Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2

Verdict

One other high-quality listening expertise with an enchancment felt when it comes to consolation, however there are nonetheless areas the place the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 fall wanting the cheaper competitors.

Introduction

After ready a number of years for Bowers & Wilkins to launch its first true wi-fi within the Pi7, it has taken solely two for the model to observe it up with the Pi7 S2.

They substitute the predecessors and match up with their over-ear siblings in supporting Bowers’ Music app. That’s together with a couple of enhancements similar to a tweaked design, new finishes, and longer battery life.

In any other case, they’re the identical true wi-fi earphones with audiophile sensibilities. However the market hasn’t stood nonetheless for the reason that Pi7 debuted, so has B&W’s newest earphone exceeded expectations or is it taking part in a sport of catch-up?

Design

• Extra comfy than the unique
• New colors
• Sturdy water resistance
• Not the tightest match

Bowers hasn’t seen match to alter a lot concerning the design however on the floor of issues, nicely, the floor has modified.

The fabric that cushions in opposition to the inside ear is noticeably smoother. With the unique, I discovered its arduous floor typically induced a uninteresting ache over longer durations however that feeling of discomfort is decreased with the Pi7 S2.

Although consolation ranges are improved, these nonetheless aren’t one of the best match, and neither do they provide the tightest seal. Whereas a change to an even bigger ear-tip led to higher consolation ranges and a safer match, the Pi7 S2 nonetheless had a behavior of coming free strolling about, and that may negatively influence the noise-cancellation and audio.

Water-resistance is rated at IP54 (buds solely), just like Jabra’s Elite earphone vary, and it goals to repel splashes of water and defend in opposition to low ranges of mud.

There’s no change to the contact controls, that are saved easy when it comes to inputs and have the identical tactile really feel to them. The case is similar too: curved, compact and pocketable.

What has modified are the color choices with Midnight Blue (this pattern) becoming a member of white and black variations. The blue model appears terrific – these stay some of the trendy earbuds in the marketplace.

Options

• Beneath common battery life
• Excessive-res audio help
• Wonderful name high quality

Bowers say it has boosted the battery life over the unique from 4 to 5 hours however that’s not the complete story. That quoted determine is with noise cancelling off, and there’s one thing unusual occurring with the battery life ranges too.

Two hours streaming a Spotify playlist introduced the earphones all the way down to 54%, which signifies you’ll get little greater than 4 hours with noise-cancelling on. What’s odd is the best way the battery life depletes. On three events I famous it dropped to the low eighties earlier than leaping again to the nineties. I can’t say I’ve seen that behaviour earlier than.

General, there’s 21 hours of cost (16 within the case) and that’s with noise-cancelling off. All you get is an additional hour of battery life over the unique Pi7, which is a meagre acquire. Quick charging (quarter-hour for 2 hours), and wi-fi charging are supported.

Wi-fi codecs embody SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-HD, aptX-LL and aptX-Adaptive, and also you’ll solely discover the aptX variants appropriate with Android units. The Adaptive model helps 24-bit/48kHz audio resolutions and has the added aspect of adjusting the bitrate so the connection doesn’t collapse in busy sign areas.

I’ve discovered the wi-fi efficiency to be very robust – very similar to Bower’s over-ear headphones such because the Px8 – with solely minor stutters encountered at Waterloo and some sparkles in different areas.

The PI7 S2 additionally help 24-bit/48kHz transmission between every earbud, making these one of many few Hello-res audio succesful buds in the marketplace. The one shock is that Bowers didn’t see match so as to add help for Snapdragon Sound, however I think about it’s not as straightforward so as to add because it was to write down that sentence.

The Pi7 S2 observe the over-ear siblings in shuffling to the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. That is the corporate’s new house for its wi-fi audio system and headphones, with companies similar to Tidal and Qobuz built-in straight into the app.

The format is nice, largely involved with curating music playlists for customers to take pleasure in. By clicking on the cog on the backside, entry is supplied to settings, although choices are few with the means to regulate the ANC, transparency mode and toggle the damage sensor on and off. Customisation can also be skinny, with not even the means to alter the controls or EQ supplied. This gives the look of a inflexible and managed expertise.

Opening the app can, every so often, trigger a quick stutter when music is taking part in, which is equivalent to what occurred with the previous app. One other curio is how the ANC settings work.

