The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless are the next generation of the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless and are premium truly wireless headphones. Like their predecessor, their carrying case acts as a wireless transmitter when connected to a device via one of the two cables included in the box. This is a pretty unique feature, as it allows you to connect them to devices like a gaming console or in-flight entertainment, which otherwise don't support Bluetooth. They also support aptX Adaptive codec, which is nice if you want to stream high-quality audio or reduce latency, and they have a noise cancelling system (ANC) to help block out background noise around you. Unfortunately, their continuous battery life falls short of other high-end buds like the Apple AirPods Pro 2, and they aren't very customizable.
Our Verdict
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are okay for neutral sound. They have a pretty bass-heavy sound profile, which muddies vocals and instruments. Sibilants like cymbals are also dull and lispy. Unfortunately, even though they have an app, it doesn't offer any sound customization features to help you adjust them to your liking. They also have an in-ear design, which means that their soundstage isn't very immersive. On the upside, they deliver bass and treble very consistently across reseats.
- Stable and decently comfortable in-ear fit.
- Outstanding frequency response consistency.
- No EQ.
- Closed-off soundstage.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are good for commuting and travel. These buds have a decently comfortable fit and have an ANC system. They do a decent job of cutting down the rumble of bus and plane engines but do a better job of reducing ambient chatter. With their ANC on, they have under four hours of continuous battery life, which won't last through long flights without a recharge. Luckily, their carrying case supplies an extra three charges if you need it.
- ANC does a great job of blocking out background noise.
- Stable and decently comfortable in-ear fit.
- Sub-par battery performance.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are very good for sports and fitness. These buds have a small and portable design that makes it easy to take with you on the go. Their decently comfortable fit is also stable once locked into your ears, and they're certified IP54 for resistance against dust and water splashes.
- Sturdy, with IP54 rating for water resistance.
- Stable and decently comfortable in-ear fit.
- Closed-off soundstage.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are fair for office use. These decently comfortable earbuds can block out chatty coworkers and the hum of AC units, thanks to their ANC system. They also don't leak much audio at high volumes, so you can crank up the audio to your favorite tunes without bothering others. However, the buds have a short continuous battery life, so you'll need to recharge them throughout the day. They also don't support multi-device pairing, so you can only connect to one device at a time.
- ANC does a great job of blocking out background noise.
- Stable and decently comfortable in-ear fit.
- Sub-par battery performance.
- No multi-device pairing.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are Bluetooth headphones. While you can connect them to your PC or consoles using their case as a wireless transmitter, this connection only supports audio, so you can't use their mic. In addition, they have high latency using the wireless transmitter, which can cause lip sync issues while gaming.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are truly wireless headphones. While they have a wired-to-wireless transmitter case, their latency is too high for games. You also don't get any mic support when using the earbuds via a wired connection to the case. That said, you can connect them to consoles and PCs for audio.
- High latency.
- No mic support when wired.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are just okay for phone calls. Overall, their integrated mic offers a mediocre overall performance. Although your voice is still intelligible, it sounds thin and lacking body. Unfortunately, the mic has trouble separating your voice from background noise, so you'll need to take calls from a quiet place if you want to ensure that you're heard clearly. On the upside, the buds have an ANC system that blocks out a great amount of background noise so you can focus on your call.
- ANC does a great job of blocking out background noise.
- Mediocre overall mic performance.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 05, 2024: This review has been updated to remove the Wired Connection box for consistency with other similar products, like the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 True Wireless which has also been mentioned for comparison. The Wired verdict box has also been updated to reflect the wired connectivity.
- Updated Mar 08, 2024: The Bluetooth Connection section has been updated to discuss the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 True Wireless and aptX Lossless.
- Updated Nov 17, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Devialet Gemini II True Wireless in Bluetooth Connection.
- Updated Nov 02, 2023: The following test groups have been updated following TB 1.6: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 come in three color variants: 'Satin Black', 'Midnight Blue', and 'Canvas White'. We tested the 'Satin Black' model and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are the next iteration of the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless. These premium and high-end buds are unlike other buds on the market as their carrying case acts as a wireless transmitter, allowing you to connect them to devices that otherwise don't support Bluetooth. They also have an ANC system, and while they don't block out quite as much ambient noise as the Bose QuietComfort Eardbuds II Truly Wireless, they still do a great overall job of cutting down ambient noise. However, for all their extra bells and whistles, they aren't very customizable, and their battery life is shorter than the Apple AirPods Pro 2.
Check out our recommendations for the best true wireless earbuds, the best earbuds and in-ear headphones, and the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are slightly better earbuds than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless. The Apple headphones offer features like seamless pairing with your other iOS devices as well as Spatial Audio to help give you a more immersive sound. They're also more comfortable. Their ANC can block out background noise, and they have a better overall battery performance. However, the Bowers & Wilkins support aptX Adaptive, which is nice if you want to stream high-quality audio or lower latency, and their carrying case doubles as a wireless transmitter.
The Denon PerL Pro True Wireless are better than the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless. Both are premium earbuds designed for sound quality, but the Denon can stream higher-resolution audio with the aptX Lossless codec. They give you more options for customizing the sound profile, including a personalized EQ feature and a graphic EQ. Otherwise, they have a longer battery life and support multi-device pairing. However, the Bowers & Wilkins' case acts as a wireless transmitter, granting them extra versatility since they can receive audio from Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Their noise isolation is also much better.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless are the next generation of the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless. Both buds have a premium design, bass-heavy sound profiles, and great noise isolation performances. Just like their predecessor, the S2's carrying case also acts as a wireless transmitter, so you can connect them to devices that otherwise don't support Bluetooth. That said, the S2 have an improved battery performance and now support aptX Adaptive, which allows you to stream high-quality audio or keep lower latency, depending on your content. However, the first gen support aptX-LL, which is designed primarily to lower latency for streaming video.
Depending on your preferences, you may enjoy either the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless or the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 True Wireless. While both buds have a premium design and are decently comfortable, the Sony have a more customizable sound, a virtual soundstage support for a more immersive sound, and their battery performance is significantly better. However, the Bowers & Wilkins block out more ambient noise and their carrying case also doubles as a wireless transmitter.
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