Want to chime in with my 2 cents about Pi8.
My current and reference headset is the Bathys (Focal). I love how it sounds, however, particularly in summer, it really bakes my ears
So I was looking for an alternative IEM portable NC alternative.
I had the 1000XM5, but they were not up to the task - the comfort was horrible with the stock earbuds, as well as the sound.
So I ordered and tried out the Pi8 and AZ80s.
I ended up returning both, and here's why:
I returned AZ80s because, although they were the closest to the Bathys as far as sound signature (with Treble+ EQ present, and taking into account the obvious soundstage disadvantages of IEM vs over ear) - they also had excellent NC and transparency modes - I couldn't wear them more than a couple of hours without developing pain in my antihelix - no matter how I positioned it, it pressed to much on my antihelix (my ear is on the small size). I was kind of bummed because the sound was amazing for an BT TWS IEM, and would really have made me give up the Bathys for the aforementioned practicality advantages.
The Pi8 however were quite a shock. First off, I was happy that the comfort was MUCH better than the AZ80, for ears like mine (Smaller) - I felt no pressure on the antihelix.
And this is where the GOOD news END. The NC and transparency were absolutely inferior to the AZ80 - but I didn't care about it that much - I wanted to be happy with the sound. Unfortunately, the sound was shockingly more "mainstream" and congested compared to the AZ80.
I'll try to explain it as plain as possible: both with the EQ on "true sound" (which I assume is some sort of pure direct), or with different boosts on high mids, the sound was very boomy, much more closed in (much narrower soundstage) and overall more compressed than the AZ80. I was not expecting it. The only good thing was that on stock EQ, the highs were a bit more sparkling on the Pi8, but the AZ80 reached satisfactory highs with Treble+ preset. Also, the Pi8 is definitely louder (but that's not a + in my book)
Overall, the sound of the Pi8 is obviously tuned to be more "commercial" or "mainstream" vs the AZ80 - but it's also more narrow and "dark" - definitely less of an audiophile type tuning than the AZ80.
If you like it, be happy with it, but if you are more inclined to something more hifi/audiophile (like Focal tuning or even CampfireAudio - I used to own the Dorado 2020), the AZ80 is much much more close to what you want.
The difference in price is even more glaring when you consider the extra functionality, transparency and NC are much better than AZ80. Just mind the comfort on the antihelix if you have small ears.
