Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and Pi6 True Wireless Earbuds

[m4rkw]

I just didn't like the sound signature of the Pi8. To me they lacked bass, I tried a whole bunch of different music and they just sounded bright, there was a lot of detail but it wasn't very enjoyable. The Pi7 S2s blew me away from the first moment but the Pi8 were just meh. At this kind of money I expect to be wow'd.

 

[jthomp72]

I just didn't like the sound signature of the Pi8. To me they lacked bass, I tried a whole bunch of different music and they just sounded bright, there was a lot of detail but it wasn't very enjoyable. The Pi7 S2s blew me away from the first moment but the Pi8 were just meh. At this kind of money I expect to be wow'd.

It’s definitely got a little less of the extremely thick thumping sub bass, but it traded that off for a lot more clarity, but you’re not the first person. I’ve heard say that they preferred the oomph

 

[Jazz1]

Given that your literal profile picture is the Pi7 S2's lol I think you came into this with your mind made up, which is fine. Because the bass is huge on these, and the ANC is mid but not weak to most reviewers. Comfort is subjective so I'll give you that, but having owned both I find the Pi8 is a far superior product to the Pi7 S2.

Well too my ears the Pi8 sound a little better to this “non-bass head”. But of course others will prefer the Pi7 S2. I’ll have to do more of a longer comparison just for fun before one of my kids get the benefit of another hand-me-down headphone. . They already think I’m crazy with all my headphones!

 

[m4rkw]

I agree that they sound a lot more detailed, I just didn't like the sound signature enough to justify the expense. My APP2 sound good enough and have orders of magnitude more convenience, ANC that actually works etc.

Of course it probably doesn't help that most of what I listen to at the moment is 128kbps youtube rips which are themselves taken from cassette tapes recorded in the 90s XD but I did try them out with some proper quality music too

 

[zevedeos]

I agree that they sound a lot more detailed, I just didn't like the sound signature enough to justify the expense. My APP2 sound good enough and have orders of magnitude more convenience, ANC that actually works etc.

Of course it probably doesn't help that most of what I listen to at the moment is 128kbps youtube rips which are themselves taken from cassette tapes recorded in the 90s XD but I did try them out with some proper quality music too

Finally just got the pi8, for sure the sound signature has been changed, i am bass lover and i loved the bass in 7 but this is not the point, for my needs i have to test the whole new packet, meaning fit, feeling, funcionality and of course sound. I will be back for a full review comparing to pi7's

 

[PaulGrinny]

Ok I got these today and found them very underwhelming. When I got the Pi7 S2 previously they blew me away from the moment I put them in my ears but somehow the Pi8 didn't. Yes there's more detail than my airpods but somehow it's just not very enjoyable, they're quite bright and seem to lack bass. Even with the EQ boosting the bass there wasn't much there. Also didn't find them very comfortable, the controls were a bit clunky and unreliable, the interruption to music when switching between ANC/transparency was annoying as hell. ANC is also weak. Out of the box only one side worked and I had to factory reset them to get them working which didn't bode well. Given B&W history I don't expect any software updates ever.

For £350 I don't think they're worth it. Sticking with my APP2.

Have you tried different ear tips ? To get more bass ?

 

[zevedeos]

Have you tried different ear tips ? To get more bass ?

The fact is that the sound profile of B&W for the ear-buds has been changed, the new one is brighter and louder, this means more clarity, more details but less bass, the buds no more forgive the bad recordings as may pi7 did, however the buds get more features and seems that has been solved a lot of functionality issues. So it's not only the sound, it's the whole packet.

 

[zevedeos]

Just spent the last few hours trying the PI8s with the Azla Sednaearfit Max ASMR tips and they work great. I like the shallower fit of the Azla Max ASMR tips vs stock but they are also wider so I seem to get a better seal and they are more comfortable to me. Obviously this can vary person to person but figured I would post this in case anyone is looking for alternative tips.

