- Innovative Upgrades
With significant advancements in performance, battery life, user experience, and color options, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless headphones are an excellent upgrade to its predecessor, Pi7 - Wireless audio retransmission technology
A transformative Smartcase that also functions as an audio retransmission system, connecting directly to external audio sources such as in-flight entertainment systems. - Exceptional Audio With Premium Design
Featuring 9.2mm dual hybrid drive units with individual amplifiers, and advanced DSP of Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 produces incredible audio for pristine phone calls and music - Highly Advanced Technology
These wireless headphones feature TWS+ and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Technology with a revised antenna design to provide improved and stable wireless connectivity up to 25m, delivering exceptional hi-res audio - Advanced Active Noise-Canceling Earphones
The Pi7 S2 earbuds are equipped with 3 call clarity enhancing microphones, for crystal-clear phone calls. Its active noise cancellation feature adjusts to the level of cancellation according to the surrounding noises with the touch of a button - Non-Stop Music Streaming
Enjoy uninterrupted music from popular services like Deezer, NTS Radio, Qobuz, SoundCloud, TIDAL, and TuneIn, and stream your favorite song, artist, or album with iOS/Android compatibility from the Bowers and Wilkins Music app - Quick-Charging Wireless Case
Pi7 S2 noise-canceling earbuds come in a smart, fast, cordless charging case with 16 hours of battery life, just like the Pi7. These wireless headphones add four to five hours of playback time with an increased battery life of 25 percent - Intuitive Controls
The wear detection sensors put these noise cancelling earphones on standby when removed, reconnect to the last paired Bluetooth device when put back on, and pause/resume music when removed or replaced respectively - All-round Usage
These wireless earbuds are perfect for work and play. So, whether attending a work meeting, travelling, running errands, or simply listening to music, immerse yourself in the most enjoyable activities whilst blocking out the world
-36%
Bowers & Wilkins – Pi7 S2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Earbuds – Satin Black
$192.00
Available in stock
Description
Additional information
| Weight | 0.14 lbs |
|---|---|
| Color | Satin Black, Midnight Blue, Canvas White |
| True Wireless | Yes |
| Sound Isolating | No |
| Built-In Microphone | Yes |
| Number of Programmable Buttons | 1 |
| Wireless Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Connection Type | Wireless |
| Manufacturer's Warranty - Labor | 2 years |
| Manufacturer's Warranty - Parts | 2 years |
| Rechargeable | Yes |
| Model Number | PI7S2SatinBlack |
| Color Category | Black |
| Headphone Fit | In-Ear |
| Carrying Case | Yes |
| Charging Accessory Included | Case |
| Product Name | Pi7 S2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Earbuds |
| Product Weight | 0.14 pounds |
| Charging Interface(s) | Wireless |
| Brand | Bowers & Wilkins |
| Noise Cancelling (Active) | Yes |
| UPC | 714346340439, 714346340491, 714346340460 |
Reviews (34)
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Ramosmi91 –
Honestly do yourself a favor if sound quality is the number one priority and just buy these. The level of detail, punchy bass and extension, warmth, and just overall enjoyment of listening to these will bring a smile to your face. I have never heard such high quality sounding true wireless ear buds in my life. There are more convenient options like Apple’s APP for iPhone or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds for Samsung but they dont compete when it comes to sound quality. These are solely my gym/running headphones and they bring audiophile grade quality with me on the go. I also have a pair of APP for backup and even though iPhone only allow you to transmit bluetooth over AAC these still sound amazing. If you can live with the slight inferiority of ease of use and prefer SQ do yourself a favor and buy these. Theyre worth the money.
Maury –
Really good sound quality especially when listening to hi res music however they miss one simple task like pausing music when touching the earbuds or skipping music. It’s available in the app via quick tour but mines wouldn’t do it at all until I had a defect. Music quality was great and met my expectations but for 399 I need them to be able to work as intended plus they weren’t very comfortable and kept sliding out while running. If you plan to use this indoors or outside walking they will be fine but I return these and purchased the B&o ex play.
sammyg –
The sound is great but they hurt my ears so I can’t use them.
OlonZ –
Sound is up there with the best wireless earbuds. Sound profile provides wide soundstage, detailed and punchy bass without bleed. tonality and timbre are spot on. detail and instrument seperation is class leading for TWS. Where this fails is the lack of newest technology, features, app integration is weak….and ANC is average at best. These Buds should be priced $100 less to be considered a good value. $400 is just rediculous for this tech…..but if u have money to burn, then it may be worth it for some….not for me
Nate34 –
Ive had quite a few wireless earbuds and was pretty sure I had heard the best there was to offer until the Bowers Pi7 S2s. Im not sure what kind of wizardry they did to get all that sound in that little earbud but whatever they did worked. The fit and feel is on par with other earbuds Ive had. Not sure they would stay on in a rigorous workout, but that issue seems to be the same for all the ones Ive tried. Maybe I have a weird ear canal but they feel a bit on the loose side. If I tried I could probably shake them out, but I dont see myself walking around violently shaking my head.
