Noble Artemis vs B&W Px8 S2: Fashionable Flagship Comparison

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

The real test of these headphones' differences is their sonic profiles. The Artemis and Px8 S2 both had engaging profiles, but the signatures were unique and different enough to make them useful for different listener preferences. Out of the box, the headphones showed two distinct profiles. The Px8 S2 was heavy on the bass and pushed detail to the very front. The Artemis, on the other hand, was more forward with treble presentation and analytical detail. In terms of space, the Artemis created a wider and more separated image than the Px8 S2 did. The Px8 S2 was definitely more frontal and stayed intimately close during listening. The spaciousness of the Artemis was very noticeable against the intimacy of the Px8 S2, though both created effectively wide and immersive soundstages to make listening very entertaining. 

Both headphones had a pretty wide soundstage for instrument presentation. I found the Artemis to be wider and expand further back to create more depth. The depth of the Artemis made imaging very precise and spot-on. Each instrument was given a lot of space in the horizontal sound field, and it made everything sound very distinct. The level of clarity throughout this signature made listening very clinical and analytical. The Px8 S2 also had some very accurate imaging, but it stayed closer together to have a more musical signature. The color was more dynamic and engaging, and while the Px8 S2 may not have expanded as far backwards as the Artemis, it still made individual elements clear and recognizable. 

Overall, you'll find the sonic profiles to be different enough that you'll be able to clearly distinguish one from the other. The bassy forwardness of the Px8 S2 is very different from the spacious, treble-focused Artemis. If you find yourself already knowing whether you're a fan of one type of sound over the other, you'll see that the choice between Px8 S2 and Artemis becomes much easier. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

For noise-cancelling headphones, I always expect the bass to be very strong in every track. Between the ANC already cancelling out the hum of your environment and the passive noise isolation, I was ready for the bass to be almost overwhelming. Thankfully, both of these headphones never got to that point. The Px8 S2 had the stronger bass response by a mile; it was punchy and forward, making lower frequencies more prominent and thick throughout listening. I was a fan of the coloration of the bass in the Px8 S2, where the tone of instruments wasn't lost and instead accentuated with texture and detail. You didn't lose out on clarity, and it matched the energy of the genre it was in. The Px8 S2 did a good job keeping the low end clean despite its heavier quality. 

If you aren't a fan of strong, punchy bass, turn your attention away from the Px8 S2 and onto the Noble Artemis. This headphone produces a bass response that is much cleaner and subtler, not nearly as punchy or demanding of attention as the bass is in the Px8 S2. The Artemis may seem like it has no bass response at all in comparison, but in reality, it's actually very subtle and sits behind the other frequencies. The Artemis lays a good foundation for the other frequencies to build up, staying behind other main elements to only be a supporting sound as opposed to something more attention-grabbing. In bass-heavy genres, the Artemis reproduces the bass with control and attention to detail; it doesn't get lost in the expansive space of the sound signature. For people who prefer a subtler, more controlled bass response, the Artemis may win more points against the Px8 S2. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange is where the most melodic detail lies in a signature, and that was very prominent in both the Artemis and the Px8 S2. You could hear how the details of tracks came through the most in this range, and this is true for both the Artemis and the Px8 S2. However, there are distinct differences in the two midranges to make them easily distinguishable. The Artemis had a very present and realistic midrange sound reproduction, making it great for people who appreciate more analytical detail. Nothing was left to the imagination, coming right to the front. It was definitely a clinical reproduction that focused on giving natural, honest timbres in every genre. The imaging and depth on the Artemis were the most noticeable elements, which increased the immersive factor of the listening experience. 

Meanwhile, the Px8 S2 does something similar but with a different coloration. The Px8 S2 has a lot of detail in the midrange that allows different instruments to be easily distinguishable. The sound reproduction isn't as natural as it is in the Artemis, but the Px8 S2 does make sure that you get honest and detailed sound throughout. The tuning of the midrange makes the elements more engaging and punchy in the signature, so you are hit with a lot of detail in any genre. The forward sound of the Px8 S2 is a stark contrast to the depth from the Artemis. This made the Px8 S2 more demanding of your attention and made you listen closely to your tracks more often. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

At the top of the frequency range, you see a stark difference between the Px8 S2 and the Artemis yet again. The treble in the Artemis is very forward and present, being a critical part in reproducing the detailed, analytical sound it is known for. The Artemis is much brighter than the Px8 S2, and it shows in every track you compare side by side. The Artemis allows the top end to be very open and much less compressed. This treble response was bright, but was distinctly lacking in color. With the Noble FoKus app, it was easy to tune the sound a little more to make it less dry. I found the treble to be a bit sharp in the Artemis, but the ultra-high detail and space made this sharpness a little more relaxed and palatable. Without this space, I could imagine the Artemis's treble would be very overbearing. 

The Px8 S2, on the other hand, was definitely more recessed in the treble. The bass is distinctly stronger in this headphone, making the treble take a step back and letting the other ranges come more forward. The treble in the Px8 S2 was great at bringing out detail throughout the entire signature. It would have been easy for the bass to become overwhelming and muddy, but the treble brought out the finer detail in all the instruments to avoid that kind of sound. The treble was bright and colorful, leaning into the engaging and entertaining qualities the Px8 S2 has. Against the Artemis, the treble wasn't nearly as strong, but it brought out detail and increased the top-end space all the same.