Bowers & Wilkins and Sony are two brands that are often compared due to their two models of over-ear Bluetooth headphones. Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones and the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Both are fantastic Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation technology that offer colorful and creative sound. If you're not into over-ear headphones, you might feel a little left out. Luckily, both brands have created truly wireless earbud pairs for people to enjoy. Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 These are two headphones priced at just $100 apart. What's the difference? Today we're looking at their similarities and differences.
What comes in the box
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Pi8 – $399 |
WF-1000XM5 – $299.99 |
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Aesthetics and Functionality
The overall aesthetic of these earbuds is very similar. They’re both smaller and have a glossy finish, making them perfect for sitting in your ear for optimal comfort. They also come with a variety of eartip sizes. The Pi8s have silicone eartips, and the XM5s have foam. The XM5s’ body is a bit rounder and has a more spherical shape. The Pi8s are more oval, fitting exactly to the curve of your ear. The fit may feel a bit different on each device, but overall comfort is nice on both. The touch commands are responsive and effective, and there’s an app you can use to customize the tuning of what you hear.
Connecting to my device was simple and easy. There are no buttons on either charging case, so Bluetooth pairing was triggered via the sensors. Both activated immediately when I placed them in my ears, and I was ready to start listening almost immediately. The connection never dropped on either earbud, and held strong throughout the hours I tested them.
For me, the shape of the earbud was the key to determining the winner in this category. It was hard to choose based on the functional aspect as both worked flawlessly. Even the aesthetics were hard to choose as both had a clean finish that showed quality and luxury. I liked that the Pi8 came in a few other colors such as white, green, and dark blue. The XM5 only came in white as an alternative option. At the end of the day, I preferred the round shape of the Sony XM5 but the silicone tips of the Pi8.
Technical specifications
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Pi8 – $399 |
WF-1000XM5 – $299.99 |
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Some of the technical features of these headphones have similarities and differences. At the time, the XM5s had the latest version of Bluetooth available. Now, the Pi8s outdo them with Bluetooth 5.4, which improves that feature a bit and gives them an edge. Battery life is much better on the XM5s than the Pi8s, beating them by over 2 hours of additional playback time. The other features of water resistance, quick charging, and EQ adjustment are found on both devices and allow for a personalized listening experience.
Listening review
Soundstage and ANC
Both soundstages are very wide and immersive. The Pi8 keeps the sound more up front, like you're looking at it on a stage. The XM5 makes listening a little more immersive and envelops you. I liked the listening profile and experience that each device created. Each gave you a lot of depth and height, so the sound was never flat or boring. Any track that went through either of these devices had a lot of character and was very entertaining.
Active noise cancellation is an appealing feature on both pairs of headphones, but I have to give the Pi8s credit for standing out a bit more. I noticed a marked difference between the pass-through and ANC modes on the Pi8s. The XM5s used to be the poster child when it came to ANC, but the Pi8s have come to surprise listeners. While the Pi8s display superior ANC capabilities, I like the talk-to-chat feature on the XM5s, where I can indefinitely engage pass-through mode. This makes it easier to quickly hear something in the surrounding area, but then immediately return to listening.
Low frequencies
The bass on both headphones is a very present and pleasant sound. In the case of the Pi8, it’s a driving force that immediately takes over any track. On the XM5, it’s more reserved, but still present and is an excellent foundation for other frequencies. Personally, I enjoyed the bass on the XM5 more than the Pi8, as I didn’t need any EQ adjustments to get the rest of the frequencies on the same level. Either way, both offer a powerful response that propels tracks forward. Rock songs with kick drums and bass lines are great to listen to.
Midrange Frequencies
I love the detail on display in each of these headphones. The midrange has a lot of clarity and detail, something I could appreciate in both the Pi8 and XM5. I appreciated the detail a bit more in the Pi8, as I could definitely hear more layers in the sound profile. The XM5 provided plenty of detail, but seemed a bit more neutral to suit more types of music. The Pi8 gave a lot more body and timbre to instruments no matter the genre.
High frequencies
The XM5’s highs are certainly more noticeable, and they outperform the Pi8 in terms of recognition. The Pi8’s bass response is a bit too punchy, and the highs don’t have the same punch you’d expect. With a quick adjustment, the levels between frequencies are more level, and you can appreciate the color and sparkle of the highs. The XM5 excels in this regard with equally punchy highs when compared to the lows. Airy and bright, it gives you a welcome respite from the ANC qualities and thumping bass.
Summary
Much like their in-ear counterparts, the XM5s and Pi8s have a lot going for them. Stellar soundstages, crisp highs, powerful bass, and detailed midranges are all aspects I love about both models. When it comes to choosing one over the other, I’m at a crossroads. I love the out-of-the-box factory settings on the Sony XM5s, though I’m much more impressed with the dynamics and active noise-cancelling capabilities of the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8s. A little patience and fine-tuning will make both even better than their factory settings, but it all comes down to personal taste.
I highly recommend trying them out before you buy. Everyone hears differently, so it's best to listen to them and determine which one is best for you. At only $100, it's best to consider all options.
The Pi8 and the WF-1000XM5 are available for purchase and demonstration at Audio46.