The initial set up and app do their job and I was able to get them set up quickly. Im not sure how much Ill be using the app because I prefer just using my phones settings for controlling things.
But of course with these its all about the sound. And they are on par with some of the best over the ear headphones Ive ha, and easily the highest quality audio Ive heard from buds. Very clear, crisp highs and mids, with bass that isnt overwhelming or that drowns the other sounds out. Its just pure and perfect sound.
The noise cancellation works very well also. I dont use it often with headphones, but when I need it its nice to have some that do it right. And these are no exception. Easily blocks out the stuff I dont want to hear so I can hear what I want to hear.
Making and receiving calls works well, and I had no issues hearing others, or them hearing me. I rarely use earbuds while making calls but if I get a call while Im listening to some tunes its nice that I can just answer the call without disconnecting.
If I had to pick something I didnt like it would be the plastic case. For what you are paying the whole experience should be top notch. The case should have had the same quality of the buds. But this isnt a huge issue since it does what its supposed to.
Overall I am very pleased with the B&W earbuds. If you want that pure B&W sound on the go this is the way to go.
Goor00inTX –
I was very excited about these Bowers and Wilkins ear buds. They came with the promise of amazing sound and comfort. But it turns out they offer much, much more than that.
If you’ve never heard about B&W, just know that they produce excellent audiophile gear. And the Pi7 S2 true wireless ear buds do not disappoint.
The packaging feels classy and neat. Aside from the ear buds and charging case, you also get a type-c to type-c cable, a type-c to audio jack and a set of different sized rubber tips. You do not *need* to use the companion app (which comes in Android and iOS flavors), but if you want to make the best out of it, I strongly recommend that you work with the app first.
The case is more than just a simple charging case. It can be used as a transceiver which offers more range from the source and can also be used to connect to a standard audio jack and send the signal to the ear buds. I must say that this function alone is probably one of the most unique features I have ever had the pleasure to use. The case can be charged using a cable or using a wireless charging device. Charging is fast and lasts for a good amount of time.
Now, as for the ear buds themselves, I have to admit that they might be the best I have ever owned. The sound is amazing, with deep and full bass, crisp treble and an insane frequency range, which audiophiles will love. The noise canceling is without a doubt the best there is, without affecting the actual sound quality too much. They are also extremely comfortable and light. After over an hour of use, I removed the buds and my ears weren’t hurting or sore at all. Both ear buds can use “tap” style commands, meaning they can be controlled without the need of the app or the case. The same goes for phone calls.
Frankly, the only negative aspect is more of a technical nature that is not related to the ear buds themselves. When using a streaming service as a sound source, the sound you receive is usually nasty, as the audio is compressed and it creates distortions and audible artifacts. The ear buds being so good at reproducing a wide range of frequencies, you might feel like you can hear the noise far more than with other devices, especially on the higher end of the sound spectrum. If you want to enjoy the Pi7 to their fullest, you might want to go with a streaming service that uses loss-less audio compression or no compression at all. It’s far from being a deal breaker though.
All in all, I would recommend the Pi7 S2 from Bowers and Wilkins over almost every mainstream manufacturers. If you’re looking to get some ear buds, check these out, you won’t regret it.
TheRoots –
These earphones are simply amazing! The sound quality is absolutely phenomenal. It is a very rich, full sound that I thought I could only get with over-the-ear headphones. You can hear the highs, midrange, and lows very clearly. These have outdone my old wired headphones in every way. I usually preferred wired or wireless headphones, because I feel I get better sound quality and they stay on better. But, these fit very well and are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
I normally use headphones for traveling or commuting, to watch movies and listen to music and podcasts. I am 62 years old with tinnitus and significant hearing loss in one ear. With the 3+ pair of earbuds I have tried in the past, they either kept falling out, were uncomfortable to wear longer than 30 minutes, and/or the sound quality was average at best. But, I found these to be very comfortable and the sound is absolutely beautiful. I have had these for 4 days now and have used them about 3-5 hours each day. Also, they easily connected to my cell phone, tablet, and 2 Windows 10/11 PCs, without any problems.
I liked how well these earphones fit into my ear and stayed secure. I had to switch the medium size tips, that were installed, for the smaller tips. But, after that, they never became loose, even while I was walking around and talking on the phone. The range was also very good and I was able to get up and walk around while listening to music or during a zoom meeting. They never once dropped the connection to my phone or PC.
The controls on the earphones are easy to use and provide the typical answer/end calls, pause/resume music, advance/repeat music (+/-). But, strangely, they don’t have the option to adjust the volume (+/-) or mute a call. The controls were a little touchy and I would have some accidental presses when trying to adjust the earphones. The built-in microphones worked very well too. When I was on a call or a meeting, no one said they couldn’t hear or understand me.
On the downside, the Bowers & Wilkins App is pretty basic. You can change the noise cancellation type, the wear sensor, connect your 3rd party music sources, etc. The App also allows you to upgrade the firmware. I am hoping in time they will add some additional features to the App (i.e., a sound equalizer, etc.).
