Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Review
When it comes to legendary audio companies, few are as accomplished as Bowers & Wilkins. For decades, the company has been an industry leader, offering some of the best and most luxurious loudspeakers money can buy. Since 2017, it has broken into wireless headphones in a big way, and since 2021, the true wireless market.
Today, the company has unveiled its latest flagship, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. Coming in at $399, they’re luxurious and feature-rich. Featuring the same carbon-cone driver technology found in the over-ear Px8, they offer even better sound, improved ANC, a revamped shape for enhanced comfort, and the popular wireless re-transmission case that transforms wired audio sources into high-res wireless. Last generation’s Pi7’s were good, but with the Pi8, Bowers & Wilkins stakes its claim on the high-end TWS market.
Specifications
- Current Price: $399 (Bowers & Wilkins, Best Buy)
- Wearing Style: In-Ear Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds
- Technical Features
- High-performance DSP with dedicated DSP and amplifier/DAC
- True 24-bit audio connection
- 5-band customisable EQ + TrueSound™ mode
- Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX™ Lossless technology
- Multipoint connectivity
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
- Audio retransmission from charging case (aptX™ Adaptive)
- Wireless and USB-C charging
- Fast charging support
- Apple MFi Made for iPhone support
- Finishes: Anthracite Black, Dove White, Jade Green, Midnight Blue
- Bluetooth Codecs
- aptX™ Lossless
- aptX™ Adaptive
- aptX™ Classic
- AAC
- SBC
- Drive Units: 12 mm Carbon Cone
- Microphones: 3 per earbud for telephony and ANC
- Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium-ion (earbuds and charging case)
- Battery Life & Charging
- Up to 6.5 hours for earbuds (with ANC on)
- Additional 13.5 hours from charging case
- Charge time = 2 hours
- 15-minute charge = 2 hours playback
- Wireless Charging Support: Yes
- Water Resistance: IP54 (earbuds)
- Audio Inputs
- Earbuds: Bluetooth
- Charging case: USB-C & 3.5 mm analogue jack (wireless audio retransmission via charging case)
- Access
