Bowers & Wilkins PI7

[zevedeos]

It’s a noticeable improvement over aac on an iPhone. Well worth the 30 bucks to get the most out of your 400 buds.

Actually it’s 60$ for both adapters to have aptx hd in the iOS but if you want to bring the best possible sound with pi7 and iPhone this is the only way. Hoped eq from B&O served the same or better sound but the first reviews are quite heartbroken.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Actually it’s 60$ for both adapters to have aptx hd in the iOS but if you want to bring the best possible sound with pi7 and iPhone this is the only way. Hoped eq from B&O served the same or better sound but the first reviews are quite heartbroken.

True although you should be able to find a cck adapter on Amazon for less than the apple tax version. I don’t see the B&O being better than the pI7 in terms of sq but I haven’t heard them. The best alternative would be the Devialet Gemini. 300 and sound is damn excellent.

 

[scubaphish]

True although you should be able to find a cck adapter on Amazon for less than the apple tax version. I don’t see the B&O being better than the pI7 in terms of sq but I haven’t heard them. The best alternative would be the Devialet Gemini. 300 and sound is damn excellent.

I think they may be referring to the ddHifi TC28i…unique L shape tax

 

[TK33]

Well, hoping third time a charm. New set, much higher serial number. I don’t think these buds like draining to 0 battery; goes into what looks like hardware failure. Maybe just so low on battery that’s what it shows.

That said, AAC connection is super strong. AptX HD seems strong, too. Side note, the “losing signal” noise is much harsher from AptX than AAC. My first foray into AptX so maybe this is normal. Or maybe it’s the creative dongle.

I think I love the sound on these things

I reached out to them as well again since I have been having to do factory resets to get these to reconnect or transmit audio even if connected (no sound on one or both sides even if phone shows they are connected). Hope the new PI7s work better for you.

 

[scubaphish]

I reached out to them as well again since I have been having to do factory resets to get these to reconnect or transmit audio even if connected (no sound on one or both sides even if phone shows they are connected). Hope the new PI7s work better for you.

That’s not right at all. They were pretty responsive to me…even worked with me over the phone when it went into hardware failure. Good luck!

And thanks! Should be getting my Final Type E TWS tomorrow, too. Excited to hear what difference those make.

 

[Jazz1]

Can anyone recommend third party, foam cushions for the IP7. Also does anyone make a protective case for the battery charging case? I did just now make an inquiry to a company that makes leather goods, and makes iPod battery case protectors with a fantastic metal clip. I'll let everyone know what I learn. Is there is interest, IP7 lovers? Let me know. Probably not a big market opportunity I suppose.

The perfect irony would be to use a custom, leather IP7 battery case with Apple AirTags

 

[TK33]

That’s not right at all. They were pretty responsive to me…even worked with me over the phone when it went into hardware failure. Good luck!

And thanks! Should be getting my Final Type E TWS tomorrow, too. Excited to hear what difference those make.

Please let us know what you think about the tips. I like their shallower fit vs. Spinfits for these.

Dropped my PI7s back in the mail today. They are going back for another replacement. Hopefully third time is the charm. Based on the labels on the boxes, I think both of PI7s I had were manufactured early on before release so hoping some of the newer ones are better. Have to give B&W North American customer support credit...I sent them an email yesterday and got replies today (multiple emails exchanged today). Very impressed with their responsiveness so far.

 

[TK33]

Can anyone recommend third party, foam cushions for the IP7. Also does anyone make a protective case for the battery charging case? I did just now make an inquiry to a company that makes leather goods, and makes iPod battery case protectors with a fantastic metal clip. I'll let everyone know what I learn. Is there is interest, IP7 lovers? Let me know. Probably not a big market opportunity I suppose.

The perfect irony would be to use a custom, leather IP7 battery case with Apple AirTags

For foam tips, @hjf54 mentioned some Comply tips a few pages back.

Post in thread 'Bowers & Wilkins PI7' https://www.head-fi.org/threads/bowers-wilkins-pi7.952402/post-16478716

 

[scubaphish]

Please let us know what you think about the tips. I like their shallower fit vs. Spinfits for these.

Dropped my PI7s back in the mail today. They are going back for another replacement. Hopefully third time is the charm. Based on the labels on the boxes, I think both of PI7s I had were manufactured early on before release so hoping some of the newer ones are better. Have to give B&W North American customer support credit...I sent them an email yesterday and got replies today (multiple emails exchanged today). Very impressed with their responsiveness so far.

I’m liking the finals so far. They have a very large nozzle hole allowing full driver exposure. Just wish they had a multipack so I could have tried the medium. I’m testing them using AAC since it’s just more realistic use case given iPhone is my default. I’ve got the BTW3 but it’s not something to walk around town with. Expecially since I get more sound hiccups using it.

