Customer Ratings & Reviews

Let's start with the most pertinent concern any audio file must have when purchasing a HI-Fi premium product: sound. None better, Sony, Bose, Denon, Jabra Elite, JBL, Beats ( which I have invested in the last 5 years) can reproduce the premium sound stage these Bowers & Wilkins PI8 do. They do this without spatial sound or Dolby Atmos, just a basic 5-band EQ, which you can bypass completely by selecting true sound, which gives you a balanced neutral reproduction of your music. When you listen to the PI8, you perceive a genuine Bowers and Wilkins two-speaker. If that doesn't grab your interest, nothing else will. Are they perfect, NO! Bose has better noise cancelation, Jabra Elite 10 gen 2 has a more comfortable fit, and the Denon Pro has better natural Bass. The app needs upgrades. It has too many glitches. I can live with that for the same reason I overspent on these: the grand sound stage. Imagine sitting in your living room, or patio and enjoying earbuds at audiophile standards. You can put a price on that. Some of us can't afford 6 figures on high-end HIFI equipment and have had to enjoy them from afar at audio showrooms, friends' homes, conventions, and audio exhibitions. With this PI8, you have carved out, if just for a while, a place where you need nothing else.

I am a little surprised to have this in my possession after my previous order for the midnight blue earbuds ended in disaster. BB lied to me all the while (and documented). I guess they tried to make amends because this pair arrived early. Was it worth it? Setup was relatively easy, but even I succumbed to some of the connectivity issues some people are reporting. It was later in the day, and out of the blue, but resetting the buds fixed that (on a pixel 8a). During the day, I listened first to XTC's Wake Up from their remastered Big Express album, followed by a couple tracks from Steely Dan's Royal Scam, Ozzy and Type O-Negative's take of Matchstick Men, Alan Parsons Fall of The House of Usher, and Iceland, The Eternal Music by the Choir of Clare College Cambridge. Blown away. Reference audio from two little pieces of metal and plastic - I'm amazed by the technology that is capable of this level of musical quality. My home theater system is a mix of KEF's (Q75's and a Q95c) DCM, and Mirage. These buds are better in many respects. They create your own little studio bubble inside your head. It's the 2am drive through the Mojave desert with just you and your music. Now all one has to do is put these earbuds on. I just hope that the connectivity issues are at a minimum, and that they redesign that case. It is a little wonky, but with this audio quality, I can't really complain (yet).

I couldn’t be happier with my decision to purchase these. The clarity, the soundstage, and the total immersion of the audio of these little earbuds is CRAZY. I can’t say how they compare to their competitors, but what I can say is that they dont leave me questioning what the competitor’s earbuds sound like. They don’t have me questioning if there’s better out there, these are IT. They have just completely hit the nail on the head and the sound is insanely clean. You’re not gonna have BOOMING bass, but your gonna have enough of it that it doesn’t over-power the mids, highs, and overall tone. It’s a punchy and clean bass. If you’re wanting eardrum-shaking bass these aren’t it, but if you want true clarity and to hear the full beauty of music, these are indeed it. Overall, they’re incredibly balanced and a true audiophile’s earbud, to get this sound out of these little earbuds baffles me honestly. They connected to my iPhone seamlessly and are very comfortable to wear, on top of looking great in your ears. If you’re craving true clarity and complete immersion, go push the buy button. After weeks of resesrch and opinion-browsing, I’m so happy I chose these and you will be too!

These are by far the best selling earbuds I have ever bought in my life. They blew away the AirPods Pro Gen 2 in sound. I gave this 4 starts instead of 5 due to not being able to control volume and ANC from the buds at the same time (AirPods Pro Get 1 had this issue but not Gen 2). While this is a little annoying I find myself taking out the buds and even the AirPods over passthrough mode anyways. The fit is different then the stemmed AirPods Pro which took a little getting use to but this is by far the best REFERENCE audio you will find in an earbud and worth the cost if you want to hear the music the way it was intended by the studio with top tier build quality. The pair well with my Px8's also from B&W. You will not regret this purchase!

The best earbuds hands down the sound is no words no regrets in getting these earbuds. Even though I have AirPods 2 I reach for my bowers the sound is so immense and it’s worth me sacrificing the convenience with the AirPods.

