Earbuds need to check a lot of boxes to win my dollars these days. And these new Pi8s from Bowers & Wilkins come close to perfection. Not only do they meld industrial design with high-quality sound and active noise cancellation but they happen to be comfortable enough to wear for work, play and travel. Dig a little deeper into the advanced audiophile handbook and you’ll find that they utilize a Qualcomm technology called aptX Lossless, which compresses, then decompresses sound so that it will sound better via Bluetooth.
I received a pair of Pi8 earbuds to review a few months back from the British audio company, and since then, they have been my go-to headphones for everything but working out. And with Bowers & Wilkins’ choice of David Beckham as model and spokesperson, style is most definitely being pushed to the forefront, as well as the obvious substance. But, of course, there is some bad news: These are not for the budget-minded. Yes, at $400, they are quite the splurge. But are they worth it?
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds are an upgrade from the previous Pi7s. Not only do they look more like jewelry than headphones but they offer comfort, excellent sound quality and a smart wireless charging case that even transmits audio to your earbuds from any in-flight entertainment system.
What I liked about them
The design is top notch
I have worn and reviewed a whole heck of a lot of headphones and earbuds in my over two decades of writing about technology. And many times, comfort, quality and design do not come wrapped in the same package. One of my favorite parts of these Pi8 earbuds is how gorgeous they are, both in the case and in my ears.
Bowers & Wilkins are not afraid of color. Like Beats by Dre, who make our favorite workout earbuds, the brand understands the siren call of stepping out of the proverbial black box when it comes to consumer tech. Though I originally got the Pi8s in Anthracite Black, they also come in a muted Dove White, a rich Midnight Blue and my all-time favorite (maybe for any headphone I’ve ever seen), the Jade Green, which I received toward the end of my testing. The fact is, these are not your dad’s earbuds, and I couldn’t be happier.
The wireless charging case (more about that later) is rectangular with rounded edges, presented with a muted matte texture and emblazoned with the company’s name in a contrasting tone to whichever color you choose. Open it up and you’ll find what at first glance looked to me more like a pair of earrings or cufflinks in a shiny enamel. They’re snazzy in black to be sure, but the green is breathtaking. (Beckham agreed, naming them his favorite color at the brand’s launch event in New York City.)
The earbuds themselves are engineered to fit comfortably in your ear, with a shape that’s even more curved than the previous iteration, and four different-sized ear tips (they come with Medium but you can choose from Extra Small, Small and Large). Just stick them in your ear and twist to tighten. Not only did I find the experience incredibly easy, with the Medium a perfect fit, but I was never worried that they would fall out during my long walks, commutes or Zoom meetings. I stuck to my Beats Fit Pro for working out because I like their wings and heavier water resistance. Plus, these almost seem too classy to wear to the gym.
The smart wireless charging case
Wireless charging is one of those small features that end up being a huge help. I love being able to plop my earbuds directly onto a Qi-certified wireless charging pad instead of having to always hunt down a USB-C cord to plug it into (though that’s still an option).
But the real showstopper here is the retransmission capability, which allows you to plug one of the two included cables (USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to 3.5mm) into the case and into whatever source you’d like to listen to — like the aforementioned in-flight system — then listen to the audio sans wired headphones. It’s quite a neat little trick and one I plan on taking full advantage of next time I fly. It also saves you from having to spend money on a Bluetooth adapter, like the popular AirFly Duo.
Battery life is fine. The earbuds will offer about 6.5 hours, and the case adds a few more charges. I’d say I got about 18 hours total.
Top-notch audio quality and controls
For $400, you should expect excellent audio quality — and you will be rewarded. The Pi8s use oversized 12mm Carbon Cone drivers to deliver clear, balanced sound. On the run up to my weekend at September’s Sea. Hear. Now. festival, I binged on everything from the folksy blues of Grace Potter to the funk and horns of Kool & the Gang to everything that is Bruce Springsteen. And with each genre, I was able to pick out and listen to all the nuance and detail of the distinct voices and many different instruments. I also obsessively listen to podcasts and audiobooks, and was pleased with how precise and sharp all the voices came through, even when I chose to hear my surroundings with the Pass-Through switched on.
The earbuds offer a stunning level of EQ controls, which you can adjust in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. Here you can also choose your level of noise cancellation, though you can just tap the left earbud’s capacitive touch surface to switch from ANC to Pass-Through. Tapping the right earbud will activate whatever voice control you’re using on your phone.
Reliable for calls and meetings
Each earbud comes with three microphones, which are carefully positioned for better noise cancellation. I took them to the supermarket, coffee shops, on the New York subway, to the office and out for windy walks in Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is perched on the East River. I did feel that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 both have slightly better ANC — the subway rumble and chatter on the Monday evening Trader Joe’s line was a little louder than expected with the Pi8s — but I never had a problem hearing people on calls and nobody ever complained that they couldn’t hear me.
What I didn’t like about them
The price
Frankly. $400 is a lot to pay for headphones. Yes, they are gorgeous and they sound great, but you can nab the new Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 earbuds for $250, and they even come with two extra hours of battery life. No, they won’t have the same Carbon Cone technology or the smart case retransmission, but you’ll still get an excellent sound experience and upscale design for $150 less.
Bottom line
There’s no doubt that competition is tough when it comes to high-end earbuds, with products from Sony, Apple and Bose topping our favorite list. But with these new, premium Pi8 earbuds, Bowers & Wilkins successfully combines superior sound, geek-worthy EQ controls and stunning design in a way I have not seen before. Throw in the unexpected smart case, which will let you stream in-air audio without an extra set of wired headphones, and you have an elegant and clever audio product that rises above its competition.
No, a $400 pair of earbuds is not for everyone, but if you are willing to spend this kind of cash, they are an excellent consideration. Plus, with the holidays coming up, they may be a generous gift for both men and women looking to upgrade their audio game — and their sense of style.