The battery life is excellent and even during a long flight, I never saw the battery power drop below 60 percent. One thing they also designed into these is that the case can be used to retransmit the signal from a source to the earphones through either a USB-C or 3mm audio cable (included). So, you can plug the case into the airlines standard 3mm audio port and listen to the sound with the B&W Pi7 S2 wireless earphones. (So, don’t throw out your old 1st generation iPod!)
Overall, I really love these earphones and will certainly use them during my travels, my commute, or around the house or office. They are a little expensive, but I feel they are very well made and B&W has a long warranty period.
gadgeTT –
Summary:
There is no question that these earbuds sound amazing… and for many, that is enough to justify their purchase. At this price level, there are some questionable software and hardware design decisions that mar an otherwise great product.
Pros:
* Amazingly detailed and powerful sound.
* Light and comfortable earbuds that stay in.
* Light and pocketable charging case.
* Good ANC with power-efficient Auto ANC mode.
* Above-average voice call quality.
* Adequate but not stellar battery life.
* USB-C and wireless charging.
* Unique case can re-transmit audio from 3.5mm or USB connections.
Cons:
* Cannot activate Transparent mode from buds – must use app.
* Merely adequate battery life versus competitors.
* Earbuds are somewhat difficult to remove from the case.
* Case materials could be better at this price point.
* No EQ or sound adjustments in the app.
* Case is larger than the competition.
* Earbud shape still gives a bit of a Frankenstein vibe when worn.
Setup:
Setup is really easy. As is becoming the standard, the best way to pair the buds is with the companion app. The buds have BT Low Energy as well as standard BT, so the app pairs the buds rather easily. There is also a pairing button on the case that is accessible once the lid is open for pairing to additional devices and an LED on the case that informs you when the buds are in pairing mode.
The single LED on the outside of the case does some heavy lifting; showing battery status of the case, battery status of the buds when in the case, pairing mode, passthrough mode, etc… While not as obvious as some of the competitors with separate LEDs for some of these functions, it does work well enough. The huge button on the outside of the case is used to show battery status of the case or the buds within it with a tap, or turn on/off the re-transmission mode if connected.
These earbuds come with two USB-C cables; one with a USB-C end and one with a 3.5mm headphone jack. You can use the C-to-C cable for charging the case or just drop the case on a standard qi (wireless) charger.
These earbuds are the second iteration of the fantastic Pi7 earbuds that also had a case that can be used as a bluetooth transmitter for devices that don’t have built-in bluetooth. This function can be used with headphone jacks like on planes or game systems, or with computers that have USB-C connections. You can even temporarily pair a different set of bluetooth headphones to the case if you want. The two provided cables have nice branded Velcro ties, but a small nit is that the cable ties are not attached to the wires so once you unwrap them, you have to keep an eye on where you put the removed cable tie.
I paired these to my iPhone and iPad. The app shows you the name of the paired devices and lets you choose which device it automatically reconnects to or manually choose to switch the connection. This worked rather well in switching between using the buds with my phone or iPad, but I did notice that the app is a bit odd when swapping connections. There is no multi-point connection, though. It’s one connection at a time but you can easily swap connections when needed.
Typical Usage:
Again, since these earbuds sound fantastic and are priced at the high end, issues with smaller nuances of the product are that much more noticeable and annoying. I have absolutely no complaints on the sound quality for playing music, movies or talking on calls. The stuff listed below should be noted and considered if any of them matter more than sonic perfection.
The case is attractive and I appreciate that it’s light to carry, but at this price level, I almost expect a tad more heft to the case and more luxurious materials rather than just simple matte plastic. Even the lid of the case looks metallic but is just more plastic. Perhaps if the case was carbon fiber or some other material, but the plastic case is not befitting such a high-end product.
When the buds are in the case, as it also was with the original Pi7, only the rounded “Frankenstein” stems are available to grab to remove them. Those stems are smooth and there isn’t much to grab onto. Plus, the magnet that holds them in the case is rather strong, so it’s someone difficult to remove them from the case. Just having a subtle lip around the stems would make them easier to grab.
These buds have a new “Auto” ANC mode available in addition to the normal “On” mode. ANC always consumes power and reduces the battery life of any set of earbuds. The On setting keeps ANC on at full strength but with a not-insignificant reduction in battery life. The new “Auto” ANC mode does a decent job at blocking unwanted sounds while using only as much ANC as needed for the ambient noise. This keeps the sounds out while maximizing battery life. In the app, you can choose which ANC mode you prefer; full ANC or Auto ANC. Then when you tap on the left earbud, it toggles between that chosen ANC mode and ANC Off. There is also an adjustable Transparency mode, but to turn it on, you have to toggle it on in the app. The in-ear sensor works really well and pauses your music when you remove either earbud, but putting the Transparency mode accessible only in the app, it essentially forces you to remove an earbud to talk to someone briefly, since it’s so cumbersome to grab your phone, unlock it, open the app, wait for it to connect to your buds (via BTLE), then find and turn on the Transparency mode. I highly recommend that B&W update the software so that the tap gesture on the left earbud can toggle between your pre-set ANC mode and Transparency rather than ANC and OFF. Another suggestion would be that if you remove one earbud but still have the other in, automatically turn on Transparency for the bud that is still being worn so you can hear better with both ears and not just the one with the bud removed.
