Following the success of the Pi7 S2, Bowers & Wilkins has launched a new pair of Bluetooth headphones to enhance any listening experience. Pi8 Sony’s new Bluetooth 5.0 earphones are the latest pair of headphones that are sure to impress even the most discerning listeners. I was lucky enough to be able to listen to and review them, so today we’ll be going over all the details, from the physical design to the sound quality.
What comes in the box
- Pi8 True Wireless Earbuds
- Extra small, small, medium and large ear tips
- 60cm USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable
- 3.5mm jack to USB-C audio cable 80cm
Aesthetics and Functionality
The Pi8 is a great product, starting with just the way it looks. It’s definitely smaller than the previous model, making the charging case and earbuds great for travel. They come in a variety of colors: Anthracite Black, Dove White, Midnight Blue, and Jade Green. The metallic detailing along the edges and on the logo of the earbuds make them stand out and give it a clean finish. The fit was comfortable in my ear, and with the different eartip size options, I was able to get it to fit my ear perfectly.
Pairing the device to my phone was quick and easy. The charging case doesn’t have a button like the Pi7’s, so pairing relies on the earbuds’ sensors. After placing them in my ears and pressing each side simultaneously, they appeared on my device and I was ready to start listening. The touch controls on the side were very responsive and picked up my tap commands easily. This made playing, pausing, and adjusting the ANC mode quick and easy. The Bluetooth connection was consistent and strong throughout the test, which is great for people looking for consistent, reliable sound.
Technical specifications
- 12mm carbon cone
- Up to 6.5 hours for headphones (with ANC on)
- 13.5 additional hours from the charging case
- High-performance DSP with dedicated DSP and amplifier/DAC
- Customizable 5-band equalizer + TrueSound™ mode
- Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX™ Lossless technology
- Audio streaming from the charging case (aptX™ Adaptive)
Listening review
Sound scene
The Pi8’s soundstage is wide, but narrower than most that fall into this range. It’s immersive and puts you right in the center of your music, with stellar, highly accurate imaging. Orchestras and rock bands are very realistic to listen to. Noise cancellation is effective, there’s very little noise leakage coming from ambient noise. You can definitely tell the difference between when the feature is on or off, but the frequency response remains consistent across the board. It has plenty of height and depth to make up for the “narrower” profile. Still, these offer a soundstage and signature that’s sure to please any number of listeners who are looking to upgrade.
Low frequencies
The low end is really powerful and the first thing you notice. The carbon cone dynamic driver is very effective at delivering a powerful low end. It has plenty of body and is a great foundation for many tracks. The low frequencies are felt and heard, and aside from the ANC, I admit that it can be a bit overwhelming. Using the app, I turned down the bass and low-mids a bit, and it helped balance things out a lot better. The small adjustment didn’t compromise the quality of the low end; instead, it brought a better listening profile to the other ranges. I was listening to a lot of pop music, specifically Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, “Short n’ Sweet,” and I noticed how all of her low synths and bass instruments took center stage, but with the adjustment I could hear more detail in the production.
Midrange Frequencies
The mids have a lot of detail in the textures of the different instruments. I liked the clarity and placement of these instruments. Vocals were clear and easily recognizable, making pop, rock, folk, and indie genres easy to listen to. Movie soundtracks and the like really shined in this section; I could see myself watching a movie comfortably without having to constantly turn the volume up or down. I was listening to “Peer Gynt” performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra and I liked how the strings, woodwinds, and percussion blended together but still had their unique timbres. The Pi8 offers a great response to make the dynamics of this song more effective.
High frequencies
Sadly, the treble section is the one I feel has been forgotten. Yes, it offers plenty of detail and clarity, but compared to the powerful low end, it seems weak and underappreciated. After rolling off the low end and allowing the other frequency ranges to be heard, the highs brought great balance and color to each track. The sound isn’t piercing or overly shrill, and it doesn’t cut off too suddenly when instruments are playing. Listening to Arca’s “Mequetrefe” allowed me to hear all of the production that goes into the high end. I enjoyed listening to this, as well as some acoustic guitar tracks, where the high harmonics resonate with detail and sparkle.
Summary
In conclusion, the Pi8 is a fantastic truly wireless product that shows a clear improvement over the previous model. With a powerful frequency response and a new design for maximum comfort, I'm sure Bowers & Wilkins users will love listening to music with them. It currently retails for $399, which may seem like a steep price, but I think it's worth it given the quality of the product.
He Pi8 is available for demo and purchase at Audio46.
