Px8 S2 Review: Gorgeous Sound, Brutal Price

By Editorial Team | April 2026

The Px8 S2 wins because it sounds like proper hi-fi first and noise-cancelling headphones second. If you care more about tuning, build, and call quality than app tricks, it makes a very strong case — even at £629.

Our picks at a glance

Based on hands-on research, expert review consensus (RTings, Wirecutter, relevant subreddits), and current pricing.

Best overall: Px8 S2

Px8 S2 — £629.00

This is the pair you buy when sound quality is the point and ANC is just part of the deal. The 8.8 score tells the story: it is one of the most convincing premium wireless headphones for listeners who can hear the difference between “fine” and genuinely well-tuned.

Why we picked it:

• The 24-bit DSP and Carbon Cone 40mm drivers give wireless playback a cleaner, more controlled character than the usual travel headphones.
• aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive mean compatible devices can send better Bluetooth audio with less compromise.
• The eight-microphone ANC array and four-mic-per-earcup call setup make it genuinely useful for travel and work, not just music.

The trade-off: it is very expensive, and Sony and Bose still beat it on app features and ANC-first value.

If that trade-off sounds fair, buy the Px8 S2.

Best upgrade: Beoplay H95

Beoplay H95 — £861.42

The H95 is the expensive flex. You are paying for materials, fit, and a more obviously luxury listening experience, not for a huge jump in practicality. It makes sense if you want headphones that feel as indulgent as they sound, and you are happy to pay far more for the privilege.

Worth it if: you care about premium sound and premium finish in equal measure, and you are buying with your ears and your hands.

Best budget pick: JBL Tour One M3

JBL Tour One M3 — £224.16

The Tour One M3 is the smarter buy if your priority is features, runtime, and value rather than audiophile polish. It gives you strong ANC, multipoint, LDAC, USB-C audio, and the kind of battery life that makes flagship pricing look silly.

Worth it if: you want a competent all-rounder for commuting, calls, and travel, and you would rather keep nearly £400 in your pocket.

Also worth considering

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — £332.11

Bose is still the cleaner choice if you want the easiest pair to live with on planes, trains, and long workdays. The comfort is excellent, the ANC is stronger than the Px8 S2’s, and Cinema Mode is genuinely useful for video. The weakness is obvious: it is less about sound purity and more about making noise disappear.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless — £199.99

This is the battery-life monster. Up to 60 hours means you stop thinking about charging, and the sound is still good enough to make most premium buyers happy. The ANC is not in Bose or Sony territory, though, so this is the pick for endurance and value, not maximum silence.

Sennheiser HD 505 — £189.99

The HD 505 is the odd one out because it is wired and open-back, but that is exactly why it earns a place here. If you listen at home and want a wider, more natural soundstage for music or laptop gaming, it delivers more honest sound than many closed-back wireless models. It is useless for commuting because it leaks sound both ways.

Fairbuds XL — £160.00

Pick these if you hate disposable tech. The repairable design is the story here: nine replaceable parts, including the battery, make long-term ownership much more sensible than most ANC headphones. The ANC and sound are merely decent, so this is a values pick, not a performance pick.

JLab JBuds Lux ANC — £79.99

This is the cheap seat that still gets you into the stadium. Battery life is huge, multipoint is handy, and the feature list punches above the price. But the ANC and sound are only average, so you buy it for practicality, not for loving the way it sounds.

How we chose

We weighted sound quality, ANC performance, battery life, call quality, and real-world comfort above spec-sheet fluff. For alternatives, we checked current UK pricing and compared them with the models most often recommended by outlets like RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, CNET, and recent hands-on reviews.

Frequently asked questions

Are the Px8 S2 worth £629?
Only if sound quality is your top priority. If you mostly want the strongest ANC or the best feature set for the money, Bose and Sony are the more sensible buys.

What makes the Px8 S2 different from cheaper headphones?
The tuning is more refined, the drivers are better chosen for clean wireless sound, and the build feels properly premium. You are paying for fidelity and finish, not a long list of app extras.

Do they work well for travel?
Yes. The 30-hour battery and 15-minute quick charge are practical, and the ANC is strong enough for flights and trains, even if it is not class-leading.

What is the main reason to skip them?
Price. If you want maximum ANC value, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless both make a more rational case.