These buds sounds amazing, but be aware that there is no sound mode or eq setting available in the app (at least as of the time of this review). I find the sound quality so good that I don’t think I’d make any adjustments, but the option would be nice.
Another improvement that could be made is in the audio confirmations played in the earbuds. For example, when you tap to play/pause or when the buds are connected, etc… Many competitors use voice prompts so they have a voice saying “Connected” or “Paused”, etc.., others use a sounds scheme. The sounds these buds make for events could be more high-end than mere beeps, in my opinion. Perhaps stringed instruments or orchestral sounds, but simple beeps just don’t imply high-end… a theme I’m finding with these buds.
By the way, in all the time I have used these buds with my iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPad Pro, they never once disconnected or stuttered… just amazingly clear and consistent sound.
Conclusion:
While there are more than a few small issues and improvements noted above, I can’t stress how great these earbuds sound. I have a large stable of normal and high-end earbuds, and these by far sounds the best of the bunch. However; they’re like a fine sports car with cheap seats and no convenient cupholder. Overall, this is an excellent product with a few small issues that can easily be overlooked for their supreme sound quality. Perhaps they can even be improved with a subsequent app and/or firmware update. If sound quality is your primary need, then these definitely will not disappoint!
AtlantaGreg –
There are hundreds of earbuds to choose from today, and they can range from just a few dollars all the way up to hundreds. The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 Wireless Headphone buds promise superior sound and build quality at close to $400 (!). Are they worth it?
The Pi7s come in a charging base that feels pretty standard compared to most others on the market. Nothing stands out as premium about it – it holds the buds, charges them, and allows you to go into Bluetooth pairing mode. Charging from zero take a little while via USB-C (cable included) and should provide you with up to 16 hours of use when charging before you need to charge the case again. You get about 5 hours per use per charge on the buds themselves before they need to go back into the case. Three sets of covers are included for the ear tabs (small, medium, larger – medium is already on them). They are reasonably comfortable, but a bit thin and one always wants to pop off when I remove the bud from my ear.
A 24 bit system using Qualcomm tech and a range (depending on obstacles) of up to 25 meters are specked out on these and the range is pretty good at least when using with a phone. Flipping the case lid up and pushing the pairing button, I was able to first pair these to a LG TV without too many hiccups. The downloadable Bowers app will help walk you through SOME things, but since the basic paper guide is nearly nothing, you’ll need to use the app. You will need to create an account to get started. The app is a little wonky to get around in, and very basic. You have to pair the buds via the device AND the app (odd). No true QE settings or even a volume control (you control that via the device you’re using these with). You can control the noise canceling which works pretty well, as well as a setting that allows certain ambient noises to get through so you’re not cut off completely from the world around you. You can through a series of 1-2 taps or a tap-hold, control music playback, advance or back, or answer/hang up from calls or put them on hold. You can also once set up, use your device’s assistant through them.
Sound is… ok. I have tried these on a large LG television, an iPhone, and a Pixel phone. In each case, the sound was clear enough and “good”, but not what I’d call excellent, and did vary a little bit depending on the device it was connected to. A bit muffled, to be honest, and again, with no detailed way to control individual ranges in the app, you get what you get for the most part. Battery life has averaged around the 5 hour advertised rate, but will drop if you use the noise canceling feature. Sound volume is pretty low, even when you crank up your parent device on these. I had to use my LG TV’s volume at three-quarters full just to get a comfortable range from these, and the phones had to be cranked up fairly high as well. When trying phone calls, I can hear the people on the other end fine, but they say I sound a bit distant so I have to speak a bit louder than normal, so the multiple mics on each bud could use some tweaking. Connections were good on the phones, but when walking around with it connected to the TV, they start staggering and cutting in and out after only about 10 or so feet away from the TV with no walls in-between. I tried it on a second LG TV (different model) and again, average/low sound and it would do quick in and out cuts periodically.
Are these good? Yes, I would say they’re good overall for phone use, but not for TVs at least in my experience. Are they $400 good? Absolutely not, in my opinion. They feel fine, look good, and have decent enough battery life, but I have used buds that cost one-third what these do that sound every bit as good (or better), so I have to be honest and say I cannot recommend these for the price, though if they are offered at a (deep) discount, they may be worth considering.
