Noble FoKus Apollo Vs Bowers & Wilkins PX8 Comparison Review

Noble Audio and Bowers & Wilkins both offer unique features and sound profiles that cater to different types of listeners. With the release of the FoKus Apollo, the former brings a competitor to the latter’s flagship model. What’s the difference between the Apollo and the PX8 though? Let’s explore the strengths and weaknesses of both to help you make a more informed decision.

What You Get

Look & Feel

The Apollo and PX8 are very similar in terms of style and fit. My first impression of the Apollo was actually how much it reminded me of B&W’s main aesthetic. This makes both headphones very fashionable, but the color variations of the PX8 are much more striking. If you don’t care about how they look though, both headphones are still very comfortable to wear for multiple hours. Your ears should never feel too fatigued.

Design & Functionality

There’s a more significant driver configuration inside the FoKus Apollo compared to the PX8. The Apollo has one of the first hybrid driver designs in a pair of Bluetooth headphones, combining a dynamic and planar driver. You get a simpler design with the PX8, only housing a more common dynamic unit. They both have their own noise-canceling tech, and I don’t find one significantly weaker than the other. If I had to choose, I would say the PX8 felt the quietest out of the two, but they’re both strong.

Bluetooth

Both headphones support the same version of Bluetooth 5.3. They’re both very easy to pair and sustain a stable connection. While the PX8 has a lot of different CODECs including aptX Adaptive, the Apollo is the only option that supports LDAC.

Battery Life

This is one of the only areas where one clearly outclasses the other. The Apollo has 80 hours of charge without ANC and 60 hours with it on. The PX8 can only give you 30 hours of playtime.

Soundstage

Both headphones will have wider soundstages than most other Bluetooth headphones. The PX8 and Apollo are impressive in their own right, and they don’t need spatial audio to feel open. While the Apollo might be the most spacious headphone of the two, the PX8 feels more like a bubble. Sound is more direct on the Apollo, which can be seen as more of a benefit to its spatial imaging. I find the PX8 very unique in its dimensional layering that creates strong immersion, but the Apollo can be seen as more technical and accurate.

Low End

Neither the PX8 nor Apollo skimps out on delivering significant bass performance. They both sport gratifying bass presence from opposite ends of the low-frequency spectrum. You get a more considerable mid-bass impact and warmth from the Apollo, while the PX8 offers more sub-bass heft. This is only based on their default tuning though, as both headphones offer in-app EQs that let you play around with the low-end. I think the Apollo shows better dynamic range and detail over the PX8, but the PX8 has a smooth texture that is easy to enjoy.

Mids

Without the benefits of a planar driver, the PX8 can quite reach the resolution that the Apollo can in the midrange. Both headphones have a solid level of clarity, but the Apollo is better at unfolding artifacts and supplying more depth. Vocals sound just about even in quality though with both headphones, as they both boost the upper-mids to feel more forward.

Highs

The Apollo has a ton of energy in the high frequencies compared to the PX8, and it might make or break your decision-making on which ones to buy. If you’re okay with more brightness and brilliance in your treble, that’s a part of the Apollo’s character. The PX8 has much smoother highs, and they’re much easier to digest while still offering nice detail.

Summary

While you can’t go wrong with either set of headphones, they definitely have their advantages. The Apollo and PX8 and their different sonic characteristics will help inform your decision the best. For instance, the PX8 is easier to listen to than the Apollo, but the Apollo has better resolution in more frequency ranges. Otherwise, both headphones are pretty even when it comes to ANC and design.

The Noble FoKus Apollo and Bowers & Wilkins PX8 are available at Audio46.