Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 598 CS, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #353 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $489. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 ranks #409, rated 2.6/5, at $469.99, $19.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. 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.
What the Sennheiser HD 598 CS does well: A low 23 ohm impedance and very high 115 dB sensitivity let it play loudly from a phone or laptop with no headphone amp. Watch for: Treble is the weak point, running about 6 dB below target from 6 kHz up and dropping into a 13.5 dB dip near 9.9 kHz, so cymbals, air and detail sound dull and closed in.
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. Watch for: 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.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 598 CS. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $19.01 saving on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
A low 23 ohm impedance and very high 115 dB sensitivity let it play loudly from a phone or laptop with no headphone amp.
Amazon $489.00 eBay
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 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
| Sennheiser HD 598 CS | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $489.00 | $469.99 |
| Ranked | #353 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #409 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.84 dB standard deviation | 3.14 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 23 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic (carbon cone) |
| Weight | - | 0.7 lbs (320 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 |
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