IBEWSuper –
will start by saying these are really good wireless earbuds, the sound quality is on the above average side of the scale however I am still left feeling that there is something left to be desired. Now this could possibly be alleviated if the first of my issues did not exist wwhich is the lack of EQ adjustments on the second issue, the lackluster app. The sound for one just does not reach a high enough level, which remains an issue from previous versions which I also own. The sound quality does not quite reach the levels of other that are in this price range which honestly dictates what level of quality that you should be expecting to receive. The first thing I noticed upon unboxing is the feel of the QI charging capable case which honestly does not feel premium like a $300 – $500 price tag should be worthy of. On top of feeling somewhat cheap you can’t stand the case uprite because of the shape, which is rounded on the bottom, therefor you must lay them flat on their side. Now comes the single biggest issue that I have with the Pi7 S2’s, I can NOT, to save my life, hardly ever get them out of the case. The problem is that while they are tiny, which I do like, the entire part off the bud that sticks out of the case is slick polished metal and this combined with the size makes it impossible for a person with bigger fingers to “pinch” them & pull them out without eventually dropping them once they do come out. I highly recommend a layer of that silky feeling rubber wrapped around the outside where the label is, I think it would also help with the premium feel that they lack a bit. The pair I recieved has had a very good bluetooth connection with a very decent range, it did however take awhile to connect. The battery life seems to be quite excellent & the charging time is fairly quick. I wish the touch functions had a few more options as the ones it does have I don’t use that often. Despite the numerous shortcomings of the Pi7, I still give it 4 out of 5 stars primarily for it’s remarkable sound quality. For the right person, absolutely recommended, even for the price.
Ohanaman –
THE BREAKDOWN:
This Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 earbuds sound amazing if you get a good tight seal.
Let’s start with the underwhelming features, first I have large hands and it is difficult to remove the earbuds from the case. Second, the battery life is limited to five hours with another 16 from the case with the ability to charge wirelessly. I was able to hit the 5-hour mark on battery life consistently even with noise canceling. The last thing that is lacking with this product is the ability in the app to tweak your sound with an equalizer.
So, for all the things that I found simply amazing! The sound quality is top notch with dual 9.2mm dynamic drivers and integrated amp. They support aptX Adaptive with allows for up to 24-bit/48KHz. One of the coolest features of the Pi7 S2 is the charging case doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter. So, if you have a device that doesn’t support Bluetooth you can use the USB-C to 3.5mm adapter to plug the case into the device and put in your earbud and viola your in business. One the first things that come to mind when thinking of this feature is on a flight. The Bluetooth range is about 82 feet which really isn’t bad.
The active noise cancelling isn’t bad, but it isn’t the best. I feel as if it does a good job at low and mid sounds, but the higher end sounds seem to creep in.
PRO’s:
– Absolutely stunning sound quality
– Solid build and premium design
– Charging case doubles as a Bluetooth receiver
– Good Bluetooth range
CON’s:
– Average Active noise cancellation
– Pricey
– Battery life
SUMMARY:
Overall, this product worked as intended, and I would recommend this to a friend if they were in the market for an item like this.
JustCuz –
This review is for Bowers & Wilkins – Pi7 S2 True wireless noise cancelling in-ear earbuds.
First thing I noticed was the very nice packaging. It just give you a nice warm feeling inside when a company takes the extra steps in making a well put together packaging. This box could take a lot of ruff handling with out damaging the earbuds. Open you will find the earbuds, two extra ear size pieces, 3 in all. And two cords. One usb-c and one 3.5mm cord. And some paper work with easy instructions for quick set up. After downloading the app, I was able to pair with the earbud very fast and easy. The earbuds themselves just feel high end, they have a little bit of weigh to them. And just feel very sturdy.
The first thing I used these for was phones calls. Which went very well, no one that I talked with could tell that I wasn’t just using the phone. I have a hard time hearing some of my friends when they use other bands of earbud. So this was one of my concerns. I did find the app lacking in options compared to others I have. But the sound quality produced from these earbuds more than make up for that. Just using them around the house the noise cancellation seems to work very well. I cant wait to test these out on my next flight later this week. The included case/charger has kept me up and running for the last 3 days on a single charge and I’m still going strong. I love the feel and look of these. I would highly recommend them when your ready to upgrade.
cad8099 –
I have a B&W headphone already, so I was looking forward to these as well as I love my headphones. These did not disappoint me. I am not a huge fan for earbuds as I have a lump in my left ear that causes earbuds to fall out. Earbuds go into your ear, and then they have the part that is out of the ear that sits in your ear above the ear canal. That part I have a lump so it pushes the part of the earbuds that goes into your ear canal out more.
But with these, yes it still pushes them out, but they still stayed in. They are also comfortable to wear and do a great job with sound and with the noise cancellation.
One future I enjoy using is that you can connect the case to a 3.5mm device that does not have Bluetooth and the case will transfer whatever is playing to the earbuds. Most things today have Bluetooth but at my job, we are not allowed to plug anything into the computers via USB,
or use the Bluetooth to connect to the pc. We are required to do training and sometimes the training has sound. The provide a headset that is not comfortable and does not sound all that great. So, I was glad that I could use these and just plug the case into the 3.5mm headphone jack. and they provide that cord for you as well.
If I had a complaint, it would have been nice to see maybe a small carry case that you could fit the case in and the cords.