Edit: in case it isn't obvious, just want to clarify the tips pictured are the stock PI8 medium tips that cone preinstalled (left) vs. AZLA Sednaearfit Max ASMR size M (right).

what about the sound with these tips? i just get pi8 coming form pi7 and i am not really sure if i like the new sound profile, i feel that i got a perfect fit with original tips but if there is a chance for sound improvement maybe i give a try.

 

[TK33]

what about the sound with these tips? i just get pi8 coming form pi7 and i am not really sure if i like the new sound profile, i feel that i got a perfect fit with original tips but if there is a chance for sound improvement maybe i give a try.

Fit was great for me. Maybe a little better isolation. I tried playing with the EQ a bit and pretty much ended up in about the same place. Would assume whatever change you hear between specific tips and whether or not you like such change would be specific to you. I have been happy with using the Azla tips instead of the stock tips. I use them on multiple TWS and those tips fit me well.

 

[jthomp72]

Fit was great for me. Maybe a little better isolation. I tried playing with the EQ a bit and pretty much ended up in about the same place. Would assume whatever change you hear between specific tips and whether or not you like such change would be specific to you. I have been happy with using the Azla tips instead of the stock tips. I use them on multiple TWS and those tips fit me well.

Has anyone figured out what comply tips work with these? I kinda wanna try some foam on these but can’t figure out which ones to buy lol

 

[astrafiles]

Received Pi8 yesterday. No dropouts so far. Very stable connection paired with Sony Xperia 1 VI. Runing aptX Adaptive 96 kHz. Very happy with the sound, simular to Px8. The sound opened up after a couple hours use.

Hello !

So as Qualcomm makes it so difficult to follow.... Have you been able to confirm if Sony Xperia VI has the Aptx Adaptative version with Lossless ?
The management of the codecs by all these companies are just ridiculous.
Apple with their Aac, Samsung with SSc, Sony that gives LDAC free of license to Phone manufacturer but licenses the Earphones manufacturer, Qualcomm that enhances their codecs but make it quite impossible to reach or know what they deliver at the end of the day...

 

[zevedeos]

Hello !

So as Qualcomm makes it so difficult to follow.... Have you been able to confirm if Sony Xperia VI has the Aptx Adaptative version with Lossless ?
The management of the codecs by all these companies are just ridiculous.
Apple with their Aac, Samsung with SSc, Sony that gives LDAC free of license to Phone manufacturer but licenses the Earphones manufacturer, Qualcomm that enhances their codecs but make it quite impossible to reach or know what they deliver at the end of the day...

After searching for more info between the aptx lossless compatibility i found out that it's not for granded if both phone and buds support aptx lossless you always have stable this kind of codec, you can start listening with lossless and then downgrade to adaptive or the next codec phone support. I don't know if it's good idea to buy a phone just for this codec support. The only sure is that ios aac is the worst of all, noticible difference even comparing to simple aptx.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Ok I got these today and found them very underwhelming. When I got the Pi7 S2 previously they blew me away from the moment I put them in my ears but somehow the Pi8 didn't. Yes there's more detail than my airpods but somehow it's just not very enjoyable, they're quite bright and seem to lack bass. Even with the EQ boosting the bass there wasn't much there. Also didn't find them very comfortable, the controls were a bit clunky and unreliable, the interruption to music when switching between ANC/transparency was annoying as hell. ANC is also weak. Out of the box only one side worked and I had to factory reset them to get them working which didn't bode well. Given B&W history I don't expect any software updates ever.

For £350 I don't think they're worth it. Sticking with my APP2.

Lol. Absolutely not "bright" unless you have a defective pair.

 

[zevedeos]

Lol. Absolutely not "bright" unless you have a defective pair.

if you are familiar with the sound signature of pi7s yes the first thing you realize when you put pi8 in your ears is the brightness, this new profile is ungorgivable with bad recordings.

 

[jthomp72]

Lol. Absolutely not "bright" unless you have a defective pair.

Yeah, they are not bright by normal headphones standards, but they are definitely bright compared to a lot of the B&W house sound tuning