Bowers & Wilkins has released their next-gen earbuds - the Pi8's - that provide a great sound, regardless of content. The box includes the earbuds, charging case, USB-C charging cable, 3.55mm-to-USBC audio cable, different sized earbuds, and quick start guide/paperwork. The earbuds comes with a manufacturer's 2-year warranty. DISCLAIMER: I connected these earbuds to a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for primary use. PROS: ----------- * The main reason someone will fork over high dollars is for exceptional sound quality - and these earbuds deliver just that. They are the best-sounding "in-ear" earbuds I have ever listened to. The bass/treble and everything in between are insanely great. * The rubber ear inserts are quite comfortable providing a longer listening time before possible irritation sets in. * The case has all rounded edges/corners so they can go in pants pockets or bags without having to worry with hard corners tearing material or poking your leg if in your pocket. This design does limit the case to only lying on its back (or front). * Battery life was good for this size unit... B&W claims 8 hours on a full charge, and I didn't have an issue using them all day (8-5 while charging during lunch). * The app was adequate in features, showing both case battery life and earbuds battery life separately. You can also change the single long-press settings along with the integration of some online audio services into the app. There is also a 5-band EQ that can be utilized for getting a better overall sound rather than just having treble/bass settings. The primary feature on the home page is the Noise-Canceling function which can be turned on/off or in a mid-range called "Pass-through" which allows some sounds to come thru so the user can be aware of their surroundings. There are a few other features in the app like a wear sensor (music pauses when a bud is removed) and also the ability to factory reset and update earbud firmware. * Earbuds can be connected to 2 devices at a time but audio can only be played from one or the other. This can come in handy if playing audio from one device, but answering calls on another device. * The single light on the front of the case has visual confirmation of what's going on with the buds whether charging or connecting via BT. * A crazy feature I have never seen any other buds have is the ability to connect the buds case via the 3.5mm-to-USBC cable provided - then wirelessly connect the earbuds to the case itself. This will be useful for non-BT devices, and a feature unique to the Pi8's. This is great thinking outside of the box. * Good magnetic connection inside the case. They fit one way only, pop in easily, and stay put. * When taking phone calls, microphone quality was very good according to my people on conference calls. They stated I was as clear as a regular wired office headset with boom mic. CONS: ----------- * Though the case is meant to lie on its back to charge (wired or wirelessly), I would much rather have my case stand up (flat bottom) to charge. This would mean a rear USB-C charging connection. This would take up less front-to-back space on a desk though already minimal, but it also looks better standing up rather than lying down. This would force the bottom to be flat, but the edges can still be rounded so it doesn't have sharp corners in the event they are transported in a pants pocket. * This is a minor issue, but if the buds disconnect after non-use, they will reconnect when they are tapped; however, I found the 2nd bud wouldn't connect until 10-15 seconds. B&W stated they should both be connected much quicker. Perhaps a firmware update may correct this issue for those buds affected. This is not something that would prevent me from purchasing though. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: ----------- * If the buds are disconnected from your device but still out of the charging case, they will still discharge at a decent rate... perhaps up to 20% loss overnight due to signaling still occurring while in sleep mode. Buds should go in the case when not in use so they will have a better/full charge when you use them. * Earbuds connect automatically once the case top is opened. They do not have to be out of the case before they connect. * There is no wall charger, so you'll have to use an existing wireless charging pad, wall charger, or USB charging port on a PC. * My buds are black, so they can attract dust easily as shown by some of my pictures. * 4 sets of rubber inserts are provided. Medium size is the most common and already installed in the box. XS/S/L are available to swap out. CONCLUSION: ===================== Overall, these are the best "in-ear" earbuds I have ever used. They don't surpass the quality of over-the-ear headphones of course. When running or riding a bike, they stay put securely. Features in the app are good enough for what I need it for. They don't have to be super-advanced since they aren't really used for sound booth listening. The sound provided is so good though, that they have become my go-to earbuds, and I don't even have the desire to use my previous pair of earbuds from another manufacturer. I'm sold, even at a high retail price. They are worth the money if you want great sound and good comfort in the ear. Well done, B&W.

Amazing sound. That was my priority buying ear buds. Tried Sony and Apple Pro. Have over the ear Sony XM5 and the sound is almost identical. XM5 better on airplane for cancelling sound.

