Headphones

Providing impressive sound quality worthy of their top-of-the-range price, B&W’s Pi7 and Pi7 S2 (HFC 478 and 504 respectively)earbuds also introduced a genuine innovation with their ‘smart’ charging case that doubled up as an aptX transmitter for use with wired audio sources. The Pi7 models did have some limitations, though, and their battery life and noise-cancelling features weren’t quite in the same league as some rivals. So, the company went back to the drawing board and came up with an entirely new design for the Pi8.

The somewhat chunky design of the Pi7 earbuds also left something to be desired, with B&W admitting they: “didn’t fit as well as we would have liked”. Available in a variety of colours, the Pi8 is still relatively large, but now adopts a more oval shape, with smoothly curved contours designed to fit more comfortably into the ear and create a firm seal for improved sound quality and noise isolation. Ear-tips are provided in four sizes and the buds boast a sturdy IP54 rating for resistance to water and dust.

There are lots of changes on the inside too. The 9.2mm balanced armature drivers from before have been replaced with 12mm Carbon Cone drivers and the buds now use the same active noise cancelling as B&W’s over-ear PX headphones. Bluetooth gets an update to the latest 5.4 version, adding aptX Lossless along with the existing AAC codec for Apple devices. Previous models offered just five hours of battery, but the Pi8 should now last for 6.5 hours using noise cancelling, while the case provides a further 13.5 hours.

The smart charging case remains a standout feature. It supports wireless charging, but the USB-C port on the back can also be used to provide a wired audio input using the bundled USB-C or 3.5mm cables. The case can then act as a Bluetooth transmitter – with support for aptX Adaptive – to relay audio to the buds. This is a really useful feature, as it allows you to use them with wired audio sources such as in a gym or on a plane. It also comes in handy for Apple devices that don’t support aptX.

Sound quality
The new carbon cone drivers do a fine job creating an expansive, open soundstage on Max Richter’s The Waves, streaming in lossless format from Apple Music. There’s a real sense of motion and drama as the crashing waves swirl around me, and the buds allow the sound to linger as the delicate electronic chimes begin to fall. The transition from waves to strings is so smooth it’s almost imperceptible, while the entrance of soprano Grace Davidson is piercingly sharp, precise and full of emotion.

This track also demonstrates the improved noise cancelling, which clamps down very firmly on the low-frequency rumble of an aircraft engine and the more varied sounds of a busy airport, although there is still some sound leakage, particularly from voices and higher frequencies.

Leonard Cohen’s gravelly baritone provides a complete contrast, but the Pi8 follows the taut bass pulse that introduces Slow. Cohen’s voice has a wonderfully rich rumble to it and the sound is perfectly balanced as the electronic keyboard shimmers, and the backing harmonies glide forward into the mix. The Pi8 even takes the fuzz-drenched guitar of The Pretenders’ Junkie Walk in its stride, wallowing in the sheer noise of the guitar and focusing on the taut drumming.

Conclusion
The Pi8 shows that Bowers & Wilkins isn’t simply resting on its laurels – the sound quality is vastly superior to the Pi7, while also providing improvements to the battery life and noise-cancelling features. And, with that smart charging case, these earbuds offer versatile connectivity features that few of its rivals can match. CJ    

DETAILS
Product: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
Type: Bluetooth in-ear true wireless earbuds

FEATURES
● 12mm Carbon Cone drivers
● Battery: 6.5 hours plus 13.5 hours from charging case
● CaptX Lossless; aptX Adaptive; AAC; SBC