These give off a really nice sound for music. I was impressed on how well they sounded given that they are earbuds. l
Overall, if you are looking for a great sounding earbud that also has a good noise cancellation, and you can use with devices that require you to have to plug into the device like a laptop or desktop that does not have Bluetooth, then these are what you are looking for.
HoMi3 –
Bowers & Wilkins presents these 2nd generation in ear headphones which look similar to the 1st gen if I am being honest. For those looking for HiFi audio, these for sure nail the audio quality really well. I’ve been able to compare tracks from services like Tidal and YouTube Music. If you pick these up you must have some sort of HiFi service to take advantage of the sound quality. Please consider these for the audiophile in your life, you won’t regret it.
These headphones allow for you to listen to music just like the artist intended for it to be heard. There are no audio EQ adjustments in the Bowers and Wilkins mobile app. You can only toggle noise cancellation, the passthrough and amount of passthrough allowed, and your connected devices. This allows for not only ease of use for those just looking for the best sound but no fuss having to manage audio. I do not mind EQ missing but some others might want to customize to their liking. Overall audio volume is a bit on the low side compared to some other premium competition. Bluetooth connection is great and covers a rather large distance (82 feet). The other cool feature is that you can connect external audio devices to the case via the included 3.5mm to usbc cable to cast audio to your headphones. I consider this useful for when connecting to my record player or watching in flight entertainment.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is good for everyday sounds. It gets a bit bogged down with some other things like vacuums and louder outdoor sounds. Having the 3 external microphones per headphones sure helps mitigate the external sound. For being in ear headphones, they manage the ANC job well. Charging via usbc or wireless pad is great. Battery life is decent, rated for 5hrs with ANC OFF. I tested with a mix and got around that. They are fairly comfortable to wear for extended periods and stay in ear as long as I am sitting up right.
Cons:
– Price
– It has some weird static feedback when first connecting to my Samsung s22+ and I have to manually open the app for the settings to kick in.
– Getting the headphones out of the case takes some getting used to it. Not the easiest for medium sized fingers.
– Very much all plastic feeling but looks good.
– Passthrough audio is only managed via the app.
xKing –
I’ve been using Pi7 earbuds for about 2 years almost every day now and was super excited to try the Pi7 S2 – second generation! What can be added to the exceptional audio quality and powerful noise reduction? Earbuds and charging case look almost exactly the same with the exception of some decorative metal looking band and, of course, a big “wireless” button on the case which allows to plug case into audio source (like airplane entertainment system) and transmit audio wireless to the earbuds! Included USB-C to 3.5mm jack cable is required for that to work so make sure to pack it in your carry on! Single charge is good for about 10 hours of use in a loud environment in my case (gym, yard work, running power tools). Bowers & Wilkins Music app can be used to adjust noise cancelling mode (between Max, Auto and Off) and update firmware. You can also see charge level of both earbuds (just a single indicator for both), but, unfortunately the only way to tell case battery status is by looking at it’s LED (Red – battery low, Yellow – battery half, Green – battery above 3/4).
Overall – it’s an extremely well sounding earbuds, if you value quality audio – it’s a pair for you!
kwebbster –
In reviewing the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 wireless in-ear headphones, I found a wide gap of different issues with these earphones. On one hand, these are probably the best in-ear headphones I have ever heard, with mind-numbing clarity and response. On the other, they are hideously expensive with some kind of glaring issues. They come packaged in a pretty solid box with earbuds, a pretty substantial sized case, Quick Start and Safety Guides and two additional sized eartips. Also included are a charging cable and “Audio Retransmission” cable (more on that in a minute). The B&W app is easily downloaded from your favorite app store, compatable with whatever device you have. The app allows for updating, adding devices and basic control of the earphones. Unfortunately, the touch controls on the earphones are not changeable. The most glaring omission for the touch controls are no volume control and having to go to the app to enable the noise/ambient sound control, which is borderline crazy. Noise cancellation is decent to good at it’s best, but not in the league of other market leaders. The case itself, which is rather significant in size, has charging indicators, a Bluetooth pairing button and wireless charging capability. Despite these rather glaring issues, the B&Ws, with their dual drivers, are some of the best in-ear headphones I have ever heard. Clear highs and decisive lows are impressive, especially with aptX Adaptive for their Bluetooth connection. The case also doubles as a audio retransmission device that allows external devices to be plugged into the case via audio to USB-C cable provided, and be transmitted via the case to the headphones (like airplane jacks or non-Bluetooth devices). This addition is excellent and enables many more sources to be used with the B&W Pi7 S2s. Despite their known issues (which I hope B&W irons out), and stomach churning price, these are some of the best in-ear Bluetooth aptX enabled headphones that I have ever reviewed. If oustanding sound is your main goal, you have found your product!
James –
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are high quality constructed earbuds. They look good and come with their own charging case. The construction is of good material and they don’t feel cheaply made. In the box you get the earbuds, charging case, and USB-C to USB-A cable, and 3 sizes of tips.
