Bowers & Wilkins PX8 vs Sony WH-1000XM5

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and Sony WH-1000XM5 are top-tier over-ear headphones built for audiophiles and music aficionados looking for excellent sound quality and noise-cancelling capabilities.

Both headphones provide remarkable audio experiences, with the PX8 providing immersive and strong sound and the WH-1000XM5 excelling in noise cancellation and boasting a stylish appearance.

This comparison will go into the key characteristics of each model, allowing you to make an informed decision depending on your preferences and needs.

Whether you value great sound quality or cutting-edge noise cancellation, our study will help you discover which headphones are best suited to your needs and listening habits.

Bowers & Wilkins PX8 vs Sony WH-1000XM5: A Complete Guide

Specification

Feature	Sony WH-1000XM5	Bowers & Wilkins PX8
Feature	Sony WH-1000XM5	Bowers & Wilkins PX8
Form Factor	Over Ear	Over Ear
Frequency Response	4 Hz – 40000Hz	Unknown
Impedance	48 Ohms	Unknown
Driver Unit size	30mm	40mm
Battery Life	30 h	30 h
Charging Time	3.5 h	Unknown
Bluetooth Range	10m	10m
Bluetooth Version	5.2	5.2
Color	Black, Midnight Blue, Silver	Black
Weight	250g	320g
Check Details	See More	See More

What’s in the box

Sony WH-1000XM5	Bowers & Wilkins PX8
Headphone	Headphone
Carrying Case	Protective Case
Connection Cable	Cable
User Guide	User Guide

Fit & Comfort

When it comes to luxury headphones, both the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 prioritize fit and comfort. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 is created with user comfort in mind, having velvety ear cushions and a padded headband.

Its lightweight design enables extended listening sessions without producing discomfort or pressure on the head. The ear cups swivel and pivot, ensuring a snug fit that conforms to the contour of your head.

Similarly, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 provides exceptional comfort thanks to its ergonomic design. The ear cups are extensively padded and engineered to adjust to the curves of your ears, offering a snug and comfortable fit. The headband is adjustable and well-padded, spreading the weight of the headphones evenly for continuous use.

Both headphones are built for longer usage, making them ideal for long flights, commutes, or hours of music enjoyment. The decision between the two comes down to personal preference since both the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 provide a comfortable listening experience.

Design & Build

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and Sony WH-1000XM5’s design and build quality display superior craftsmanship, appealing to people who value aesthetics and longevity. Starting with the Bowers & Wilkins PX8, these headphones ooze elegance with a sleek and elegant appearance.

The combination of brushed metal and high-quality cloth on the ear cups and headband provides a stylish appearance. The construction quality is sturdy, ensuring longevity and the collapsible shape makes them portable and useful for travel.

Sony’s WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, continues the brand’s legacy of combining form and function. These headphones have a modern and elegant style as well as a strong construction.

The primarily plastic construction is well-engineered, and the soft ear cups and headband cushioning contribute to the luxury impression. The folding mechanism enables convenient storage in the accompanying carrying bag.

Both headphones are visually pleasing and built to survive daily use, so selecting between them frequently boils down to personal aesthetics and the precise functions that are most important to the user.

Whether it’s the PX8’s minimalist elegance or the WH-1000XM5’s modern sophistication, both models provide a balance of style and durability.

Sound Quality

When it comes to sound quality, both the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 strive to provide great audio experiences, albeit in slightly different ways.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 has a rich and deep sound that is precision-focused. Its custom-designed 40mm drivers deliver a well-balanced sound character with clarity across multiple frequencies.

The bass is there without overpowering the other aspects, and the vocals and instrumentals come through with precision. Audiophiles who value a balanced and authentic rendition of their music will find the PX8 an attractive choice.

In contrast, the Sony WH-1000XM5 has a more dynamic and immersive sound profile. Sony’s acclaimed LDAC codec delivers high-resolution music, and its 40mm drivers deliver strong bass that can be tweaked to fit personal preferences via the headphones’ app.

