs Sennheiser HD 800 S
Which is better, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +
Sennheiser HD 800 S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold worth the price? +
At $699, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in sound.
Is Sennheiser HD 800 S worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.
Does Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold or Sennheiser HD 800 S 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.
Which is better for sound quality, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +
Sennheiser HD 800 S — leads on sound (95 vs 91). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 · Rose Gold — leads on anc (89 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.