I'll tell you up front these earbuds are for those who want some of the best sounding earbuds you can buy with great active noise cancellation but without some of the bells and whistles (like spatial audio or similar) of some competitors. Bowers & Wilkins has long been known as one of the top audio companies in the world. It's obvious with these earbuds that the primary focus was on producing the best possible sound and they do not disappoint! ANC is also great and adds to the overall sound experience. And I love the design and fit, though that's something personal and may be different for different shaped ears - but for me, they fit perfectly. PROS - Possibly the best sound you can get in wireless earbuds right now - Great Active Noise Cancellation - Brilliant Design that both looks and fits great - Simple touch controls - Excellent Mics for Phone Calls - Case Dubs as Wireless Transmitter CONS - App UI not as Premium as the sound - Can't Control Volume AND ANC/Voice Assistant with touch - No Spatial Audio / 3D Audio if that's your thing - Not Cheap I love these earbuds. I've owned many brands in the last several years including Sony, LG, and Samsung. These are my new favorites. The sound is impeccable. As clear as it can get from the lowest lows to the highest highs. It's like being in a sound studio. This carries over from music and movies into phone calls where I've been able to have a conversation while walking by a busy road and the wind blowing and the person I'm talking to hearing me just fine and me hearing them like I'm standing in the room with them. Very impressive! Sound quality is the #1 most important thing with earbuds and these premium Pi8 earbuds from Bowers & Wilkins do not disappoint. Design and fit is the second most important thing to me. I've had earbuds that I've been super happy with in terms of sound and features, but that didn't fit in my ears just right or I couldn't have in my ears for long before they'd start bothering me. I am super impressed with the Bowers and Wilkins design team on these. The earbud tip fits perfectly in my ear canal (there are many size tips to change for the perfect fit) but perhaps most impressively, they've implemented a rear wingtip that is almost hidden. I have always found earbuds with wingtips to fit better and stay in my ear better - I honestly didn't realize these had that until I was putting them in my ear for the first time. The wind tip is so well integrated into the design it's easy to not notice it's there. Fit is personal, of course, and no earbuds are gonna provide the perfect fit for every ear shape and size, but these are the perfect design for me. They are comfortable and stay in place. And they also look great! My last "most important" feature is Active Noise Cancellation. The ANC on these seems to be on par with most of the other high end earbuds from LG, Apple, and others. With no music or anything playing, loud sounds can be heard as a faint distant sound. With music or a movie, I can't hear any outside sound at all. I also love the pass through feature which allows me to easily switch to hear what's going on around me. And the auto-pause feature which will pause whatever you're listening to if you remove an earbud is a nice bonus. For those who care about spatial sound, these do not support that. I have earbuds that do, but I've always been on the fence about it - does it enhance the sound or is it just a gimmicky "fun" thing that doesn't really make for a better sound experience? Anyway, I'll take superior sound quality over that myself any day. Although Bowers & Wilkins definitely put their greatest focus on the sound quality, they also do have some great additional features. The touch control via the outside of each earbud is fairly easy to use and intuitive. Pause and Play with a tap makes sense. Other options with multiple taps work fine. And a long press can EITHER control volume OR control ANC and call up your Voice Assistant. I am disappointed that you can't have both of those. I wish there were a swipe or something for volume control. I like being able to switch the ANC from active to pass-through and to call up Siri, so for volume control I'm left with only using my device for that. The case is another design and feature success. It's small enough, but carries a lot of charging power. It can be charged wired or wirelessly. And, it has one of my favorite features that I first experienced on another brand of earbuds - the case can serve as a wireless transmitter. So if you're on a plane, you can plug the case into the Aux port and transmit the sound from the plane's entertainment system to your earbuds wirelessly. That is an excellent bonus feature! The app that you use to set these up and change settings is good enough. It's not the best or most feature rich app for earbuds/headphones I've seen, but it's fine. You can change basic settings and can create a custom equalizer or use True Sound which I prefer since it means you're hearing things the way the professional sound team who produced the music or movie wanted you to. These are obviously high end earbuds from one of the top sound companies on the planet and the price reflects that. But if you have the money and if superior sound is important to you, I'd say these are a worthwhile investment.

These are very good. If 4.5 were an option I would have rated that. There are a few downsides though to be aware of. Fit: Overall these are some of the most comfortable headphones I have worn in quite some time. I have Bose Quiet Comfort over the ear and are quite comfortable. I have the new Sonos Ace and those are also quite comfortable for what they are. I have the B/W over the ear and they sound amazing but they are heavy and not that comfy. Compared to my AirPods Pro 2, these are far more comfortable I don't really even feel like they are there. the only small downside is they are a bit large and stick out of the ears so if you use these to try to doze off, you need to sleep on your back. Otherwise I can wear them for hours! 5/5. Sound: This is subjective, but they sound amazing to me! They are crystal clear for both music (all different kinds) and podcasts (which I listen too quite often) and even You Tube and You Tube TV. They get quite loud, but they are a little shaky the louder you go, but at lower/moderate volumes they are phenomenal. 5/5. ANC: This is where the 1/2 star comes off. They are not as good as Bose or Apple AirPods 2. But they are not horrid either. They do a decent job of suppressing noise but not in the loudest situations (think loud restaurants or loud outdoor areas). They can muffle indoor noise really well including the hum of an AC and things like that. They do muffle noise but it is not isolating but not bad. But I find that I have to crank the volume in louder areas. 3.5/5, if this is a big thing for you, then 3.5, if its a moderate consideration then probably a 4. But they are not as good as Bose or Apple. Battery: Has been quite exceptional. I haven't really had them run out so far and the case charges them pretty rapidly as well. 5/5. on Ear controls: This is a bit of a mixed bag. The cycle between noise cancel and aware is fine, the pause is OK, but trying to pair these things (outside of the initial pairing) is really annoying. Not the end of the world, but not exactly AirPods easy either. 3.5/5 Bluetooth/Connection: My over ear pair of B/W were a little shaky in this area so I was concerned about these but they haven't really had any issues (sans the initial setup of anything beyond the first pairing). They connect and stay connected and you can walk fairly far away without issues. They also pair to 2 devices and are quite good at it. No real complaints. 5/5 Overall: If you are looking for amazing sounding, crystal clear and overall phenomenal comfort look no further. If you prize ANC then you need to either try these or get them with a good return policy. They are great overall. I think $299 or $249 would have been more appropriate pricing, but I love the comfort so I will be keeping them.

