Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and Pi6 True Wireless Earbuds

[PaulGrinny]

I think they are too bright and sibilant with "open tips". You need a filter in the tip, with some density to avoid the sibilance.
This is from a 55 years old guy with hearing up to about 13-14khz.
I use the Comply Foam TW-170-A tips in medium, with the Techdefender. Size wise, they are like a ML compared to the original M.

With the foam tips, the Fiio BT11, Apple Lossless and the EQ settings I use (see the attached pic), I really love the sound of the Pi8s!

I didn't hear the Pi7s, so I'm afraid I can't contribute to the discussion of which is better...

Just ordered tips, I use Fiio M11 plus Ltd DAP and Apple Music, thanks for the advice

 

[zevedeos]

The complaint about poor recordings seems misplaced. Modern TWS aren't designed for critical listening or poor recordings so no one should be surprised on this. 99 percent of the planet streams music from iTunes etc. Ive never had a tws that sounded good with older or poor recordings.

Well said.

 

[zevedeos]

The complaint about poor recordings seems misplaced. Modern TWS aren't designed for critical listening or poor recordings so no one should be surprised on this. 99 percent of the planet streams music from iTunes etc. Ive never had a tws that sounded good with older or poor recordings.

Well said.

with pi7 i could rarely found differences between apple music and spotify, with pi8 in some recordings it’s obvious! make sense cause the fancy dark bass dsp of pi7 buried the details.

 

[zevedeos]

The complaint about poor recordings seems misplaced. Modern TWS aren't designed for critical listening or poor recordings so no one should be surprised on this. 99 percent of the planet streams music from iTunes etc. Ive never had a tws that sounded good with older or poor recordings.

Well said.

with pi7 rarely i

It's not possible in either the Fiio- or B&W app to see the exact codec quality. The BT11 just lights up green, that stands for "Adaptive/Lossless".
Edit: It never lights up at any other color than green, if that was your question (so never downgraded to aptX or aptX LL).

I bought the BT11 at Geekwills.

2 more questions plz, is bt11 drains the iphone battery and how about the fit of
comply tips are they stable? stay at the ear as the original tips?

 

[BigZ12]

Just ordered tips, I use Fiio M11 plus Ltd DAP and Apple Music, thanks for the advice

Don't ki.. me if you don't like the tips.
I like them, better than all in my collection (the originals, some different Spinfits, JVC Spiraldots, Final E, Sony etc) but ears are soo different.


PS, you have to "click" them on. I thought the short stems didn't fit when I tried the first time, so you have to press a little extra to fasten them.

 

[BigZ12]

with pi7 rarely i

2 more questions plz, is bt11 drains the iphone battery and how about the fit of
comply tips are they stable? stay at the ear as the original tips?

Haven't used it enough to comment on battery drain yet.

I feel the Comply tips are more stable than the original. But as I said in my last post, ears are very different. I don't know if they will fit you the same.
I also have a ok fit with the originals, but I feel M is a little too small, and L are too big. That's why I wanted to try the Comply Foam tips...

 

[PaulGrinny]

Don't ki.. me if you don't like the tips.
I like them, better than all in my collection (the originals, some different Spinfits, JVC Spiraldots, Final E, Sony etc) but ears are soo different.


PS, you have to "click" them on. I thought the short stems didn't fit when I tried the first time, so you have to press a little extra to fasten them.

Haha I won’t blame you, if not for me I send them back and try another pair

 

[MrBrogath]

These very shallow flanged tips are working really well for me, soundwise. They tone down the sibilance and boost the bass just a touch. Oddly enough, these have never worked on any other IEMs or earbuds I've owned, so I'm glad I finally found a use for them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B6TW2X62

 

[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).

Decide to order azla but i have to be sure about the size, from original tips i use the large one so i guess i must choose the L size, right?

 

[TK33]

Decide to order azla but i have to be sure about the size, from original tips i use the large one so i guess i must choose the L size, right?

Unfortunately I can't help you there as each person's ear is different and tip rolling is really trial and error. I used medium for both stock and Azla so L may be the right place to start but you really need to try it for yourself. You will also notice dimensions are slightly different even among different Azla lines. You should be able to find the measurements for each eartip online.

 

[zevedeos]

Unfortunately I can't help you there as each person's ear is different and tip rolling is really trial and error. I used medium for both stock and Azla so L may be the right place to start but you really need to try it for yourself. You will also notice dimensions are slightly different even among different Azla lines. You should be able to find the measurements for each eartip online.

did you tried other tips from Azla such as crystals?

 

[TK33]

did you tried other tips from Azla such as crystals?

Yes, I have tried different Azla tips for different TWS and IEMs and have had to purchase different sizes of the same tip to find the one that works for my ears. They are all different shapes and sizes. You can see what I have in my profile and you can find the measurements online. Crystals are more like IEM tips than the short tips you often find on TWS. Material is different too (Crystals are a bit sitffer/stickier). Max tips have a filter, whereas the Crystals do not, are shorter/shallower fit and have a much softer silicone so I find them more comfortable. I even have the Max ASMR tips on my Shure SE846 wired IEMs (using included adapter) and they have been fine.

 

[zevedeos]

Yes, I have tried different Azla tips for different TWS and IEMs and have had to purchase different sizes of the same tip to find the one that works for my ears. They are all different shapes and sizes. You can see what I have in my profile and you can find the measurements online. Crystals are more like IEM tips than the short tips you often find on TWS. Material is different too (Crystals are a bit sitffer/stickier). Max tips have a filter, whereas the Crystals do not, are shorter/shallower fit and have a much softer silicone so I find them more comfortable. I even have the Max ASMR tips on my Shure SE846 wired IEMs (using included adapter) and they have been fine.

i've decided to order asmr L size because i use only the L size of B&W tips (pi7 and now pi8) believe i get good fit because the bud in the left ear when i am running loose it's fit. I hope not have any issues with the case.

 

[Methos777]

I will admit I was hating on these before I got them. I just believe in hyped-up products for some reason. But I couldn't have been more wrong on these. This is the first Bluetooth earphone that lives up to the realm of Audiophiles in my opinion. I can't believe how rich and accurate things are. Nothing is left out and nothing is added, just like the Bowers and Wilkins direction. It doesn't contain any unnecessary gimmick stuff and just flat-out delivers in sound, timbre, soundstage, imaging, and layering on all fronts. It has become my favorite Bluetooth earphone I've ever experienced in my life. I absolutely love all genres on this earphone including Asmr, podcasts, audibles, and even movies. The details in the mids, and treble are so pinpoint and the bass is always delivering on the exact layering and strength the song was designed for. I also especially love the quality material the unit is made from. I have no doubt that these will last me for many years to come.

 

[disastermouse]

I will admit I was hating on these before I got them. I just believe in hyped-up products for some reason. But I couldn't have been more wrong on these. This is the first Bluetooth earphone that lives up to the realm of Audiophiles in my opinion. I can't believe how rich and accurate things are. Nothing is left out and nothing is added, just like the Bowers and Wilkins direction. It doesn't contain any unnecessary gimmick stuff and just flat-out delivers in sound, timbre, soundstage, imaging, and layering on all fronts. It has become my favorite Bluetooth earphone I've ever experienced in my life. I absolutely love all genres on this earphone including Asmr, podcasts, audibles, and even movies. The details in the mids, and treble are so pinpoint and the bass is always delivering on the exact layering and strength the song was designed for. I also especially love the quality material the unit is made from. I have no doubt that these will last me for many years to come.

It’s a pretty fun sounding IEM, ngl