Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins Px8, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.6/5 for sound quality (#409 and #408 of 481 over-ear headphones), and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 costs $469.99 against $545 for the Neumann NDH20, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 481 over-ear headphones, and the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano, ranked #6 at $319, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Why pick the Bowers & Wilkins Px8: Active noise cancelling and a manufacturer rated 30 hours of battery suit travel and commuting, and it also works over a cable. The catch: The bass boost spills into the low mids and upper mids sit 1.7 dB under target, so vocals sound thick and recessed, for a preference score of 50.
What the Neumann NDH20 does well: The closed back isolates well, and bass extends to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight below 200 Hz, a good fit for warm and bassy listeners. Watch for: An 11.2 dB dip near 9.8 kHz in oratory1990’s measurement and air about 3.7 dB under target leave cymbals and room ambience muted, and a 3 dB recession in the upper mids pulls vocals back.
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px8. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $75.01 less than the Neumann NDH20.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Active noise cancelling and a manufacturer rated 30 hours of battery suit travel and commuting, and it also works over a cable.
Amazon $469.99 eBay
The closed back isolates well, and bass extends to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight below 200 Hz, a good fit for warm and bassy listeners.
Amazon $545.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 | Neumann NDH20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $469.99 | $545.00 |
| Ranked | #409 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #408 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.14 dB standard deviation | 3.45 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic (carbon cone) | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) | 0.9 lbs (390 g) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Back | - | Closed |
| Impedance | - | 150 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 114 dB SPL/V |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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