Audiophiles are those who always want to experience crystal clear sound. Whether you’re listening to some tunes, watching movies or TV series, or even playing video games, having perfect sound quality can make your listening experience much more immersive. For audiophiles and audio professionals alike, reference earbuds are a must-have if you’re looking to achieve the most accurate sound quality possible. This type of earbuds is specifically designed to provide an accurate sound representation without altering the original audio in any way, reproducing it as faithfully as possible to how it was intended by the creator. While reference earbuds were typically used by audio professionals such as sound engineers and musicians for critical listening and sound mixing, they’re now available for consumers. Meet the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Earbuds, the latest buzz in the earbuds industry.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are reference in-ear true wireless earbuds that have an ergonomic form factor, interchangeable ear tips of four different sizes to ensure all-day comfort, and a IP54 Water-Resistance Rating. They feature superior sound quality powered by 12mm carbon cone driver units via a true high-resolution 24-bit connection for a reference-quality listening experience, 3 sound modes including ANC, TrueSound, and Pass-Through modes, and support for voice calls. They also boast touch controls, enhanced wear detection, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity with Bluetooth Multipoint, up to 6.5 hours battery per earbud or ultimately 20 hours battery with their charging case, which also offers 15 minutes Fast Charging, plus support for USB-C charging and Qi Wireless Charging. Their wireless case also features compatibility with aptXTM Adaptive, letting you retransmit the sound from an external audio source such as laptop through the case’s 3.5mm AUX port directly to the earbuds wirelessy. Via the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, users can adjust the earbuds’ sound settings through a 5-band customizable EQ, reconfingure their touch controls, select different listening modes, and more.
Designed to give audiophiles an unmatched listening experience on-the-go, these in-ear true wireless earbuds offer great style while also delivering reference-quality sound for listening to music, watching movies and playing games.
Here’s our in-depth review of the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, where we go over the many features these reference in-ear true wireless earbuds have to offer you.
DESIGN & SPECS
Starting with the earbuds’ dimensions, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 have a compact profile, and they’re also ultra-lightweight, with each earbud weighing just 0.24 oz. (7 g).
On top of their ultra-portable form factor, these true wireless earbuds also feature a special ergonomic design that’s focused on promoting comfort while simultaneously ensuring a tight seal for great sound reproduction.
In addition, they also come with four (x4) interchangeable ear tips of different sizes sizes (Extra-Small, Small, Medium, and Large), enabling users to choose the ear tip size that best fits their ears in order to have a comfortable and secure fit all day long.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Earbuds also sports a modern and elegant design that gives them a very stylish look. In fact, their stylish design was even praised by renowned soccer player David Beckham – one of Bowers & Wilkins’s esteemed brand ambassadors – who absolutely loves their aesthetic and ergonomic fit. For our review unit, we were sent the Dove White color model, which goes quite well with any style of clothing.
More importantly, these true wireless earbuds also pack a highly durable construction, as they’re made of premium materials.
Plus, they’re also rated to have a IP54 Water-Resistance Rating, which qualifies them as being dust-proof, sweat-proof, and also splash-proof. Thanks to that, you can wear them doing workouts and on most environments without having to worry about them getting damaged by dust or even a few rain drops. Still, be mindful to not get them soaked in water.
Lastly, the earbuds also come with a sleek wireless charging case that also has a compact form factor, measuring 2.55 inches long by 1.14 inches wide by 2.04 inches tall (65 x 29 x 52 mm), and is also built to last.
AUDIO SPECS & AUDIO QUALITY
Moving on to the earbuds’ audio specifications and audio quality. For reproducing their superior sound quality, these true wireless earbuds leverage 12mm carbon cone driver units that have been thoroughly engineered to deliver audio with great precision by reducing distortion and improving high-frequency detail in order to capture every single sound detail present in your audio, while also leveraging high-performance DSP (Digital Signal Processing) technology.
The earbuds flagship sound profile is achieved via a true high-resolution 24-bit connection over aptX Lossless Bluetooth, which for the latter, adjusts dynamically to optimize their sound performance and their wireless connection.
The end result is a reference-quality listening experience in any occasion, no matter you’re planning on using the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 for listening to music, for watching content, or even for gaming.