I previously had the AirPods Pro, but they would often fall out of my ears. These earbuds offer a much better fit and superior sound quality. The noise cancellation is on par with the AirPods Pro, and the companion app works seamlessly. My only gripe is the limited control options—you have to choose between volume adjustments and toggling noise cancellation on the left earbud and summoning your virtual assistant on the right earbud, which can be a bit inconvenient. Still, a great product overall!

These earbuds are the first pair I have ever purchased for myself. My wife owns an Apple Pro and when I put them on not only did it not fit my ears properly, the sound was not to my liking. I kept thinking why are they so popular? Since I own a B&W PX8, I figured the Pi8 might sound great, too. It has great reviews so I caved and gave it a shot. I am not disappointed at all. The fit and sound are amazing!! My wife agrees, too. I will be traveling soon so I am excited to use the earbuds on the plane and watching an inflight movie while using the case as a transmitter. They are expensive, however.

INTRODUCTION: I own B&W’s Px8 Over-The-Ear (OTE) Headphones. They are remarkable to say the least. B&W has just released the Pi8 Earbuds. If you don’t want to read a long review just know they are without reservation the best sounding earbuds I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to. And I have quite a nice collection of higher-end earbuds. Can they come close to the sublimely smooth sound of the Px8? Read on to find out. B&W’s HISTORY: B&W was founded by John Bowers and Roy Wilkins. Starting as a Radio and Electronics shop providing public address equipment, they went into the loudspeaker business in 1966 earning recognition for producing loudspeakers which are faithful to the live performance. For decades, B&W loudspeakers have been the Reference Monitor in some of the world’s best recording studios. PACKAGING/WHAT YOU GET: These come nicely packaged including the warranty and quick start guide. The earbuds are in a compact wireless charging case with medium sized ear tips pre-installed. Two cables; one USB C to 3.5mm headphone cable and one USB C to USB C charging cable. Plus, additional ear tips (Large, Small and Extra Small). DESIGN: The earbuds are beautiful! This is a completely new, from the ground up, design from B&W. The top of each earbud has the Bowers & Wilkins name embossed over a glossy touch sensitive surface, with a metal lip just below the top, housing the sensors and microphones, ensuring they are obstruction free. GETTING STARTED/CONTROLS: Charge the earbuds and download the Bowers & Wilkins Music App to your cell phone. Set up an account and the app helps you pair them as well as tell what each button does. These are Bluetooth 5.4, the latest and greatest which helps to ensure no latency. In terms of controls, one tap on either earbud and you play music or answer the phone. Two taps on either and you advance to the next track. Three taps and you go back to the previous track. Two taps with a long hold and you end a phone call. Tap and hold the left earbud for one second to cycle between ANC and Passthrough. Hold the right earbud control for one second for your digital assistant. There is a 5-band equalizer if you want to customize the sound more. While there aren’t many programmable features in the app, there is one thing less than ideal. You can program the earbuds to control ANC and your Digital Assistant, or you can program them to control volume, but you can’t program them to do both which is an odd omission for a premium set of earbuds. ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION/CALL QUALITY/FEATURES: The ANC on the Pi8 is as good as any other higher end earbud I own, if not better. B&W built the ANC system in these earbuds from the ground up and it’s very effective. There may be other Bluetooth headphones which block out more noise but often at the sacrifice of sound. Passthrough is quite good if you need to be aware of sounds in your environment. Using these for phone calls has been uniformly excellent. Everyone I’ve spoken with said the call was clear. With multi-point pairing, I’m now connected to my iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro, switching seamlessly from one device to the other. The drivers in the Pi8 are not your standard small 7mm driver found in lesser buds. B&W uses Carbon Cone drivers in these just as they do in the Px8. It is a rigid cone 12mm driver which is larger and able to move more air. This helps the Pi8’s sound fuller, with a wider sound stage, and better stereo imaging. The Pi8 offers AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive AND aptX Lossless Codecs. If you want these to sound their best you need to use a music source which is 24bit like Tidal or Qobuz, which you can buy and use directly in the B&W Music App. B&W has incorporated something special in these earbuds called “re-transmission.” If you plug the charging case into a cell phone or computer using a high-quality streaming service, your Bluetooth connection will then be through the charging case so iPhone or computer users can listen with aptX Adaptive. You can plug the case into an airline seat and listen to inflight entertainment through your earbuds as well. The Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) and Digital Signal Processor (DSP) in the case bypasses the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip in the earbuds. Awesome! With an IPX54 rating, the Pi8 aren’t waterproof, but can handle sweat, rain or dust. They only offer up to 20 hours of combined playtime without having to recharge the case. This isn’t even close to industry leading. The earbuds themselves can play for about 6.5 hours (ANC on) on a single charge which for most is enough. A charge of 15 minutes will give you 2 hours of playtime. ABOUT SOUND! To me, sound matters most. I’ve now listened to a LOT of music such as, Mason Bates - Alternative Energy; Libera – For the Future; Adiemus – Songs of Sanctuary and Camile Saint-Sans - Organ Symphony. Bass is tight and controlled, NEVER Boomy. Treble is brilliant, never Sibilant. Midrange is up front and natural and vocals sound like they are directly in front of you. No matter how complex the music every instrument has a presence that is hard to believe. There really isn’t anything you could throw at the Pi8 that wouldn’t sound great. I asked at the beginning if the Pi8 earbuds could compare to the Px8 headphones. It’s a resounding YES, THEY CAN! CONCLUSION: The Pi8 is astounding in just about every way. They’re great looking, exceedingly comfortable for long listening sessions, made of premium materials and employ even better technology. The Pi8 are not inexpensive but the price, in my opinion, is beyond justified. They are simply about as perfect as earbuds can get. I had high expectations to begin with, which have been exceeded and then some!

