Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (#2) vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 (#3, best premium): in our Over-ear Wireless Headphones for Music scoring the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones totals 8.9/10 and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 8.5/10.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $799 |
| Driver Size | 35mm | 40mm carbon cone |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive | Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless |
| ANC | CustomTune technology | Adaptive noise cancellation |
| Weight | 250g | 320g |
| Battery | 24 hours with ANC | 30 hours |
How they differ in real use
Built from our over ear wireless scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 made our Top 5 Over-ear Wireless Headphones for Music, at #2 and #3 (best premium). Often leads in noise cancellation performance and comfort. Deep bass response and plush earcups make it ideal for immersive, dynamic music playback in noisy environments. Premium build and sound quality with 24-bit/96kHz wireless audio via aptX Lossless. Luxury Nappa leather materials and replaceable pads make it the audiophile's wireless choice.
We score over-ear wireless headphones for music on Sound Quality (30%), ANC Performance (25%), Comfort (20%), Battery Life (15%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones totals 8.9 out of 10 and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 8.5. The widest gap is ANC Performance, where the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones scores 10 against 8 for the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 — noise cancellation effectiveness. Sound Quality also separates them: 9.5 for the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 versus 8.5 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 claws back ground on Battery Life.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Driver Size — 35mm on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones versus 40mm carbon cone on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2; Connectivity — Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones versus Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2; ANC — CustomTune technology on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones versus Adaptive noise cancellation on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2; Weight — 250g on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones versus 320g on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2; Battery — 24 hours with ANC on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones versus 30 hours on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2.
Pricing as of February 8, 2026: $300 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and $799 for the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, a $499 difference in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones's favor. Owners praise the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for top-tier ANC performance and deep bass response; the most common complaint is slightly warm sound signature. Owners praise the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 for 24-bit/96kHz wireless audio and aptX Adaptive & Lossless support; the most common complaint is very expensive at $799.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
- Top-tier ANC performance
- Deep bass response
- Plush earcups for all-day comfort
- Immersive Audio spatial mode
- Slightly warm sound signature
- No high-res codec support (no LDAC)
- 24-hour battery shorter than competitors
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- 24-bit/96kHz wireless audio
- aptX Adaptive & Lossless support
- Premium Nappa leather build
- Replaceable pads and headband
- Very expensive at $799
- ANC not class-leading
- Heavy for a wireless headphone
Which should you buy?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is the better fit for listeners wanting top-tier ANC and bass lovers — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for ANC Performance and Comfort. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is the better fit for audiophiles wanting wireless and refined sound and craftsmanship seekers, and the stronger choice if Sound Quality and Battery Life matter more to you than the overall score. Since the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is both the higher scorer and $499 cheaper, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 only makes sense for audiophiles wanting wireless. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is a poor fit for hi-res audio purists; the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is a poor fit for budget shoppers.
Choose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones if
- Listeners wanting top-tier ANC
- Bass lovers
- All-day comfort seekers
Skip it if
- Hi-res audio purists
- Those needing LDAC
Choose the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 if
- Audiophiles wanting wireless
- Refined sound and craftsmanship seekers
- Hi-res music listeners
Skip it if
- Budget shoppers
- Those prioritizing ANC over sound
Common questions
Is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2?
In our Over-ear Wireless Headphones for Music ranking the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones scores higher overall, 8.9 to 8.5, with the biggest advantage in ANC Performance. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is stronger on Sound Quality and Battery Life, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 cost than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?
$499 more as of February 8, 2026: $799 for the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 against $300 for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2?
The headline spec difference is Driver Size: 35mm on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones versus 40mm carbon cone on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2. In use, the gap that matters most is ANC Performance (10 vs 8 in our scoring): noise cancellation effectiveness.