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Sony’s 1000X The Collexion headphones take what Sony has learned in the consumer headphone space over the past decade and pack those lessons into a high-end, luxury-focused body. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones are luxurious, too — and arguably more so — but they also have the benefit of Bowers & Wilkins’ hi-fi pedigree.

Also: I flew 2,700 miles with Apple, Sony, and Sennheiser headphones – this pair had the best audio

Both pairs sit in the top tier of consumer headphones, so the $150 gap between them is meaningful but relatively small in context. At this level, you’re really choosing a philosophy. Sony is the rational, everyday pick, while Bowers & Wilkins is the one you buy for pure listening pleasure and a bit of prestige. Here’s how to decide which philosophy is yours.

Specifications

You should buy the Sony 1000X The Collexion if…

1. You want better noise cancellation

Sony has been at the top of the ANC race for years, and 1000X The Collexion continues that streak. Low-frequency noise reduction is excellent, as engine drone, traffic rumble, and train noise all but disappear, and the mid-band performance handles office chatter well, too. If you’re a frequent flyer or a daily commuter, Sony’s noise cancellation makes a big difference in how you travel.

The transparency mode is also a step up from earlier generations, with adjustable levels and a natural-sounding pass-through that doesn’t make the outside world sound like a walkie-talkie. While 1000X The Collexion’s ANC is very good, it’s not quite as good as Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones, which have a tighter clamp and seal.

Review: Sony 1000X The Collexion

The Px8 S2’s ANC is fine, and for a lot of people, it’ll be perfectly adequate. But it noticeably trails Sony, letting in more low-frequency rumble and general chatter. If ANC is a primary reason you’re buying headphones at this price, the Sony is the safer pick by a clear margin.

2. You want smart features

The gap in smart features between the two is wide. 1000X The Collexion inherits much of what Sony has built over multiple generations of the 1000X headphones: adaptive sound control that changes ANC profiles based on what you’re doing, Speak-to-Chat that pauses or lowers your music when you start talking, Quick Attention for momentary pass-through, and multipoint pairing.

The Sony Sound Connect app is stable and mature, and it includes a solid EQ that lets you shape the sound profile as much or as little as you want. Bowers & Wilkins’ app, by comparison, is minimalist. You get decent EQ and controls, and that’s about it; there’s no equivalent to Sony’s adaptive or behavioral modes.

Also: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: How I’d justify spending $300 more for headphones

That said, there’s an argument that Sony’s list of features is overkill. If you’d rather have simple controls and pure hardware performance without layers of DSP between you and your music, Sony’s feature density might feel more like clutter than convenience. Still, for travelers and multitaskers, it’s genuinely useful.

3. You want a more comfortable fit

Sony’s 1000X The Collexion isn’t light, but the roomy earcups make it forgiving right out of the box, especially if you have larger ears or wear glasses. The stainless steel framework and full synthetic leather finish feel more “flagship” than previous WH-1000X models, and the overall aesthetic is sleeker and more modern than the Px8 S2’s analog hi-fi look. Which one you prefer visually is a matter of taste, but in terms of pure fit, the Sony has the edge across more head shapes.

There are caveats. 1000X The Collexion’s 320g weight is noticeable during long sessions. The Px8 S2 is only 10 grams lighter, so it also isn’t feather-light, but it’s worth knowing going in. And Sony’s synthetic leather, while soft initially, may age differently than the genuine materials on the Px8 S2.

You should buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 if…

1. You want the most detailed audio response

The Px8 S2’s 40mm angled drivers are tuned for texture, timbre, and midrange detail. Vocals and acoustic instruments stand out with a realism that Sony can’t quite match, and the bass is authoritative but tight — controlled rather than boosted. It’s a hi-fi-like sound, especially with high-quality sources. Sony’s 1000X The Collexion still sounds excellent, and most people would be happy with it. However, its 30mm drivers can come across as slightly more digital and processed next to the Px8 S2. The result is very polished but lacks analog warmth.

Review: Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2

The trade-off is flexibility. The Px8 S2 offers far less EQ adjustment than the 1000X The Collexion, so if you want to customize your sound heavily — say, pushing the bass toward a more consumer-friendly profile — you’ll find the Bowers & Wilkins companion app limiting. The Px8 S2 is tuned by people with strong opinions about how it should sound, and it mostly expects you to agree.

2. You care about luxury design and premium materials

The Px8 S2 simply feels more expensive than Sony’s 1000X The Collexion, and it is. Aluminum components, high-quality cables, and genuine Nappa leather add up to headphones with sophisticated, jewelry-like detailing that you notice every time you pick them up.

Where the 1000X The Collexion goes for a sleek, tech-forward look, the Px8 S2 leans traditional and prestigious, more classic hi-fi than modern gadget. If materials and craftsmanship are part of what you’re paying for at this price, Bowers & Wilkins delivers in a way that Sony’s synthetic leather doesn’t.

3. You forget to charge

The Px8 S2 gets about 30 hours of battery life with ANC engaged, which comfortably outlasts the Sony’s 24 hours. That number is a somewhat surprising win for Bowers & Wilkins, since the 1000X The Collexion’s battery endurance is a step down from previous WH-1000X models — a casualty of the slimmer design.

Also: I listened to Sony, Bose, and Apple’s flagship headphones – and this pair’s ahead of the pack

The Px8 S2’s fast charging is solid, too. A 15-minute charge gets you roughly seven hours of playback, which is enough for a transatlantic flight from a coffee break’s worth of charging. Thankfully, the Sony headphones charge pretty quickly, too, as 5 minutes gets you about 1.5 hours of playback.

Writer’s choice

Both of these headphones are excellent options, with great sound overall. That said, I prefer Sony’s 1000X The Collexion headphones, but only by a little. They’re more comfortable to wear for extended periods, and I travel a lot, which makes the better ANC very helpful. Again, though, I still love the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, and certainly wouldn’t steer clear of them.