There may be Adaptive, On and Off settings to select from, which is smart, however what doesn’t is there’s no solution to change between noise-cancelling and transparency modes on the earbuds themselves. Until I’ve missed one thing, the one methodology to decide on the transparency mode is by opening the app. I couldn’t even change between the three modes, as holding the contact floor solely jumps between the chosen ANC mode and off. In case you have it set t ‘On’, you may’t change to ‘Adaptive’. I discover that unusually unintuitive.

For what it’s value, the noise-cancellation is efficient however reliant on reaching match, sustaining its seal (which isn’t all the time the case) and tweaking the quantity. Utilizing them within the bustling centre of Amsterdam and evaluating them in opposition to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, the Pi7 S2 weren’t as profitable in dismissing noise. I may nonetheless hear individuals and autos, and whereas they weren’t loud sufficient to distract, I used to be nonetheless conscious of what was round me reasonably than sinking right into a bubble of isolation.

Worn on an airplane, at Ikea and on a number of practice journeys, I encountered the same vibe. The Pi7 S2 present stable suppression in opposition to persistent and ambient sounds however voices and normal exercise nonetheless handle to interrupt by means of. Bowers would doubtless preserve the road they don’t need the ANC to unduly have an effect on the music efficiency, however at £349 a pop I’d anticipate extra.

The PI7 S2’s charging case retains the audio retransmission function the unique. Join the USB-C-to-3.5mm cable supplied within the field to the charging case and plug it into something that has a 3.5mm jack, and audio is routed by means of the case to the earbuds.

It stays a intelligent concept and works with little to no latency watching YouTube movies on my laptop computer. It’s matched (otherwise you may say pinched) by the cheaper LG Tone Free UT90Q, however I couldn’t get the function to work on the UT90Q it doesn’t matter what I did, whereas there have been no issues with the Pi7 S2 in any way.

Name high quality is great. Having carried out two calls on totally different days, the individual on the opposite finish of the road mentioned they couldn’t hear a lot background noise at a busy meals market I used to be milling in. My voice got here throughout as clear although I did have to boost the quantity to listen to them throughout noisier moments.

Strolling on busy roads and never a lot noise was heard on their facet both. They did point out when it did get loud my voice went excessive pitched, and anybody who is aware of me is conscious my voice is as removed from excessive pitched as you will get.

Sound High quality

• A refined, slight heat presentation
• A large, detailed soundstage
• Wealthy treble efficiency

So much can change in a few years, however there was little motive for Bowers and Wilkins to alter something the place the sound was involved. The unique was one of many increased high quality listening experiences within the true wi-fi market and the Pi7 S2 takes on the baton.

There don’t look like any modifications made, and any I do hear might be put all the way down to the assorted ear-tips used. The buds’ character hews to the identical musical method as its predecessor. They’re not involved with being flashy or excitable and are personified by a way of refinement with no matter tune passes by means of the 9.2mm/balanced armature drivers. I wouldn’t describe them as a impartial listening expertise, as there’s a slight heat and richness all through the frequency vary.

That maybe robs them of some dynamic heft and influence, however there’s no doubting these are a fluid, musical and fascinating hear. Ashley Henry and Makaya McCraven’s Darkish Honey (4The Storm) includes a wealthy replica of the trumpets, McCraven’s fast drumbeats are delivered with good tempo, and the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 sustain with the rhythm with out coming throughout as muddy.

Rhythmically they’re greater than adept, accelerating to a tune’s tempo or downshifting when referred to as for. The cymbal crashes aren’t the crispest of their definition, the Pi7 S2 are usually not notably sharp or brilliant however the devices on the high finish of the frequency vary are simply recognized, informative and richly showcased. The midrange is house to voices which are easily described similar to Shara Zoe Ahmed Gure’s vocals within the Darkish Honey monitor, Kendrick Lamar’s rap in United in Grief or Lenny Kravitz’s in Fly Away.

Bass carries weight, although to not excitable quantities. The Pi7 S2 are usually not earbuds to get recklessly carried away however with TNGHT’s Greater Floor streamed on Qobuz there’s punch that helps solidify the decrease frequencies, moreso for those who’re utilizing the bigger ear-tip. However it’s not nearly punch, the Pi7 S2’s bass is diversified and textured which helps to explain quite a lot of tracks and genres.

The soundstage is described in pleasingly broad phrases, and there’s a way of scale and expansiveness that immerses. You’ll need to companion these earbuds with a high-quality music subscription to get one of the best audio attainable.

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