The audio quality you get from these are amazing. They produce very rich and clear sound. They have a new design for the antenna which does increase the range. I was able to get more range from these than I did from any of my other earbuds.
Regarding the charging case, it fits well into the pocket and has enough battery power that I was able to charge the earbuds many times over a few days. Other features of the charging case is that you can fast charge and the case supports wireless charging. For those who fly often, the case will allow you to connect it to in-flight audio source and the case will re-transmit the audio to the earbuds. I didn’t have a chance to test that out, but will be using that feature the next time I fly. They also feature noise canceling which works well and doesn’t cause any degradation in audio quality of music or audio books when activated.
These are great earbuds from Bower & Wilkins. The only complaint I have so far is that they don’t fit well in my ear. I tried all 3 sizes of tips, but the fit still isn’t what it should be. I’ve had this type of issue with a few other earbuds in the past so maybe its just the shape of my ear canal. Even with that, I will be replacing my other earbuds with these since I like the quality of sound I get out of these and I like the charging case. If your looking for rich quality audio from earbuds, then I would recommend considering the Pi7 S2 earbuds.
Tweed –
This isn’t my first rodeo with Bowers & Wilkins. I own a set of their over the ear headphones that have the best sound quality and comfort I have ever experienced with any wireless audio device.
That being said, these new Pi7 S2 ear buds are truly amazing. They are the newly updated model of the Pi7. Crisp highs and dramatic lows give these earbuds a great dynamic sound range. The Pi7 earbuds are unmatched if you’re looking for the highest quality sound. The noise cancelling feature is amazing for traveling or working in noisy environments, although not the greatest I’ve experienced. I personally don’t use ANC, and you do get the best sound quality when not in ANC mode. I would consider Bowers & Wilkins an Elite or Premium brand compared to others on the market. It’s a true example of “you get what you pay for.”
They are comfortable in my ear for hours on end although the battery life only lasts about 5 hours. I have used plenty of other brands which get uncomfortable after two to three hours of continuous use. There are a few different sized ear pieces in the box to get the best fit. These earbuds don’t feel chinsy as some other brands can feel. These buds are slightly heavier than their competition but not enough that will make them uncomfortable. They are a bit bulky as well compared to their competitors but how else would you be able to pack such a punch in the sound quality department with microscopic buds? It’s a compromise I’m willing to make!
Albert –
I’m a bit torn in my overall impression of these headphones. I had a difficult time with the initial setup. The pairing button is small and cumbersome to hold down, and it’s not entirely clear that’s needed for first time setup. Most headphones I’ve used open and are already in pairing mode if they’ve never connected to a device, so this was an initial hiccup.
As far as sound quality, I love the way these sound! The sound overall is very rich, and the low tones are much better than most wireless earbuds I’ve used. If sound quality is the only or primary thing you care about, these are definitely worth a listen.
Personally, I use my headphones in a variety of mixed environments, walking down the street, shopping at a store, eating lunch at a restaurant, or trying to concentrate at work. Here is where the first real failure point of these headphones are for me for a few reasons. The noise cancelling is implemented in a way that you can feel/hear yourself walking or moving your jaw, if there’s not also a song playing fairly loudly. I’ve run into this behavior in some but not all wireless earbuds I’ve tried. I don’t know what creates this effect, but it’s off-putting and since some headphones seem to have solved for it, I’m not willing to accept it as a failure of the technology.
Another feature important to me is pass through, that is the ability to hear the world around you and easily switch between that and noise cancelling. I’m often wearing headphones when someone walks up to me and asks me something, or I change locations to where I need to be more aware of my surroundings, so the ability to easily toggle between noise cancelling and pass through is a key requirement for me personally. While the headphones are designed to allow pass through by holding the left earbud for 1 second, my results with this have ranges from mixed to poor. When I get it to work, the pass through audio quality is bad and feels unnatural. It’s the kind of tinny, over-mic’d pass through experience I got from headphones years ago that’s greatly improved (from some brands) over those years. I was in a restaurant yesterday using these headphones and turned on pass through to make sure I heard my waitress when she came to my table, the restaurant sound was amplified so much and with a tin like quality to the point where I had to take one of the earbuds out instead. The app does allow you to adjust for the level of pass through you get, but there are no audio filters to tune out various types of sound as I’ve seen in other headphones.
Another thing worth mentioning is the case for the earbuds. The earbuds magnetically connect to the case and are held pretty strongly in the case, almost too strongly. This one is a bit of a trade off because I have other earbuds that just fall out of the case if the case drops to the floor, but these can be difficult to remove from the case due to how smooth the outside of the earbuds are and a strong magnetic connection. I’m willing to accept this as the lesser of two evils and deal with it, but perhaps an easier way to remove the earbuds from the case could improve the design. The case itself is larger than the 2 other brands of wireless earbuds I love using. It’s not so large that I can’t fit it into my pocket, but I find it a bit awkward in size if I’m not wearing cargo shorts. It’s not a dealbreaker, and I’ve had earbuds in the past with cases so large it was a dealbreaker, but I still would prefer a slimmer case that’s easier for travel if that’s something they could consider for future design. I understand there’s a trade off with case battery life, but I’d personally take a case with 24 hours of charge time that realistically is going to last me several days or longer over a larger case with 36 or 48 hours of charge time.