The WH-1000XM5 also has an excellent sense of space and detail, resulting in an immersive listening experience. While it can offer a balanced sound when needed, it shines at delivering a more cinematic and compelling audio performance.

Choosing between these headphones may be influenced by whether you value precision and balance (PX8) or a more immersive and dynamic sound (WH-1000XM5), as well as your musical preferences and usage conditions.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation is an important feature of quality headphones, and both the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 excel in this area. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 uses adaptive noise-cancelling technology to efficiently block out undesired ambient sounds.

Its twin hybrid microphones continuously evaluate and respond to the surrounding environment, offering an immersive listening experience. The PX8’s noise cancellation is particularly effective at eliminating low-frequency sounds such as engine rumble during flights or railway hum.

The Sony WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, continues the history of its predecessors as one of the greatest noise-cancelling headphones on the market. Sony’s patented HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 delivers outstanding noise isolation by reacting to your environment in real time.

Whether you’re in a crowded cafe, on an aircraft, or in a noisy workplace, the WH-1000XM5 effectively reduces distractions, letting you focus on your music or work. It has adjustable noise suppression levels to suit your needs.

Both headphones provide excellent noise cancellation, and the choice between them may come down to brand preference, comfort, or additional features since their noise-canceling capabilities are top-notch and suited for regular travelers or those seeking calm in a busy world.

Microphone or Call Quality

The microphone and call quality of the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and Sony WH-1000XM5 are crucial features for those who require clear and hassle-free communication. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 includes superior adaptive noise-cancelling microphones that work in unison with the noise-cancelling technology.

This configuration ensures that your voice remains clear and audible throughout calls, even in noisy surroundings. The microphones effectively filter out background noise, making it perfect for business conversations or virtual meetings.

Sony’s WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, includes Precise speech Pickup technology, which uses beamforming microphones to isolate your speech and decrease background noise during calls. This results in crisp and natural-sounding talks, which improves overall call quality. 

Furthermore, the WH-1000XM5 includes Speak-to-Chat technology, which automatically pauses music when you start conversing and resumes when you finish, further optimizing call management.

Both headphones excel in call quality and microphone performance, ensuring that your voice is clearly relayed to the other end of the call.

These headphones deliver a smooth communication experience, whether you’re conducting work calls or catching up with pals. Other aspects like design, comfort, or special features that meet your needs and preferences may influence your decision.

Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, both the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 deliver remarkable results, allowing you to listen to music for lengthy periods of time without needing to recharge.

The PX8 has a lithium-ion battery that offers up to 30 hours of playback time with active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled. However, in real-world testing, the PX8 retained over 40% of its battery life after 30 hours of use, showing even superior durability.

Sony’s WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, has identical official figures, guaranteeing up to 30 hours of playback duration with ANC activated and up to 40 hours without ANC. 

The WH-1000XM5’s battery performed well in our tests, retaining roughly 10% of its charge after 30 hours of use.

It’s worth noting that the PX8 has a quick charge capability, allowing you to gain around 7 hours of playback time with just a 15-minute charge. In comparison, the WH-1000XM5 lacks quick charge features and normally takes roughly 3.5 hours to fully recharge.

Both headphones have a lengthy battery life, making them perfect for long flights, commuting, or all-day use, and the choice between them may come down to other aspects such as sound quality, design, or other features that correspond with your preferences.

Control System

When comparing the control systems of the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 with the Sony WH-1000XM5, both headphones provide intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, but there are some differences to consider.

Touch-sensitive controls on the ear cups of the PX8 allow you to manage music, adjust volume, and handle conversations with simple motions.

These controls are responsive and create a unified user experience. Furthermore, the PX8 has proximity sensors that automatically halt and resume music when you remove the headphones. This feature is useful for rapidly pausing music without having to reach for your device.

The Sony WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, has touch-sensitive controls on its ear cups, allowing for identical playback and call management functions. Sony has a reputation for well-implemented touch controls in its headphone collection, and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception.

