[clerkpalmer]

I wanted to add a question as a potential B&W PI7 Buyer: Watching a YouTube video review, it seemed like the case allows higher bit rate/resolution than transmitting from a source directly to the earbuds? Can anyone clarify for me?

Yes and no. If you aptx adaptive on your phone you can get hi res via regular streaming. Otherwise the YouTube video was correct. You can use the case to bridge any source including hi res files like tidal. The case transmit via bluetooth to the phone at a higher bitrate than AAC or Aptx. So if you want hi res and don’t have aptx adaptive, use the case as a bridge.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Actually reading up on this, now I’m confused. This has been reported widely however in researching this it says the case to buds transmit via aptx LL which would not in fact be hi res. Can anyone clarify?

 

[alsorkin]

Actually reading up on this, now I’m confused. This has been reported widely however in researching this it says the case to buds transmit via aptx LL which would not in fact be hi res. Can anyone clarify?

Directly from the B&W support person last week the case will transmit APEX HD.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Directly from the B&W support person last week the case will transmit APEX HD.

Thanks. Phew. Although I’ve come to not trust customer support as often they have no clue. That seems pretty specific though.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Thanks. Phew. Although I’ve come to not trust customer support as often they have no clue. That seems pretty specific though.

Does it seem strange that the buds can receive aptx hd from the case but not a phone?

 

[C_Lindbergh]

Directly from the B&W support person last week the case will transmit APEX HD.

But then you should have quite some latency when streaming from a PC or TV?

 

[alsorkin]

But then you should have quite some latency when streaming from a PC or TV?

No latency observed from my Sony Bravia TV headphone plugin.

 

[clerkpalmer]

But then you should have quite some latency when streaming from a PC or TV?

I trust what alsorkin was told but I need to get to the bottom this. AptxLL makes more sense to me than AptxHD given the use case. Also I struggle with why they have enabled AptxHD on the buds but then limit it to the case only. That does not make any sense. If they can receive AptxHD from the case they should receive it from any device. The only sources I found say aptx Ll. Has anyone tried to force AptxHD on these?

 

[clerkpalmer]

No latency observed from my Sony Bravia TV headphone plugin.

This suggests it is using aptx LL then. HD has high latency.

 

[alsorkin]

I trust what alsorkin was told but I need to get to the bottom this. AptxLL makes more sense to me than AptxHD given the use case. Also I struggle with why they have enabled AptxHD on the buds but then limit it to the case only. That does not make any sense. If they can receive AptxHD from the case they should receive it from any device. The only sources I found say aptx Ll. Has anyone tried to force AptxHD on these?

I suggest you call B&W support to get answers on this

 

[clerkpalmer]

I suggest you call B&W support to get answers on this

I will but in my experience with customer support with other consumer audio companies they are often misinformed and or just wrong. This is pretty technical. I’ll see what I can find out but it’s probably beyond the skill set of the average customer rep.

 

[clerkpalmer]

I will but in my experience with customer support with other consumer audio companies they are often misinformed and or just wrong. This is pretty technical. I’ll see what I can find out but it’s probably beyond the skill set of the average customer rep.

Trusted Reviews is quoting that they support AptxHD as a stand-alone codec. Seems like lot of confusion.

Erockg have you tried to force AptxHD?

 

[clerkpalmer]

This is from PCMag:

“The charging case then streams whatever you’ve connected—such as an airplane jack, a computer, or an old MP3 player—in aptX Adaptive quality (up to 24-bit/48kHz) to the earphones.”

so we have heard LL, Adaptive and HD. Lol.

 

[alsorkin]

Trusted Reviews is quoting that they support AptxHD as a stand-alone codec. Seems like lot of confusion.

Erockg have you tried to force AptxHD?

I found B&W customer support to be more technical believable than typical.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Well we have an answer. I emailed the B&W rep listed on the press release. He just responded that it is indeed AptxLL between the case and the buds. This is a major bmmer. It was nice of him to respond on a Sunday. My excitement level is subdued. No hi res support which was the only real excuse for the battery life.