There is a reason why Bowers & Wilkins are usually at the top of audiophiles list of speakers or headphones and the Pi8 is no exception. I own the Px7 and the Px8 over the ear headphones and love them to no end. I was excited for the Pi8's and they did not disappoint. For years I would use either Samsung's Buds Pro or the Sony WF-1000's and it was hard to pull me away from those 2. The Pi8's crushed them and I will daily drive them to the end of their life cycle. Sound, comfort, features etc beat all my expectations when listening to music or streaming videos. In the box are the buds in a solid feeling case, quick start guide, USB C to C cable, USB C to 3.5mm jack adapter (for streaming from a 3.5mm source) and a selection of different size tips. Since I already use the B&W app (which I highly recommend you use), setting up and pairing the buds was simple and easy. There is even a walkthrough if you want to know what the buds can do. App is what you need to unlock all the things the Pi8 can do. ANC, passthrough, presets and even manual EQ. The case is wireless charging compatible and the magnets the hold the buds in are super strong. Charging time is fast and during my lunch hour it can completely charge the buds back to 100% to finish off my work day. Comfort is great. I wear them for a full work shift and never had 1 complaint. I am using the already installed tips as they fit me perfectly. My co-workers cannot hear anything I am blasting at a loud volume. Phone calls were standard. No complaints from the caller when talking or when listening to me. ANC worked flawlessly. You can hear loud noises (like clapping right by your face) but everything else was tuned out. Pass through when trying it out worked but it was a little hard for me to make out what people were saying since I liked my volume up loud. Off really had no effect on what was playing but me being me I just kept ANC on the entire time. Sound quality is amazing. 11/10. Highs were highs and bass was thumping without anything at all sounding distorted. You can fine tune anything with the Equalizer to your liking. One thing I loved is that they are using the the aptX Bluetooth codecs that are compatible with my phone. Sound quality is beyond excellent. Audiophiles will love this as it is compatible with aptX Lossless, Adaptive and Classic Bluetooth codecs and AAC and SBC. As stated before the B&W are my new daily drivers and I won't be changing anytime soon, unless they make a better upgrade. Sound quality is excellent, comfort is excellent and even price to performance ratio to me is 100% worth it. You will be getting a lot of value and life out of these earbuds.

I’ve had these for a little over a month now. I was originally blown away be the sound on these earbuds, better than anything I’ve heard before. The bass is very nice for the size of the earbuds. Might have some connection issues if trying to pair them to two devices at once though, but that’s just a minor issue that can be fixed by simply turning off the Bluetooth on one of the devices. The app is average with a simplistic EQ band to adjust the range the earbuds can go. Overall, if you have the budget, I’d highly recommend these!

