Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
They ’re expensive , but B&W ’s experience with gamy - death hi - fi ensures that the Pi8 earbuds allow first-class sound timber . It also includes an innovative ‘ bright ’ charging case that can act as an aptX transmitter for Apple equipment and cable audio source .
Best Prices Today: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
It ’s been quite a few years since Apple devices stopped supporting the mellow - quality aptX codec ( compressor / decompressor ) that is now used with many Bluetooth phone and earbuds . That ’s credibly due to Apple ’s long - running – and seriously expensive – legal battle with Qualcomm , the company that buy the aptX technology back in 2015 .
Whatever the reason , this mean that Apple ’s AirPods have to rely on the older AAC codec for Bluetooth audio , even though many audiophiles sense that aptX provides better profound quality – especially for listening to the high - Re audio format that are now usable on Apple Music and other streaming services . It also means that owner of Macs , iPhones and iPads , do n’t always get the best character when using headphones and earbuds from other manufacturers that do endorse aptX ( such as ourBest Wireless Earbuds ) .
The Pi8 earbuds from Bowers & Wilkins do support AAC , so you’re able to only connect your Apple devices to the earbuds using the standard Bluetooth configurations on your Mac , iPad or iPhone . However , the Pi8 also supports both aptX Adaptive and the latest aptX Lossless , so Bowers & Wilkins has come up with an innovative solution that allows Apple user to enjoy aptX audio calibre as well .
Rather than a conventional charging case , the Pi8 include a ‘ smart ’ case – first introduce with its Pi7 earbuds a few age ago – that can charge the earbuds , but can also be used as an aptX transmitter as well . Admittedly , the $ 399/£349 cost tag of the Pi8 is even more expensive than the AirPods Pro , but B&W ’s high - lineament speech sound and the various impudent vitrine ensure that the Pi8 can earn its keep .
The Pi8 also gets a complete redesign , with a more curved soma to the earpieces that is design to fit more comfortably , and also to angle the sound directly into your ear canal to attain the best sound calibre . The earpieces are still a lilliputian on the large sizing , but B&W does admit ear - tips in four sizes to help you get a dear scene . The size of the earpieces also allow for them to house a new set of high - quality 12 mm drivers , which are larger than those used in many earbuds , along with a large stamp battery as well . The Pi7 could only last for five minute on a individual charge , even when noise - cancellation was turned off , but the Pi8 now hold out for 6.5 hours with interference - cancellation turned on ( compared to six hours for the AirPods Pro ) , while the impudent charging case lets you top that up to a sum of 20 hours .
And , as mentioned , B&W ’s smart face has another big advantage – one that we ’ve never project with Bluetooth earbuds from any other maker . As you ’d expect , the USB - C port on the back of the smart case can be used to recharge its intimate battery . However , it can also be used to have a wired audio input from a variety of different devices , and can then act as an aptX transmitter so that the earbuds can receive gamey - quality wireless audio teem via the smart lawsuit .
Bowers & Wilkins includes two cables with the Pi8 – a standard USB - C cable television and a 2d cable with a 3.5 millimeter connector – which furnish a routine of useful features . The 3.5 mm cable let you to connect the smart case to a pumped up audio gimmick , such as an in - flight amusement system on a aeroplane , or even a disk turntable if you ’re a vinyl fan . you may also use the USB - C cable system to connect the smart case to a USB - atomic number 6 port on a Mac , iPhone or iPad and then use the case to transmit wireless audio to the earbuds using aptX rather than plain old AAC .
The heavy quality is swell with both AAC and aptX , though , and the Pi8 works a goody with the high - Ra version of Come Together by the Beatles on Apple Music . The bland bass part riff in the introduction pull you in straight away , with a firm , recondite sound , and the Pi8 hold the sustained notes so that they work up up the tenseness before dipping down and glide along with a really infectious musical rhythm . This variant is also mixed for Dolby Atmos , and there ’s a skillful signified of campaign as Ringo ’s pleximetry vamoose lightly from side to side , but then the Pi8 rolls up its sleeves as it heads into the chorus and lands the chopping guitar riff with real power .
We do recall that the noise - cancellation on the AirPods Pro forge a little better at blocking high - frequency sound , such as the wide-ranging brouhaha and interference of a meddling airport . However , the Pi8 does a really good Book of Job of eliminating low - frequency sounds , such as the rumble of engine disturbance in an plane cabin , so it will still be a good choice for prospicient journeying by train or plane . And , if you do n’t really vex about technological particular such as AAC and aptX , then B&W is planning a less expensive role model called the Pi6 , which will omit the smart case and costs around $ 249/£219 .
Should you buy Bowers & Wilkins Pi8?
The gamy price of the Pi8 earbuds means that they will mainly invoke to audiophiles who desire the best potential sound quality . They do sound dandy , though , and the power to use the smart charging case as an aptX transmitter for Apple devices and electrify audio systems is a genuine innovation .