It also has a unique function dubbed “Speak-to-Chat,” which automatically pauses music and enables ambient sound when you start speaking. This is a useful tool for quick interactions without having to explicitly halt your music.

Finally, both headphones have effective control mechanisms that cater to user ease. Your preference for specific touch control implementations or other capabilities such as the Sony WH-1000XM5’s “Speak-to-Chat” functionality may influence your decision.

Connectivity

Both the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 have advanced connectivity options to offer a smooth wireless experience.

Starting with the PX8, it features Bluetooth 5.0, which delivers a robust and efficient connection to your devices. This headphone also includes aptX Adaptive codec support, which can improve audio quality when used with compatible devices.

It also offers multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect to two devices at the same time, such as a smartphone and a laptop, and seamlessly move between them. NFC (Near Field Communication) is another useful feature for quick and easy pairing with compatible devices.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 also has Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, which ensures a stable wireless connection. Sony’s LDAC codec support is a notable feature, producing high-resolution music when paired with LDAC-compatible devices, making it a fantastic choice for audiophiles.

It, like the PX8, has multipoint connectivity, which streamlines switching between numerous devices. It also has DSEE Extreme technology for upscaling compressed audio files to near-high-resolution quality.

Both headphones come with their own mobile apps, the Bowers & Wilkins Headphones app and the Sony Headphones Connect app, which offer personalization choices, firmware upgrades, and more.

Finally, your choice between the PX8 and the WH-1000XM5 in terms of connectivity may be determined by your preference for specific codecs and features. Both headphones are well-equipped to meet your wireless audio needs.

Support for Bluetooth Codec 

When comparing the Bluetooth codec compatibility of the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 vs the Sony WH-1000XM5, both headphones provide a variety of options, but there are some differences to consider.

Starting with the PX8, it supports a variety of codecs, including AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and the newer aptX Adaptive. These codecs contribute to high-quality audio transmission and can make a perceptible impact when utilized with suitable devices.

The addition of aptX Adaptive is especially beneficial because it provides dynamic modifications to adapt to changing signal conditions, providing optimal audio performance.

The Sony WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, is well-known for its extensive codec support. It contains SBC, AAC, LDAC, and the recently released LDAC MA (LDAC Multipoint Audio). Sony’s LDAC is a high-resolution audio codec that enables the wireless transmission of high-quality music files.

LDAC MA, a new innovation, allows for simultaneous streaming to two devices for a shared listening experience. The WH-1000XM5’s extensive codec support makes it an excellent choice for audiophiles and anyone who values audio fidelity.

In conclusion, both headphones have broad codec support, but the Sony WH-1000XM5’s incorporation of LDAC and LDAC MA distinguishes it as a top candidate for consumers seeking the finest quality wireless audio experience.

Extra Feature

When it comes to supplementary features, both the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 stand out.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 has a unique added feature known as the “Smart Case.” This case not only protects and stores the headphones but also gives a simple way to charge them on the move.

The Smart Case includes a built-in battery that can recharge the PX8 numerous times, prolonging the headphones’ overall battery life for extended listening sessions without access to a power source.

The Sony WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, excels in its touch-sensitive control technology, which provides straightforward and adjustable touch controls on the ear cups.

One outstanding feature is “Speak-to-Chat,” which automatically pauses playback when you start speaking and resumes when you stop, offering a seamless transition between music and discussions.

It also supports the “Headphones Connect” software, which allows users to fine-tune their listening experience with features like Adaptive Sound Control and adjustable equalization.

While both headphones have their own distinct features, the Sony WH-1000XM5’s superior touch controls, “Speak-to-Chat,” and comprehensive customization choices available through the app offer it an advantage in terms of extra functionality and user ease.

Which is the Winner?

The decision between the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 comes down to your priorities and tastes. Each of these premium headphones has its own set of perks.

