Renowned for its legacy in high-end audio, Bowers & Wilkins continues to set the bar with its latest flagship offering, the Pi8 True Wireless earbuds. Building on the esteemed reputation established by their 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers, the Pi8 promises to deliver an audio experience that resonates with both audiophiles and discerning listeners.
Design and Features: A Fusion of Sophistication and Innovation
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 distinguishes itself from its predecessor, the Pi7, through a complete redesign and the incorporation of advanced driver technology. The new model showcases an elegant silhouette with smooth, rounded edges and a polished finish. Available in four refined colour choices—Anthracite Black, Dove White, Jade Green, and Midnight Blue—the Pi8 caters to a sophisticated aesthetic.
The design of the Pi8 is not merely for visual appeal; it prioritises user comfort and functionality. The earbuds feature a snug fit with a soft yet secure rubber seal, which offers impressive acoustic isolation and noise attenuation, potentially reducing external sounds by up to five decibels. This thoughtful engineering also ensures the earbuds remain comfortable during extended listening sessions, avoiding overheating.
Bowers & Wilkins has enhanced the capacitive touch surface on the Pi8, resulting in a more responsive control interface for playback, noise cancellation, and call management. Additionally, the inclusion of three different ear tip sizes ensures an optimal fit for various ear shapes and sizes.
Internally, the Pi8 is powered by Qualcomm’s Bluetooth 5.4 technology, which supports aptX Adaptive up to 24-bit/96kHz and aptX Lossless. This also includes Multipoint connectivity, allowing simultaneous pairing with two devices—a valuable feature for those managing multiple gadgets.
For frequent travellers, the Pi8’s charging case stands out with its compact design and advanced capabilities. It can retransmit audio at 24-bit/96kHz from both USB and 3.5mm sources, converting analogue signals into digital and transmitting them via aptX Adaptive Low Latency. This functionality ensures compatibility with in-flight entertainment systems and a range of digital devices, including the iPhone 15.
Despite its many strengths, the Pi8 could benefit from improvements in a few areas. Notably, it lacks support for Spatial Audio Dolby Atmos streams, a feature increasingly offered by competitors. Additionally, while the battery life provides 6.5 hours of playtime with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) engaged and an additional 13.5 hours from the case, it does not set new standards in battery longevity. Bowers & Wilkins attributes this to the demands of delivering superior audio quality—a justification that holds weight.
Sonic Performance: Setting a New Benchmark
The sonic capabilities of the Pi8 are where it truly excels. Featuring new 12mm drive units with Carbon Cone technology—borrowed from Bowers & Wilkins’ Px8 over-ear headphones—the Pi8 delivers outstanding clarity across high frequencies. The treble is both clear and crisp, avoiding harshness.
The midrange is notably full, rendering vocals and instruments with exceptional realism. For instance, instrumental tracks highlights the Pi8’s ability to present detailed soundscapes, where every nuance is rendered with precision. Vocals are rendered with striking realism, and the tonality of jangly guitars is remarkably true to the original recording.
Bass performance is another area where the Pi8 impresses. It produces deep, controlled bass that is both impactful and well-defined, without becoming overpowering. Bass heavy tubes exemplifies the Pi8’s capacity for precise, immersive bass, offering a listening experience that surpasses many competitors.
The Pi8 also manages complex and layered tracks with ease. Floating Points’ ‘Movement 6’, featuring intricate saxophone and string arrangements, is rendered with an intimate and captivating spatial integrity.
The Active Noise Cancellation feature, while effective, is not the most advanced in its class. It reduces ambient noise sufficiently, especially in quieter settings, but does not match the top-tier competitors for blocking out loud environments. Nonetheless, the ANC is designed to complement the listening experience without compromising sound quality.
Verdict: A New Standard in True Wireless Earbuds
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 True Wireless earbuds represent a significant achievement in the realm of high-fidelity audio. They establish a new standard for sound quality, offering a combination of musicality, detail, and bass performance that is difficult to surpass. With an elegant design and a feature set that appeals to both casual listeners and audiophiles, the Pi8 delivers a compelling listening experience.
While there are areas where the Pi8 could be improved, such as ANC performance and battery life, these considerations are minor compared to the overall excellence of the product. For those seeking True Wireless earbuds that bring them closer to their music with an immersive and high-fidelity listening experience, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 stands out as a top choice.