I’ve been looking for a second Bluetooth headphone for upcoming travel. The one set of Bluetooth headphones that I have on hand have been the Sennheiser Momentum 4, which has been a decent performer.
After doing a lot of research, found a great deal on the PX8 S2, so decided to try this out. The two items that appealed to me was the higher build quality, and the carbon fiber driver, which is similar to the HEDD D1. Haven’t seen anything on this website about the PX8 S2, but the reviews gave them high grades for overall sound quality.
I’ll post some observations after getting some time with them. Anyone else have any experience with this headphone.
I know it’s not what you want to hear, but if you like the Momentum 4 and want to upgrade, get either the Bathys or the HDB630. I have all three and my preferred headphone for sound quality are the Bathys hands down.
Hmm. The lowdown on the Bathys is that the Noise Cancellation is not great. That’s a issue for me with air travel. It also looks a bit bulky to travel with.
I also looked at the Mark Levinson as well. You may be right, but I’ll see how it goes.
Well, after listening to the PX 8 S2 for a bit, I think it sounds pretty good. It is a step up from the Momentum 4, which is what I was hoping for.
Curious to hear your impressions versus the Momentum 4, especially on the tuning. B&W tends to voice their headphones on the warmer, more relaxed side, while the Sennheiser is a bit more neutral. Build quality on the PX8 line is genuinely a step up though, the metal and leather feel premium. Report back on ANC and call quality too since those matter a lot for travel. Enjoy the new set.
The first thing that stands out to me with the Px8 S2 is the fairly substantial dip in the ear-gain region (2–4 kHz), along with a peak in the sibilance region around 6–8 kHz.
Because of the dip in the ear-gain region, vocals and some instruments tend to sound as though they are positioned farther away overall. (This is different from the soundstage expanding forward in a speaker-like manner.) What really bothers me, though, is the sibilance.
Of course, I am particularly sensitive to sibilance, and some listeners might perceive the emphasis in this region as a kind of “detail” or added clarity. Even so, I think it is simply too pronounced.
I rather like the PX8 S2. I realize this opinion could jeopardize my Headphone Show-fan membership. Because the measurements frankly look silly. But, honestly, I think the PX8 S2 sounds great. They are very much “bass and space,” given almost absurdly boosted bass and the drawn-down 1-3k. The bass does not sound muddy to me, and the 6-8k rise doesn’t sound shrill. Can I tell you why? No, I cannot. If you’re wondering whether those curves might match my audiogram, the answer is . . . exactly the opposite. I have hearing loss from 2-4k and hear like an owl at 8k. So who knows?
Downsides: The PX8 S2 headband hurts my head – like literally hurts the ridge at the top of my skull – after about an hour and a half. And the noise cancellation while measuring better than the PX8 is actually worse, at least in cancelling road noise. Whether it’s better on a plane is something I haven’t had an opportunity to assess. Either way, it doesn’t approach Bose, Apple, or Sony.
The Bathys (OG) has a more conventional sound and is quite good. But the noise cancelling is frankly poor, noticeably worse then the B&W. It’s not suitable for drives or flights, IMO, which is a shame. The Bathys MG is a fantastic closed-back headphone but it’s got the same problem: not enough ANC.
Another thought: If the Noble Fokus Artemis has ANC equal to the B&W – and I don’t see why it can’t – I suspect that’s going to be a better buy, not least because of the EQ options. We should know pretty soon. Hopefully our hosts here will have units later this month.
My initial impressions are quite positive. To me, the default sound signature is excellent overall, and is especially noteworthy for a wireless headphone. The headphone came with a Questyle QCC dongle, which comes in quite handy, as it turns out.
The sonic balance is a bit on the warm side, with a slight bass emphasis. The bass however, is very nice, in that it is very clear with good detail. The midrange sounds open and detailed to me. Horns and woodwind instruments sound very natural, something a lot of headphones fail to get right. The treble is extended, but not overly so. I listen to primarily Classical and Jazz, and the PX 8 S2 is an highly desirable match.
Call quality is very good. No complaints here. The Noise cancelling is not quite as good as the Sennheiser, but it’s quite acceptable, given the overall sound quality.
I would definitely rank the PX8 S2 higher than the Momentum 4 overall, especially in sound and build quality. In summary, quite happy with them.