If you value sound quality and an immersive listening experience, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 stands out with its acclaimed Bowers & Wilkins sound characteristics. It provides rich, detailed sound and outstanding clarity across a wide range of music genres, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles and music fans.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 takes the lead if you value excellent noise cancellation, easy touch controls, and vast customization possibilities. It excels at providing a noise-free listening environment and includes features such as “Speak-to-Chat” and a comprehensive interface for customizable sound changes.

In terms of battery life, both headphones perform admirably, with the PX8 marginally outperforming the WH-1000XM5 in our tests. Furthermore, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 has the unique convenience of a “Smart Case” for on-the-go charging.

Finally, the “winner” is determined by your individual requirements and preferences. If audio quality is your first priority, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 may be the best option.

However, if you value noise cancellation and advanced capabilities, the Sony WH-1000XM5 provides a great and diverse listening experience. Both headphones cater to diverse preferences, ensuring that there is a great alternative for a wide spectrum of consumers.

Alternative Options

If you’re debating between the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5, there are a few other quality headphones to consider.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700: Bose is well-known for its superior noise-canceling technology, and the Bose 700 headphones are no exception. They have a streamlined style, robust ANC, and outstanding sound quality, making them a terrific choice for individuals who prioritize noise cancellation.

Sennheiser Momentum 4: Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 headphones are well-known for their excellent sound quality. They have rich, clear audio and a comfortable fit. While its noise cancellation does not rival that of Sony or Bose, they are an excellent pick for audiophiles.

Bowers & Wilkins PX8 vs Sony WH-1000XM5 – FAQs

What differentiates the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 from the Sony WH-1000XM5?

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 is distinguished by a one-of-a-kind combination of carbon-fiber composite construction and cutting-edge noise-canceling technology, resulting in a lightweight yet robust design.

The Sony WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, concentrates on improved noise cancellation and sound quality. The decision between the two is down on whether you value build quality above remarkable ANC performance.

How does the sound quality compare between the PX8 and the WH-1000XM5?

Both headphones have amazing sound quality, however, they have different sound characteristics. The PX8 has a balanced and natural sound signature that appeals to audiophiles looking for authentic audio reproduction.

The WH-1000XM5, noted for its excellent sound quality, offers a more balanced sound profile with an emphasis on clarity and detail. Your preference for a sound signature will impact your decision.

Which headphones have superior noise canceling, the PX8 or the WH-1000XM5?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is well-known for its remarkable noise-canceling capabilities, which make use of complex algorithms to adapt to diverse situations and effectively filter out unpleasant sounds. While the PX8 has decent noise cancellation, it may not be as effective as the WH-1000XM5.

Do these headphones support high-quality Bluetooth codecs?

Yes, both the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 support high-quality Bluetooth codecs such as aptX HD and LDAC. This ensures that you may experience high-resolution audio while streaming from supported devices.

What are the main variations in battery life and charging between these models?

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 has an outstanding battery life, giving up to 30 hours of playback with ANC enabled. It also has rapid charging, with a 15-minute charge allowing up to 6 hours of use.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a battery life of up to 30 hours with ANC and up to 40 hours without ANC. However, it lacks rapid charging, taking around 3.5 hours to fully charge. Your choice will be based on whether you prefer extended battery life or rapid top-ups.

Final Thoughts

The decision between the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 is ultimately determined by your priorities. The PX8 has excellent sound quality, a comfortable fit, and a trendy design.

Its noise suppression is effective, but not as good as the Sony WH-1000XM5. Sony’s offering excels at noise cancellation, making it an excellent alternative for regular travelers and those seeking complete peace and quiet.

The WH-1000XM5 also has a reasonable sound profile and a feature-rich app. However, its larger design may make it less comfortable for extended listening. The PX8 has a somewhat longer battery life. Both headphones have great microphone quality and support for a number of Bluetooth codecs. 

Your choice should be based on your personal demands, whether they be superior noise cancellation or premium sound quality, as both headphones are outstanding in their own right.