Really glad you also had a good experience with B&W service desk. Good luck.

 

[johnston21]

I've found that the Dekoni 4.9mm (really low profile) and the Symbio F's are good foam tips for the iP7's, though the Symbio's are just a bit too long for the case to be shut firmed. The Dekoni's allow the case to be fully closed.

 

[scubaphish]

I've found that the Dekoni 4.9mm (really low profile) and the Symbio F's are good foam tips for the iP7's, though the Symbio's are just a bit too long for the case to be shut firmed. The Dekoni's allow the case to be fully closed.

Thanks for heads up on Dekoni, not familiar. I tried the symbios and couldn’t get a good seal

edit: I read too quickly, I tried the symbio W. Interesting wrt F

 

[Karlis]

A question for you guys that are obviously more technical than me: if I want higher SQ via my iPhone without buying the Creative-dongle - is there any way that I can play via the case? I have tried with a lightning to USB-C cable but it does not seem to work - it will not play. When I play via the case on the PC I get APT-X (USB-C) and via the TV/older Ipad (headjack to USB-C) I get APT-X LL.

Another thing. I must say that the wear sensor on those are absolute crap. When it is turned off in the app and the master is taken out of the ear the music still stops in both but also continues to play in (only) the master after a while (not putting them close together). I am on my second pair and have had the same issue with both. Does anybody know if this is solvable via firmware or if it is a permanent defect? It would be great if the buggy wear sensor could be turned off completely so that I could choose when to stop/start the music myself.

One thing that I found regarding connectivity. I have read that some here have issues with only one of the two headphones connecting when they are taken out of the case: do not close the lid before you hear the connecting sound - that at least solved the problem for me.

 

[scubaphish]

A question for you guys that are obviously more technical than me: if I want higher SQ via my iPhone without buying the Creative-dongle - is there any way that I can play via the case? I have tried with a lightning to USB-C cable but it does not seem to work - it will not play. When I play via the case on the PC I get APT-X (USB-C) and via the TV/older Ipad (headjack to USB-C) I get APT-X LL.

Another thing. I must say that the wear sensor on those are absolute crap. When it is turned off in the app and the master is taken out of the ear the music still stops in both but also continues to play in (only) the master after a while (not putting them close together). I am on my second pair and have had the same issue with both. Does anybody know if this is solvable via firmware or if it is a permanent defect? It would be great if the buggy wear sensor could be turned off completely so that I could choose when to stop/start the music myself.

One thing that I found regarding connectivity. I have read that some here have issues with only one of the two headphones connecting when they are taken out of the case: do not close the lid before you hear the connecting sound - that at least solved the problem for me.

I wasn't able to get it to work playing from iPhone to case either. I wonder if it's because the earphones are already paired via bluetooth, and therefore doesn't see case? Not sure, as it works from iPad. I've only ever gotten AptX to work personally.

As for wear sensor issues, yeah, there's always a primary and secondary no matter what. you can change which is primary by taking it out of your ear, putting in case, and then secondary connects after a few seconds and becomes primary. Thats how I even out the battery drain over time. Not sure there's any way around that primary/secondary set up.

Your last note is interesting...I thought that was an artifact of primary/secondary also; if you take secondary out first (usually left one, unless it was primary recently) it wont connect until you take out other one. I'm going to try leaving case open. Thanks

 

[Karlis]

I wasn't able to get it to work playing from iPhone to case either. I wonder if it's because the earphones are already paired via bluetooth, and therefore doesn't see case? Not sure, as it works from iPad. I've only ever gotten AptX to work personally.

As for wear sensor issues, yeah, there's always a primary and secondary no matter what. you can change which is primary by taking it out of your ear, putting in case, and then secondary connects after a few seconds and becomes primary. Thats how I even out the battery drain over time. Not sure there's any way around that primary/secondary set up.

Your last note is interesting...I thought that was an artifact of primary/secondary also; if you take secondary out first (usually left one, unless it was primary recently) it wont connect until you take out other one. I'm going to try leaving case open. Thanks

Thanks for the reply. I have tried with the bluetooth off on the iPhone. Unfortunately, it does not seem to recognize the case. Works like a charm with any other device.

 

[scubaphish]

Thanks for the reply. I have tried with the bluetooth off on the iPhone. Unfortunately, it does not seem to recognize the case. Works like a charm with any other device.

I got it to work from phone. I was using an Apple lighting to usbc cable and no dice. I just plugged a usbc to usbc cable into the adapter I got for the creative dongle and it recognizes the case in AirPlay destinations. Streaming AptX