A proper head to head! It sounds like the P9 are one of your faves and it's great to see another appreciate it also because I think it sometimes gets passed over for its very distinct sound signature. For me I have to be in a specific mood for it-- mostly when I have the time to sit down and give it my undivided attention.
I tried to avoid comparing it directly to the Px8 because I don't think it's entirely apples to apples because of what the P9 was. I do agree the P9 are not very good at electronic music, and also some pop and rock. The mids get muddied in them a bit sometimes when there's more going on because of the bass. But if vocals are the focus, it really does shine. And it does have that extra "body" that it adds to the music and that very "big" and "impressive" sound (it's what B&W were going for for sure). In that department it has a slight leg up over the Px8, and it does reach lower in bass also (Px8 reaches lower that P7W though), but again this doesn't work with all tracks, or even with any, depending on the type of music you usually go for. If you absolutely had to made me pick to live with one headphone, it would have to be the Px8 because it's more versatile to my ears, but it's a good thing we don't live in a world like that because I do enjoy the P9 also for what it is-- it's just special on its own too.
Given that you like the P7W and P9 so much though, I can't see how you'd be dissatisfied with the Px8 at all, but now I am looking forward to your head to head between the Px8 and Bathys anyway!
So testing them side by side, I can't say I find either of them lacking in separation and can't really say I like one better than the other. I think if anything, how much better the Px8 are in the mids may give it a leg up, but for the longest time one of the best things I've liked about the P9 is the amount of separation I can pick out and so far with hours in with the Px8, I don't find them lacking. For me it's a toss-up and I enjoy the way separation is presented on both. I guess that is a testament to the Px8 also.
The thing about the P9 is that B&W were going for a certain tuning and wanted to showcase the low end, and my god could it ever. It has a very BIG sound, almost as if you're in front of a pair of their floorstanders. I've had tracks that the low end would reverberate through into my body-- I wouldn't actually hear the low end, I'd literally feel it instead. Haven't had another pair of headphones that could do that. I think it goes down to 2Hz or something insane. I remember the first time I found a test track for bass, it was some tribal drum music (I think either Hawaiian or Japanese? I can't remember, but I really really really wish I could find it again..) and I could feel as if I were in the seats in front of the stage while the drummers were drumming. I felt the frequencies in my chest it was so eery
. I haven't listened to a wireless headphone at 50% volume as far back as I can remember. 75% is my measuring stick. The MLs I have to turn up to 90 or 100% depending on what I'm listening to. When using the 3.5 with them powered on, my Soundblaster G6 has to be at 100% when gaming with them and it's still not quite loud enough. In passive they get louder but are a little bass shy for my taste.
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