There are many things I love about Bowers & Wilkins products, but one thing that stands out in particular is their willingness to invest their resources into even the most seemingly insignificant aspects of their products. From start to finish in both research and development, they just don’t slack on anything. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds are yet one more example of their commitment to excellence. One of the first things I noticed was how visually pleasing the Pi8’s case is. It like looking at something that would come out of an expensive jewelers’ shop. It’s sleek and smooth, like what a well-polished stone might feel like, with the Bowers & Wilkins logo adorning a seamless band encircling the entire case. As I opened it up, I was greeted by a pair of the most elegantly-designed earbuds I have ever seen. As if to match the impressive design of the case, the earbuds were like looking at a pair of exquisite cufflinks. Just like I said in beginning this review, it was obvious that a willful commitment to excellence was at work here. And although I could keep on and on about how the beautiful design, the real beauty lies in their performance. Following the Quick Start guide, he first thing needed is to download the Bowers & Wilkins Music app so that you can setup and adjust the earbuds. Pairing the earbuds was as simple as opening the case and activating the Bluetooth search function on your phone. It’s that simple. B&W recommends using the appropriately-sized tips not only for comfort, but also to ensure the best listening experience possible. The Pi8’s come with four different sizes of tips, XS, S, M, and L. They come pre-fit with the medium tips. Now, I know I began this review by gushing over the amazing commitment to quality by B&W, but a tad bit more thought could have gone into the tip holder. After removing one of the earbuds to look at it, the rest of the earbuds went rolling and flopping all over. Trying to get them back in their appropriate slots turned out to be more effort than I wanted to spend, so I left them as they were and decided I would mess with getting them back in order later. Most earbud tips are straight pass-through tips, that is, if you hold them up and look, you can see straight through them. Not so with the Pi8s. They have fine-mesh filters to keep debris and earwax from reaching the internal components of the earbuds which could greatly diminish the sound quality. The earbuds themselves have three different microphones, two of which are used for the ANC, and the third is used to insure high quality voice transmission for phone calls and other purposes which require voice, such as apps and so on. Of the two used for ANC, one is located on the outside of the earbud to monitor outside sounds, and the other is located on the inside to monitor the sounds that are reaching the ear. The Pi8s pick up outside noises and then transmit the exact opposite frequency to cancel out the outside noises. To be fair, the Pi8s do not have a limitless frequency range, so they will not block every single noise you might encounter. However, they do a superior job of cancelling out most. When I was testing them out, I wore them without any music or anything playing. I was just listening to how well they blocked out noise. I alternated between the different sizes of earbud tips to make sure I was wearing the correct size. And this is one of those situations where size really does make a difference. If the tips are too large or too small, unwanted noise will get through, making your listening experience much less enjoyable. But as I was saying, as I sat in my family room with the Pi8s in my ear and with ANC activated, I was able to hear very few sounds. But once I began playing music tracks at very low volume, I detected only the occasional loud noise. With volume up to about 25% to 30%, I detected absolutely no outside noises other than the television when I turned its volume up. When I turned the music volume up to 50% on my phone, even the loud television was blocked out. Then I tried the same experiment with another brand of noise-cancelling earbuds. To my surprise, even at 50% volume on my phone there was quite a bit of television sound that was coming through. The difference was night and day between the Pi8s and the other brand. The Pi8 ANC actually has three settings to choose from: ANC, Passthrough, and Off. When ANC is turned on, well, it does what it is supposed to do. On Passthrough mode, it allows ambient sound to reach your ears. When turned off, the earbuds basically act like earplugs, deadening ambient sounds but not eliminating them. You actually hear more ambient noise on Passthrough mode than when ANC is off. But Active Noise Cancellation is not the premier feature of these earbuds. The sound quality is out of this world. Seriously, these earbuds are on a completely different level. The Pi8 supports aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless codecs. Okay, I had to look these up to see what they are and how they help to deliver such high sound quality. In short, aptX Adaptive can adjust transmission quality based on what you are listening to, and/or how strong the Bluetooth signal is. AptX Lossless transmits audio with no compression, it can transmit at a higher bitrate, over 1 Mbit/s, and in situations where there is a lot of wireless interference it will dynamically adjust the transmission bitrate. That is a huge amount of technology at work being reduced down to very simple terms, but all I know is that it really works. The sound quality of the Pi8s is extraordinary! Because of the just-mentioned technologies, you can listen to music, podcasts, and gameplay exactly how it is meant to be heard. You can’t ask for any more than that! Bass is deep, sonorous and rich, the mids are sharp and clear, and the highs are crystal clear. At the highest volumes there is no loss of quality. I detected zero distortion of any kind. I mean none. In the end, the real selling point really isn’t about all the technologies involved, the materials used, or the research and development that went into these earbuds. The true selling point is how absolutely true to life the Pi8s sound. I said it once, and I will say it again, with the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 true wireless earbuds, you hear audio how it was meant to be heard. Not distorted, not diminished or truncated…but as fully and richly as earbuds can deliver. I am a loyal fan of Bowers & Wilkins, and yes I do own other B&W gear. Everything they produce is top of the line and knocks the socks off the competition. As I have done with my other Bowers & Wilkins products, I will continue to do with the Pi8 earbuds… recommend them to anyone who will listen! Once you try them out, there will be no turning back…ever!