I will still be using these headphones when I’m in a more secluded place where I want to focus on listening to audio, but these won’t be my go-to for day to day use.
If you are looking for headphones primarily for audio consumption in environments where passthrough performance isn’t a significant concern, I can safely recommend these headphones. I’d give them a solid 5 stars for audio quality.
However, for me personally, these leave a lot to be desired, despite the great audio playback. Some things like passthrough could be improved with software and firmware updates in the future but in their present state, these won’t be my go-to daily headphones I carry with me. Because they don’t fit my primary use case; I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a blanket recommendation without knowing the specifics of how someone would need to be using them.
Cheeze –
Unbeatable sound! I loved the sound and fit. I returned the product because I really needed volume control and multi-point connection as well as a bit longer battery life. Additionally, I listen to my music at about 80% volume and the battery drained dramatically. I thought I could get past not having those features, but after two weeks I decided to return them.
Chappy –
The buds sound great! Having owned the Pi7s1s and Px7s2s, i am not at all disappointed with the quality of them. The buds sometimes struggle to connect upon pulling them put, only one will connect randomly and such, but once you get them connected they work flawlessly, theyre well worth the buy.
LuisM –
Outstanding sound and fit, superior in every way to Bose.
Redbmw45 –
I I wish I still had them but I don’t so somebody stole them out of my work truck this they probably tried the pawn them for 20 bucks not realizing what they had in their hand these were an excellent pair of earbuds can’t say enough about them when I was on the phone you could definitely hear me and did not have any other problems well thanks for stopping by and checking out this review I still had them
picpaul –
Background on typical usage, airline pilot, many deadheads and commutes. These are the 4th BW’s I have owned.
I find these are marginal.
The good, once you get a good ear seal the sound is excellent, on a par with over the ear PX7 S2’s.
The bad outweighs this.
Case is pretty low quality build, weak plastic.
The noise cancelling is subpar.
Battery life is around 3-4hrs. I do a lot of transcon’s and longer flights. Not long enough for those.
Biggest deal breaker? I am running off a Sony NWA-55. These will not connect via AptX HD or Adaptive. Only AptX so the sound is a noticeable degradation from the more advanced codecs. Repeated contacts to BW support and was told it is an issue with the Sony source. However, I also run PX7 S2’s and they work flawlessly with the advanced AptX codecs and my Sony, so I disagree.
These could be really good if they would address the above issues, but until they do, I am sticking with the PX7 S2’s and gonna unload these.
Cheers!
FrancisD –
I like the sound of it also how far i can walk away from my phone good sound quality
PeterG –
There are 2 things that stand out about these earbuds, 1, The fits is amazing i have always avoided this style of bud as i felt it would feel like they were going to fall out, but these are amazingly comfortable and i am fairly sure they will never fall out. 2, The sound is out of this world if you want to add a new dimension to your music these will deliver that and some
Danial –
Besr sound youll ever hear. Beats everything else. But for me? I just dont like noise canceling im weird about that.
Awesome –
I owned this set for 2 years, unreliable connectivity, app never works as intended. Super finicky when you want to use only one earbud. The price is not worth your money. A set of $70 dollar headphones are worth way more then these.
SaileshTheTechie –
I dont recommend these ear buds with the wah its functioning. Some critical area of concerns are the HFP festure which enables the ear uds to act as mic and headphones is not consistent and looks like a broken experence. The noise cancellation is good but the buds are weird uncomfortable to wear on and use. The aesthetics looks good in the pictures but feels really cheap and very ordinary. The cost for the buds is not justified when xompared to apple airpods. The app to configure the device is also not upto the mark. Here are few things that could help if B&W work on enabling the swift pairing with windows and finerune the call control for the earbuds with any host OS like android or IoS mac windows or linux will give it an edge. The only acceptable thing is the pride of owning B&W device but cannot use it to show-off … please do not waste your money on this
Tyler –
Best sounding ear buds i have used compared to previous ones, they fit in the ear pretty well never fell out while waling or running, but my biggest concern is the build quality, mostly plastic just like others but the case isn’t the strongest, like many people I dropped them out of my pocket and the case has popped out of its socket and was dislocated, but gladly just popped back in with some pushing. Only concer other then that magnet is pretty strong wont fall out on its own. 8/10
MariaG –
Okay overall. Constsnt disconnect feom.phone is the major issie with them
Alby –
Some connectivity issues. Good sound. Ok noise cancelling.
CooperS –
I use these almost everyday to block out noise while studying, gaming, and listening to music, and sound was the main factor for me, and these went above and beyond.
Xicor –
So overall these are perfect for when it comes to sound quality, if you seek loud over quality sound go with Sony, but if you are okay with sacrificing a little noise cancelling because you want quality then these are perfect! Overall I totally recommend