Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 vs Bowers & Wilkins - Px8
Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 50 h | 30 h |
| Weight | 307 g | 320 g |
| Driver size | 45 mm | 40 mm |
| LDAC | true | false |
| Active noise cancellation | false | true |
Between the ATH-M50xBT2 and Px8, the ATH-M50xBT2 comes out ahead in battery life / weight, while the Px8 wins on active noise cancellation. Overall, the ATH-M50xBT2 scores 59.8 and the Px8 scores 70.8 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Px8 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 11.0 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the ATH-M50xBT2 if your top frustration with your current device is running out of charge before the day ends — endurance is the lead spec here. The biggest gaps in its favor are battery life, weight, driver size, among others. The single most decisive one: Battery life — 66.67% more. 50 h vs 30 h.
Pick the Px8 if audio quality and feature breadth (ANC, codecs, multipoint) are the lead criteria for your purchase. Its strongest claims are active noise cancellation. The single most decisive one: Has Active noise cancellation.
Both ship with comparable spatial audio, multipoint, water resistance, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Px8 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 or Bowers & Wilkins - Px8?
Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 leads the current Mars Score by 11.0 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare driver size, battery life, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 if…
Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 has the measurable edge on battery life h, weight g, driver size mm.
Choose Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 if…
Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 has the measurable edge on has anc.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 wins
- ▲Battery life — 66.67% more. 50 h vs 30 h.
- ▲Weight — 13.00 g less. 307 vs 320.
- ▲Driver size — 12.50% more. 45 mm vs 40 mm.
- ▲Has LDAC.
Why Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 wins
- ▲Has Active noise cancellation.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | over-ear | over-ear |
| Weight | 307 glead | 320 g |
| Water resistance | none | none |
Audio
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 45 mmlead | 40 mm |
| Impedanceⓘ | 38 Ωlead | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 99 dB | 111 dBlead |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | false | truelead |
| Transparency mode | false | truelead |
| Spatial audioⓘ | false | false |
Battery
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery lifeⓘ | 50 hlead | 30 h |
| Fast chargeⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Audio-Technica - ATH-M50xBT2 | Bowers & Wilkins - Px8 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.0 | 5.2lead |
| Multipointⓘ | true | true |
| 3.5mm jack | true | true |
| LDACⓘ | truelead | false |
| aptX HDⓘ | true | true |
Frequently asked
Which has better battery life, ATH-M50xBT2 or Px8?+
ATH-M50xBT2 lasts 50 hours vs 30 hours.
Do ATH-M50xBT2 or Px8 have active noise cancellation?+
Px8 has active noise cancellation; ATH-M50xBT2 does not.
Which supports LDAC, ATH-M50xBT2 or Px8?+
ATH-M50xBT2 supports LDAC; Px8 does not.