As a big fan of Bowers & Wilkins headphones I was excited to try out their new Pi8 True Wireless Earbuds. The Pi8’s sound quality is truly impressive, with its use of a true 24-bit connection that gives that CD quality lossless audio you can really hear the rich, detailed sound signature along with the well-balanced across lows, mids, and highs, making them ideal for all types of music genres. The noise cancellation on these earbuds is another standout feature. The ANC effectively blocks out background noise, whether it's the hum of an airplane or chatter in a noisy office. This makes the earbuds ideal for commuting or focusing in noisy environments. The pass-through mode, which allows ambient sounds to filter in when needed, works smoothly as well, keeping you aware of your surroundings. Battery life on the Pi8 is fairly solid, providing up to 8 hours of battery life for all day listening with the charging case. It also has quick charge support, providing 2 hours of use from a 15-minute charge making these perfect for daily use or travel Another feature of the Pi8 is its touch-sensitive controls. You can pause/play music, change tracks, adjust volume, or switch between ANC and pass-through modes with simple taps or swipes. These touch controls are kind of hit or miss, in that when listening to music apps it would play, and pause correctly. I did run into some issues with video players where it wouldn't always register when I wanted to pause a video. Additionally, through the Bowers & Wilkins Music app, you can customize these controls to suit your preferences, whether you want it to be volume adjustment or ANC/voice assistant toggling.The app also allows you to adjust the EQ settings, giving you control over how your music sounds. This is a fantastic feature for those who like to fine-tune their listening experience. The earbuds come with a sleek, minimalist design, and the compact charging case is pocket-friendly, making it easy to carry them around. The earbuds have a premium feel with their matte and glossy finish and sturdy build, and comes with extra ear tips to get the fit for your ears. However, I did have some comfort issues over longer listening sessions. After wearing them for extended periods, I experienced some discomfort in the back of my right ear and not in my left ear, so I think I might just have a weird right ear. This is probably not going to be an issue for everyone, but felt the need to mention it. I did change the right ear tip to the Large size tip, which did help a little in the comfort. While the Pi8 delivers in terms of sound, it does offer a lot of connectivity options in being able to be paired to 2 devices at a time, and my personal favorite is the ability to use a USB-C to 3.5mm Aux cord along with the charging case without having to connect to bluetooth. This is perfect for those who fly alot and want to use the in flight entertainment center but also get the best sound and ANC out of your headphones while not having to use the free ones the airlines offer. That being said, I did encounter some Bluetooth pairing and connection issues. At times, there was noticeable delay when connecting to my phone, and the initial pairing process wasn’t always seamless between the app and my phone's bluetooth settings. I also ran into issues if I had one earphone in and would put the other one in to take a call, the other earphone would not connect and audio would only come out of one. While this is a unique situation, it's something I dealt with a couple of times. Pros and Cons Pros: Excellent Sound Quality: Rich and balanced audio signature, perfect for a wide range of genres. Effective ANC: Great for blocking out background noise in busy environments. Customizable Touch Controls: The ability to tweak touch controls via the app adds convenience. Compact Case: Small and easily pocketable, making it ideal for travel. Bowers & Wilkins Music App: EQ customization and control options are a great bonus. Cons: Pairing Issues: Occasional lag and difficulties when initially connecting to devices. Comfort Concerns: Potential discomfort after long periods of use, particularly in the back of the ear. Price Point: On the higher end of the spectrum, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious buyers. Conclusion The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds are a solid option for those who prioritize sound quality and active noise cancellation. They deliver premium audio performance and provide helpful customization through their app. However, minor pairing issues and discomfort during extended wear could be dealbreakers for some. If you value top of the line sound quality above all else and don't mind occasional hiccups, the Pi8 is worth considering.

These pi8 earbuds were pretty easy to set up or connect to my iPhones Bluetooth straight away. They look great and so far feel great in my ear. I haven’t felt ear fatigue, as quickly as, I have with other earbuds but, I’m also making sure not to keep them in for as long. They can feel a bit bulky. Especially if lying down when using them. To change certain things like turning on or off ANC or pass through, skipping a song or going back, answering or ended a call you have to do a lot of tapping or tap and hold sequences on the earbud. And each earbud controls something different. Also straight out of the box it is set for one bud to control ANC and the other to control your assistant. For you to be able to control the volume you have to use the app to change the earbuds to control the volume. And that means one earbud is for increasing and the other is for decreasing, causing you to lose the ability to turn on ANC or pass through. I find myself not liking that one bit. I’ve come to the conclusion that having to remember how many taps or what Morse code taps to get what you need out of them can be too much most of the time. And it can be quickly frustrating. So the app. Hmmm, well it’s basic to say the least and no real reason to have it besides toggling between if you want it to control the volume or ANC. You can also change the EQ but that is about it. It’s does not offer much control with customizations. I find the app and its capabilities for using the earbuds to be very lackluster to other high quality earbuds that I’ve owned. It seems at times that it takes a bit to connect to my phone. Especially if I pop one bud in my ear. The tone to let you know it’s connected doesn’t come on as quickly every single time, sometimes I have to pop in the other earbud to get it to connect and then pop the extra one out again just to use one. Sometimes I have to take the second one out of the case so it can connect and then put it back. So I feel like it just doesn’t recognize 100% of the time that I am just trying to use one bud at a time. I’ll be straight out with this one. The battery life sucks. I charged it fully before using them. After they charged I then set them up on my phone. By the time I made it through the initial setup up “how to use tutorial” it showed the charging case was at 89% (WHAT!!). How would that be possible if I had just removed it minutes ago from the charger? I’m not using the earbuds all day. I can only assume that they do not turn themselves off or in a standby mode, especially if not placed back into their case. But even still the earbuds themselves loses battery quickly then other premium buds I’ve owned. Find something else if that’s what you’re looking for. So the good… the sound quality is actually very good. It’s clear and sharp where it needs to be. The adjustments sound good if you prefer a bassier sound etc. I’m keeping these at the factory setting since I’m just using them for calls and listening to podcasts at the moment. Overall they are decent but if an extended battery life is what you desire I would say there are better options.

