The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are among the best sets of earbuds I ’ve wear .
Founded in 1966 , B&W has released many successful audio product , include speakers , phone , and , more latterly , earbuds . The fellowship ’s novel Pi8 earbuds go beyond their predecessors — thePi7 S2 — in terms of expression and features . They are strikingly similar in other areas , which is n’t necessarily tough . The PI7 and Pi7 S2 were B&W ’s previous top - tier truewireless earbuds . The other model were sleek and attractively designed , with metal top plates .
Bowers & Wilkins has postulate a “ less is more ” approach with its design for the Pi8 , resulting in a sophisticated aesthetic that exudes understated elegance . Gone are the loud tops , replaced by a tasteful combination of high - quality mat charge plate and subtle metallic accents . This design shift gives them a more timeless appeal .
The Pi8 ’s available color options — Anthracite Black , Dove White , Jade Green , and Midnight Blue — further emphasize this graceful aesthetic . These muted tones , complement by delicate accents , absolutely get the essence of premium simplicity .
The redesign extends beyond a new look — these earbuds are plenty functional , too . Like the Pi7 S2 before it , the Pi8 earbuds incorporate a touch - sensitive multifunction arena on the top grimace of each earbud . However , B&W repositioned the mike and sensor , tucking them away in a subtle indenture around each earpiece .
As someone who finds the standard AirPods uncomfortable and can only tolerate the fit of the AirPods Pro , I wanted to see how they compare to the Pi8 . I was pleasantly surprised by the special comfort of the Pi8 . After hours of stringent examination in various scenario — walking , working , even exercise — I can confidently say that the Pi8 rank among the most comfortable earbuds I ’ve ever tire .
The earbud ’s silicone eartips account for a pot of that comfort . Along with those that ship already on the earbuds , the Pi8 descend with three additional sizes of summit , stool it more likely that you will find one that gives you a secure tantrum .
The specs
Battery life
Each Pi8 bud offers 6.5 time of day of hear time with ANC on a single charge . The wireless charging pillowcase can fully recharge the earbuds slimly more than twice , provide a aggregate of 20 hours of playday . This surpasses the battery aliveness of the Pi7 S2 , which offered five hour per charge and 21 hours of total time , but those bit take up ANC was n’t in role .
The casing is n’t just for charge . It also has an audio retransmission feature , letting you tie the case via a cable television to audio sources that lack Bluetooth , effectively transmute wired twist into wireless ones .
Imagine experiencing hi - fi from in - flight entertainment systems , gymnasium equipment , or even new iPhones without care with wires . This feature of speech is so seamless that testing it almost feels unnecessary — it just works . relate the two included cable , and the case will handle the rest period , effortlessly streaming audio to your Pi8 earbuds .
The lineament is n’t raw — the PI7 and Pi7 S2 could do this , too . But B&W upped its game with the Pi8 by providing a USB - nose candy cable for digital sources , in addition to the previous 3.5 mm cable television service for analogue sources . Plus , the case now broadcast using theaptX Adaptivecodec , which impart a self-aggrandizing hump in character compared to the PI7 ’s aptX Low Latency codec .
Functionality
The capacitive button rent you control playback and track skipping , plus call accept / reject . However , the B&W Music app for Io and Android allow you customise the water faucet - and - control gesture with your choice of volume up / down or a jazz group of ANC and access to your phone ’s voice assistant .
regrettably , you have to pick . There ’s no way to get mass and ANC ascendence at the same clip , like you may on other earbuds , such as the AirPods Pro , which can do all of these tasks without receive to tailor-make one of the gestures .
Still , the Pi8 are an betterment over the previous model . With the Pi7 S2 earbuds , volume control was n’t an alternative at all .
Despite the limitations , the touch controls on the Pi8 earbuds work very well . I was able to move back and forth between options with ease . I was specially impressed that even during a run , the earbuds responded exactly as I want with a exclusive tap .
The B&W Music app lets you change by reversal ANC off entirely ( to write a second of battery life ) , adjust the EQ ( see below ) , establish microcode update , and more .