Furthermore, these true wireless earbuds can also be used for performing voice calls, as each earbud integrates an array of three microphones that ensure uninterrupted sound and a crystal-clear call performance, no matter where you are.
Notable Audio Features
ANC Mode
The earbuds also feature Adaptive Noise Cancellation, which automatically adapts to a user’s surroundings, reducing any background noises that are detected to guarantee a truly immersive listening experience. This functionality can be activated by turning on their ANC mode.
TrueSound Mode
Additionally, they also feature a TrueSound mode which bypasses any tonal customization to deliver the audio as artists intended.
Pass-Through Mode
Finally, they also feature a Pass-Through mode that lets in some external sound from your surroundings so that you can listen to what’s happening around you. This sound mode is great for times when you’re commuting, talking to someone else in your vicinity, etc.
INTERFACE & BUILT-IN TOUCH CONTROLS
For controlling the earbuds’ functionalities, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 boast built-in touch controls, which can be performed through a touch-sensitive multi-function button located at the outer side of each earbud.
Performing a single tap on the left or right earbuds lets users Play/Pause audio. The same action also enables you to accept a voice call when receiving one.
Tapping and holding the left earbud lets users toggle between their ANC and Pass-Through modes. Tapping and holding the right earbud lets users enable the Voice Assistant from their smartphone (after paired via Bluetooth).
Performing a double tap on either earbud allows users to Skip to the Next Track, while triple tapping lets users Return to the Previous Track.
In order to end calls, users are required to perform a double tap and then hold the earbuds’ touch-sensitive button for a few seconds.
The earbuds’ remaining functions can be controlled and adjusted through their companion app.
It’s also worth mentioning that the earbuds also feature an enhanced wear detection function, which allows them to automatically pause and resume audio playback when either earbud is removed from your ears. The earbuds also turn on automatically once removed from their charging case.
CONNECTIVITY
For their wireless connectivity, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 utilize Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, while supporting AAC, SBC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Classic Bluetooth codecs.
These true wireless earbuds also feature support to Bluetooth Multipoint, meaning they can be paired wirelessly with multiple Bluetooth-enabled devices.
What’s more is that their wireless case also features compatibility with aptXTM Adaptive, allowing you to use it as a retransmission system to retransmit the sound from any audio source through the case’s 3.5mm AUX port directly to the earbuds wirelessy, such as a laptop, in-flight entertainment system, or even a smart TV.
BATTERY & BATTERY LIFE
In regard to their battery life, know that each earbud can offer you up to 6.5 hours of battery on a single charge for listening to music (with ANC turned On).
Their wireless charging case provides you an additional 13.5 hours of battery, giving you up to 20 hours of battery life in total.
To recharge the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and their charging case, you simply have to place the earbuds inside their case and then connect the included USB-C charging cable to their case’s USB-C charging port.
The earbuds’ charging case also features a USB-C Fast Charging function that lets you quickly recharge the earbuds with approximately 1 of battery power in just 15 minutes. Their charging case also supports Qi Wireless Charging for recharging its battery and the earbuds’ battery wirelessly.
THE SMARTPHONE COMPANION APP – The Bowers & Wilkins Music App
Users can also install the Bowers & Wilkins Music App on their smartphone to configure the earbuds’ sound and touch control settings, which is available to download for iOS and Android devices.
Via the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, users can fine-tune the earbuds’ sound settings through a 5-band customizable EQ to perform small adjustments to their sound profile.
The app also enables users to reconfingure their touch controls, select different listening modes, visualize any currently paired devices, and also view their remaining battery life.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Inside their package, users will find: their Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Earbuds, their wireless charging case, 4 sets of eartips of different sizes, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a 3.5mm AUX to USB-C audio cable, and a quick start guide, plus the earbud’s safety and warranty sheets.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, these reference in-ear true wireless earbuds are the go-to option for any audiophile or audio professional. They offer you outstanding sound quality, are easy to control and configure through their mobile app, and very comfortable to wear (even for prolonged periods of time).
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are currently available in four (x4) different color options: Anthracite Black, Dove White, Jade Green and Midnight Blue.
If you’re interested in purchasing them, know that each pair is currently going for $399, and each purchase also comes accompanied by a 2-Year Warranty. You can order them online either directly from Bowers & Wilkins’ official shopping page, or alternatively you can get them from Amazon, if you’d prefer.