There are Audiophiles and then there are Consumer listeners. This earphone was created for Audiophiles and it is a big point that can't be skipped. Bowers and Wilkins is a brand for those who seek the exact goal of the producer and artist created their work for. It doesn't overdo things nor not deliver on them when they are supposed to be there. The fit and venting is perfect and when you add this up with look and even the case broadcast options ...you have something unique to the world of Bluetooth earphones and the best sounding earphone in Bluetooth products today.

If sound quality is your top priority when considering new earbuds, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 need to be on your short list. After a week using these buds and alternating with others in my collection (I have buds for work and play), I have concluded these are the most accurate buds I’ve heard. The word that keeps coming to mind when trying to describe the sound from the Pi8 is “neutral.” I believe sound produced on the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 sounds just like it should. Some buds sound too bright, some seem to obscure vocals, still others beat you over the head with bass. The Pi8 present a complete, clear audio picture. Everything is present and distinguishable. They just sound great! The Pi8 support the aptX Bluetooth codecs (lossless, adaptive, and classic) as well as AAC and SBC. I’m on Android and had to dig into my system settings to enable aptX. ANC is passable. Noise cancellation is either on or off; there are no ANC level settings. It’s not the most effective implementation I’ve experienced from earbuds, but it gets the job done. From the app, there are three settings for noise cancellation: On, Pass Through, Off. From the buds, the choices are either On or Pass Through. Touch control functions are set from the app and you can choose from two settings: ANC (L) and Voice Assistant (R); or, Volume Control (L:up, R: down). If you want to change touch controls, it must be done through the app. As of this writing, those functions are not user-modifiable. I would prefer more customizability of touch controls. When used in phone calls, sound quality is excellent on both ends of the conversation. In the box: Charging case (wireless or plug-in charging); ear tips in four sizes (XS, S, M, L); a charging cable; and a 3.5 mm analog accessory cable. The 3.5 mm analog accessory cable is a cool inclusion. Say you want to connect to in-flight audio. Plug the 3.5 mm plug into the audio jack, the other end (USB-C) goes in your charging case and, presto, you now have wireless audio. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 have set a new standard for me. I have been fortunate to be able to enjoy some terrific headphones and earbuds over the years. They each have their own distinct sound and personality, and I really thought I had a good handle on what accurate sound reproduction is. I was wrong. With the right recording, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 can put you in the room with the musician. This really is sound that is true to life.

I am quite taken aback by the B&W Pi8 buds. While the case features an ordinary shape, it is small and easy to carry around -even in the watch pocket of my jeans. What is not ordinary is that the case is also a DAC. This means that I can connect it to a source and that will transmit to the buds. The buds also have a smaller footprint than their predecessors. I think the overall buds’ design is sleek, with a glossy touchpad with subtle branding. They just look great in the ear. They are also very comfortable and stay on while exercising. I wore them for a full charge -about 6 hours with ANC on, and I never felt fatigued. The battery features quick charge and wireless charging which is very convenient to me. Featuring Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint compatibility, they paired easily with my phone and laptop. I did not experience any lag or sync issues and kept a connection at a distance. The touchpads are responsive albeit a bit sensitive, and they control almost everything (one must choose what to do with the long press). The call quality is good enough. I was told I sounded a bit far and they heard some ambient noise. The noise cancellation is also good enough. It certainly helped during my subway commute. The ambient mode amplifies the sound as if I had superhuman hearing. What really floored me was the audio experience. Listening to 24bit/96kHz Ultra HD audio streaming with the aptX Lossless codec, the 12mm carbon cone drivers produce a sound quality that must be experienced. The bass was impactful, fast, and precise. There was plenty of sub-bass when called for. The midrange brought out a lot of what can rarely be heard with oher buds. The treble soared without being harsh or sibilant. The audio is super clear. The soundstage and imaging make it feel like the sound is outside of my head, without needing 360 software. No matter what genre I listened to, I was very satisfied. Even podcasts, games, and movies became more exciting. The case also produced amazing sound quality as it has its own amp and DAC, which converts analog signal into digital format. The companion app is very basic, but at least it allows for EQ customization, to which the buds respond well. It also allows for certain Hi-Res audio streaming services to be played there. Do they have a premium price? Sure. But I think once the sound quality and comfort are experienced, especially if you are a music enthusiast, that will not be an issue whatsoever.