[rebbhosar]

This is a very…literary review lol. That writer uses gigantic and complex words. I find that means I’m less like, able to understand the review. Just my opinion. But what do I know? I just have two journalism degrees and a law degree.

Seemed pretty normal to be honest. The only word which may be construed as uncommon might be "frissons" (chills) but everything else was pretty standard fare, no?

 

[jthomp72]

Seemed pretty normal to be honest. The only word which may be construed as uncommon might be "frissons" (chills) but everything else was pretty standard fare, no?

I was coming at it from an average consumer standpoint, some of the audio terminology and descriptions would be hard for say…my father, who’s not used to audiophile writing. For me, it flowed really well.

 

[Beagle]

Can these be used in passive mode wired into a headphone amp?

 

[Benesyed]

My Crutchfield order shipped

 

[ryanmatic]

My direct order shipped, too! Always appreciate quick shipping, even if they take a few days to arrive.

Can these be used in passive mode wired into a headphone amp?

Yes, but they need to be powered on. None of B&W's wireless headphones have supported truly passive playback since the P7 Wireless.

 

[Beagle]

My direct order shipped, too! Always appreciate quick shipping, even if they take a few days to arrive.


Yes, but they need to be powered on. None of B&W's wireless headphones have supported truly passive playback since the P7 Wireless.

Thank you.

I'm interested in the sonic signature since I own the P9. Curious if the PX8 has a more neutral, less warm character.

 

[jthomp72]

Thank you.

I'm interested in the sonic signature since I own the P9. Curious if the PX8 has a more neutral, less warm character.

Honestly, it still leans warm… But definitely not as warm as the P9

 

[rebbhosar]

I was coming at it from an average consumer standpoint, some of the audio terminology and descriptions would be hard for say…my father, who’s not used to audiophile writing. For me, it flowed really well.

Yeah, I see what you mean – that's definitely a thing. I would say though, that just below the surface of most hobbies/groups/tech/disciplines, what you invariably have to contend with is learning object/system-centric jargon.

Is it gatekeeping? Nah. Or maybe, but its kind of inevitable.

Once you get past a certain price point (or subtlety/specialisation) for an object or service, the writers of publications around it give themselves premptive license to appeal directly to the assumed knowledge-set of the demographic most likely to buy it (or read about it).

So its understandable that Head-fi/Hi-fi centric publications use jargon because the target demographic expect it – even demand it, but broader, consumer-level publications (like say if Forbes does a hi-fi headphone review) parse it greatly, generalize in broader terms or omit it completely.


Jargon and Qualia-heavy writing asserts and morphs itself in hifi/head-fi more than most because of the subjective and comparitive nature of it (way outside of the nuts and bolts specs, materials and cost.) It's similar but much worse with say, Frag-heads (Frangrance collectors).


Does that extend itself so much as to be considered literary writing? It might - you're often trying to describe something close to ineffable, so you're forced to broaden your descriptive vocabulary a bit.


(The problem is how that subjectivity and jargon can be weaponized - it can morph into Literary Fiction; snake oil pervades a lot of hifi marketing and becomes memetic in the community.)


That being said, in (reporting, news) journalism as I understand it, you're trained to do the reverse; pressume the reader knows nothing and then work from there (few to no subjective descriptors, use "K.I.S.S", employ the most basic functional vocab level, few synonyms, low word count etc) so that even the youngest (or oldest, or non-native) reader with the least amount of familiarity can get a general understanding of an otherwise complex, multi-faceted issue.

Or at least that's what I've noticed, maybe incorrectly.

 

[jthomp72]

Yeah, I see what you mean – that's definitely a thing. I would say though, that just below the surface of most hobbies/groups/tech/disciplines, what you invariably have to contend with is learning object/system-centric jargon.

Is it gatekeeping? Nah. Or maybe, but its kind of inevitable.

Once you get past a certain price point (or subtlety/specialisation) for an object or service, the writers of publications around it give themselves premptive license to appeal directly to the assumed knowledge-set of the demographic most likely to buy it (or read about it).

So its understandable that Head-fi/Hi-fi centric publications use jargon because the target demographic expect it – even demand it, but broader, consumer-level publications (like say if Forbes does a hi-fi headphone review) parse it greatly, generalize in broader terms or omit it completely.


Jargon and Qualia-heavy writing asserts and morphs itself in hifi/head-fi more than most because of the subjective and comparitive nature of it (way outside of the nuts and bolts specs, materials and cost.) It's similar but much worse with say, Frag-heads (Frangrance collectors).


Does that extend itself so much as to be considered literary writing? It might - you're often trying to describe something close to ineffable, so you're forced to broaden your descriptive vocabulary a bit.