The Pi8 ’s best features its sound quality , as it should be . One reason for this is B&W ’s Carbon Cone driver , which is debut on a pair of the company ’s earbuds for the first time . This technology is also featured in the company’sPx8 headphonesand 700 Series utterer .
Carbon fibre complex is importantly stiff and light than traditional materials like paper or charge card . The carbon vulcanized fiber cones are design to boil down sound distortion and produce more exact audio reproduction .
You will love the way the sound stretch on these earbuds . I could detect subtle nuances on my preferent track and a clear separation between pawn .
The Pi8 genuinely stand out in the midrange . The song are warm and intimate , capturing the emotion and grain of the annotation . depend on your preference , the sea bass is inscrutable , but certainly not overpowering .
Codecs
The Pi8 earbuds affirm eminent - qualityBluetooth codecsto provide audio . Leading the pack is aptX Adaptive , which many reckon the most advanced codec currently available . It adjust the mo rate on the fly , adapt to your connection timbre to deliver audio faithfulness and correspondence .
You involve a supported gimmick to utilize aptX Adaptive . unluckily , neither of my novel headphone , theiPhone 16 Pro MaxorGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL , supports aptX Adaptive . Neither do Samsung phones . However , prime telephone from Motorola , ASUS , Xiaomi , Vivo , and Nothing do .
To test aptX Adaptive , I used the case ’s retransmission feature film and then compared the audio to the same music when listened to through Bluetooth on my iPhone in AAC data format .
Indeed , the sound using aptX Adaptive was slightly more full-bodied than through AAC . It also seemed to have a slimly low latency , which I noticed the most when play a game on my MacBook Air .
Overall , however , I can honestly say the audio I got when using the earbuds were crystal clear , no matter the codec . Others might hear a huge difference , but I did not .
Besides AAC and aptX Adaptive , the Pi8 earbuds support aptX Lossless , aptX Classic , and SBC .
The B&W Music app has a five - band equaliser . This allows minor adjustments across the relative frequency spectrum , letting you to tailor the heavy key signature to your preference or specific euphony genres .
you may customize the flavour of your earbuds using the app ’s advanced EQ choice , which allows you to utilise sliders to make subtle pinch . Alternatively , you may determine your Pi8 earbuds to “ True Sound ” mode , which save the sound as the creative person and B&W intended without any tonal customization . I did n’t mark significant changes as I adjusted these options in various ways . rather , I used the default “ True Sound ” setting , which B&W offers so everyday audio listeners can enjoy balanced sounds .
It should also be mark that the Pi8 do not supportspatial audiolike other true wireless earbuds , such as theAirPods Pro 2andAirPods 4 .
With the Pi8 , there are three availableActive Noise Cancellation ( ANC)modes : ANC on , Pass - Through , or ANC Off . The ANC on the Pi8 is truly impressive . During my tests , it efficaciously silenced most environmental interference , creating a peaceful transonic bubble even when I was walk near a somewhat crowded city street . While some low - frequency sounds like hand truck railway locomotive were faintly audible , the Pi8 did an surpassing task of do in the distracting hum of overstep cars and other everyday racket .
B&W ’s implementation of Pass - Through , its interlingual rendition oftransparency style , is equally remarkable . Unlike some earbuds that introduce an unnatural “ sucking ” sound when transitioning to transparence , the Pi8 maintain a smooth and innate audio visibility . The ambient auditory sensation is seamlessly blended with the music , providing just the right consciousness of what ’s go on around you without compromising audio quality .
In use
For testing , I judge the Pi8 with various birdcall to see how well they performed in different scenarios .
At the front of the queue wasQueen’sBohemian Rhapsody . This incredible piece of medicine , with its change dynamics and rich harmonies , challenged the Pi8s to certify their capabilities . But the earphone managed to navigate the intricacy of the Sung dynasty with elegance . They produced an excellent level-headed domain where Freddie Mercury ’s part stood out amid the elaborated melodic arrangement . Every guitar tune , piano note , and opera - like orgasm come through distinctly . I was genuinely amazed by the carrying into action .