The problem is how that subjectivity and jargon can be weaponized - it can morph into Literary Fiction; snake oil pervades a lot of hifi marketing and becomes memetic in the community.


That being said, in (reporting, news) journalism as I understand it, you're trained to do the reverse; pressume the reader knows nothing and then work from there (few to no subjective descriptors, use "K.I.S.S", employ the most basic functional vocab level, few synonyms, low word count etc) so that even the youngest (or oldest, or non-native) reader with the least amount of familiarity can get a general understanding of an otherwise complex, multi-faceted issue.

Or at least that's what I've noticed, maybe incorrectly.

It’s interesting as I have both an undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism before going to law school and let me tell you those couldn’t be more different and how you write… And the hi-fi world tends to lean more towards law, school or law riding in general, where your main goal is to persuade someone as to your point of view but it’s like a literary persuasion here where they are trying to use interesting and Unique metaphors and comparisons.

I think the issue I run into is these days. Most people are going to Google bowers and Wilkins PX8 review. Now I wish the results were better at the moment, but that’s an aside. A review from an outlet like CNET or Tech Radar is going to be poor on describing the audio more or less and going to focus on the tech, whereas the high-five publications are going to lean heavy on the audio and not as much on the technology but in the process neither one makes an accessible review that covers both the audio and the tech for the average reader

 

[vincenz]

Yeah, I see what you mean – that's definitely a thing. I would say though, that just below the surface of most hobbies/groups/tech/disciplines, what you invariably have to contend with is learning object/system-centric jargon.

Is it gatekeeping? Nah. Or maybe, but its kind of inevitable.

Once you get past a certain price point (or subtlety/specialisation) for an object or service, the writers of publications around it give themselves premptive license to appeal directly to the assumed knowledge-set of the demographic most likely to buy it (or read about it).

So its understandable that Head-fi/Hi-fi centric publications use jargon because the target demographic expect it – even demand it, but broader, consumer-level publications (like say if Forbes does a hi-fi headphone review) parse it greatly, generalize in broader terms or omit it completely.


Jargon and Qualia-heavy writing asserts and morphs itself in hifi/head-fi more than most because of the subjective and comparitive nature of it (way outside of the nuts and bolts specs, materials and cost.) It's similar but much worse with say, Frag-heads (Frangrance collectors).


Does that extend itself so much as to be considered literary writing? It might - you're often trying to describe something close to ineffable, so you're forced to broaden your descriptive vocabulary a bit.


(The problem is how that subjectivity and jargon can be weaponized - it can morph into Literary Fiction; snake oil pervades a lot of hifi marketing and becomes memetic in the community.)


That being said, in (reporting, news) journalism as I understand it, you're trained to do the reverse; pressume the reader knows nothing and then work from there (few to no subjective descriptors, use "K.I.S.S", employ the most basic functional vocab level, few synonyms, low word count etc) so that even the youngest (or oldest, or non-native) reader with the least amount of familiarity can get a general understanding of an otherwise complex, multi-faceted issue.

Or at least that's what I've noticed, maybe incorrectly.

Was this meant to be tongue in cheek or are you the writer of that review?

 

[jthomp72]

Was this meant to be tongue in cheek or are you the writer of that review?

I chose to see it as…well I just took it at face value to have an honest discussion of reviews in general. If he wrote the review…oops, but it was very well written I may say.

 

[vincenz]

I chose to see it as…well I just took it at face value to have an honest discussion of reviews in general. If he wrote the review…oops, but it was very well written I may say.

Oh yeh I have nothing against the review at all— fun to see “frisson” though, haven’t seen that one in a while and I was an English lit major. I had some of that the first song I listened to on the 8’s and realized these were going to be keepers.

The funny thing is we can write it however to describe what we hear, but someone else with different preferences or hearing can disagree completely. Part of the territory.

 

[willtim]

This is a recent review: https://www.avforums.com/reviews/bowers-wilkins-px8-wireless-headphone-review.20192/

The review is disappointing. Plugging an ADC cable into a analogue out on a Mojo also seems daft when one would get better results with these phones by just plugging directly into the source with USB. There's also no discussion of the sound profile or comparison to other headphones.

 

[garethr]

B&W dispatched them today, mind you a bit dissapointing it says they'll arrive by Monday. You'd have thought £600 headphones would warrant the extra couple of quid for weekend delivery. Come on B&W!

Bet you that DPD will deliver Saturday, despite the 'arrive by Monday'. My local DPD almost always deliver on Saturday and Sunday despite things saying due by Monday.

 

[silentraindrop]

Those that ordered already, do you have aptx adaptive devices? I am on the fence since I own Samsungs. I would hate to marry PX8 to just limited devices with aptx adaptive.