I then head over toHotel Californiawith the Eagles . I listen to this John Rock song to test how well the Pi8s could handle sinewy guitar solos , harmony , and a rich rhythm section . The level-headed caliber was beneficial overall . However , I find that the freshwater bass did n’t have as much depth as I thought it would .
Digging deeper into the frequency range , I playedTeardropby Massive Attack . Its captivating bassline and detailed sound transcription make it a standout in the trip hop genre . The earphone accurately portrayed the song ’s superimposed basso without overpowering or drown out the other music components . This experience demonstrated the earbuds ’ attention to detail and commitment to faithfully reproduce medicine .
I decide to flip things up and listen to Miles Davis ’ albumKind of Bluenext . This iconic jazz piece is get it on for its kinetics and beautiful musical harmony among the instruments . Thanks to how well the earphone captured the familiar meat of it all , I could immerse myself in the intricate interplay between the trumpet , saxophone , and forte-piano .
I turn up the volume one last prison term with WhiteStripes ‘ Seven Nation Army . The catchy bassline and lively vibration of this careen classic put the Pi8 earbuds to the test when it amount to handling frequencies . I was impressed by how these earbuds produce a bass voice performance that was clear and herculean enough to drive the song without make the overall strait muddy or distorted .
I did n’t have the chance to compare the sounds between the Pi8 and Pi7 S2 . However , I did compare how well B&W ’s earbuds do against theAirPods Pro 2 .
During my brief test , I listened to the same birdsong ( MilesDavis’Freddie Freeloader ) on Qobuz via Bluetooth with both earbuds and ANC turned on . The Pi8 earbuds sounded fuller and more punchy than the AirPods , providing a more immersive experience . This surprise me , so I essay again with BillieEilish’sbad guy , which has a prominent bass voice line . Once again , there was no comparison . The Pi8 earbuds sounded more rich , pass on down .
I used the vox memoranda app on my iPhone to test how well the Pi8 earbuds performed when making calls . Doing this , as opposed to making an actual call , gives you a better idea of how good the earbuds are by take factors like cell connection timbre from the equivalence .
Unfortunately , I see some occasional crackling noises , especially when I was outside . Those noises fall out whether I was using ANC or transparency and when neither option was active .
Although the earbuds and the charging case did n’t require it , I charged them to 100 % to see if that would ameliorate the call timbre . It did , actually , so take that for what it ’s deserving . During further testing , I did n’t find out anything significant , so go figure .
By the way , when urinate actual calls , my teenage daughter tell the sound was nearly perfect with scarcely any desktop noise .
you could mate your Pi8 earbuds with up to eight devices via Bluetooth , including phone , tablets , saucy home devices , computers , smart video , and more . The easiest way to do this is through the B&W Music app , which keeps track of all those gadget so you do n’t have to . depend on the gimmick , you may also geminate the earbuds using your gimmick ’s Bluetooth preferences .
WithBluetooth Multipoint , you’re able to get in touch to two of these devices at the same time . This commodious feature automatically switches between devices in certain scenario . For example , I utilize multipoint when I ’m listening to music on my Mac with my earpiece nearby . When I receive a call , the earbuds automatically swap to the earpiece so I can take the call . At that time , the music on the computer mechanically intermit . Once the call is complete , the music resume act as on the computer . It works really well .
The bottom line
The B&W Pi8 earbuds vaunt a refined plan , nifty comfort , and exceptional sound quality . Thanks to the innovative Carbon Cone drivers and high - quality Bluetooth codec accompaniment , they give up a truly immersive hearing experience , no matter of the type of music you love . While the price is higher than that of many alternatives , the Pi8 ’s combination of audio excellence , advanced aesthetic , and chic features like retransmission and Multipoint make them a compelling pick for those who hump euphony .
If I had a magic wand , I would want the Pi8 earbuds to have a long barrage fire life , more customization options for its capacitive buttons , and to be useable in a range of brighter vividness .
However , the B&W Pi8 are still among thebest wireless earbudson the market .
