Bowers & Wilkins’ Pi8 Earbuds are 2024’s Sound Quality Champions
There's no shortage of competition when looking at premium noise-cancelling earbuds. Here, you've got rivals from the serious audio brands going up against Apple's AirPods, Samsung and Google, often at much higher prices than you'd expect in-ear headphones to cost.
Price doesn’t always equal perfection, of course. But then you try a contender like the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, and the investment makes sense. These are some of the best buds we've ever used for stunning sound quality, a comfortable fit and an optimised design.
The British hi-fi brand is known for its high-end audio gear, and it's clear it has pulled out all the stops here. The sound is rich, detailed, and immersive. And the new look? They're sleek, comfortable, and thoughtfully upgraded from the previous model.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Refined Design
Let’s talk design first. Compared to their predecessors, the Pi7 S2, these new Pi8s are subtly slimmed down and more compact, with a charging case that’s easier to slip into your pocket.
The case, by the way, isn’t just for charging. It also works as a wireless audio transmitter, so you can connect it to gym equipment or an inflight entertainment system, and stream in high quality straight to your Pi8s.
The earbuds themselves are designed with comfort in mind. They’ve got a subtle stability wing and softer materials that keep them snug in your ears without feeling like they’re glued in. We’ve worn these through long commutes and full workdays without noticing them – and they come with four ear tip sizes to help get you the right fit no matter the size of your ears.
The controls are simple and intuitive, too. While you can’t customise them fully, the default setup is easy to get used to: tap to play, pause, or skip tracks (two taps to go forward and three to go back), and hold to toggle noise-cancelling modes (on the left side) or summon your voice assistant (on the right).
And we love that Bowers & Wilkins hasn't stuck to only the usual black or white colours of "luxury" products. Sure, our pair is the classic black, but the other colours – Midnight Blue, Jade Green, and Dove White – are all just as appealing.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Levelled-up Sound Quality
But let’s get to what you're here for: the sound quality. This is where the Pi8 earns its high-end status, and it's also where there's such a meaningful step up over the Pi7 S2.
Bowers & Wilkins is famous for its smooth, refined sound – and these earphones deliver. They’ve ditched the dual driver setup from the last model and now have 12mm “Carbon Cone” drivers using the same material from B&W’s 700 Series loudspeakers and flagship PX8 over-ear headphones.
You don’t have to worry about the jargon and specs, though, just know that they sound sensational. The soundstage is wide and detailed, so you can pick out every instrument and vocal nuance. Whether you’re listening to a podcast, a classical symphony, or rock anthems, the Pi8 brings out the best in everything. We've thrown on everything from the best soundtracks to some Daft Punk, Phoebe Bridgers, Coldplay or Lorde – these elevate every single track.
What about noise-cancelling? The Pi8 does a fantastic job. It’s not quite at the level of the Bose QuietComfort buds, which are the gold standard for ANC, but it’s close enough. The Pi8 effectively drowns out background noise, whether it’s the low hum of our train in the morning or background chatter at a restaurant. And thanks to the improved fit, the passive noise isolation is excellent, which means the ANC doesn’t have to work overtime.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: All The Extras
One of the Pi8’s standout features is the charging case that doubles as a wireless audio transmitter. It's ideal for frequent flyers or anyone who wants to get wireless sound from an analogue source like a CD or vinyl player.
Just plug the case into the source, and it sends the audio directly to your earbuds in high quality – it also works for getting high-res music out of an iPhone 15 that wouldn't typically support those codecs.
Battery life is solid, though not groundbreaking. You’ll get about six-and-a-half hours of playback with ANC on, and the case provides an additional 13.5 hours. That should be plenty for most people.
If you run low, a quick 15-minute charge will give you another two hours of listening time. The case supports both wireless charging and USB-C, so recharging is convenient too.
It's also worth mentioning how much we like the sleek companion app with integrated streaming services and an equaliser to tweak the sound, and that these have multipoint to stay in touch with two devices at once – handy if you’re juggling a phone and a tablet.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Verdict
Overall, it's hard to think of any major downsides. If you’re serious about sound quality and willing to invest in elevating your listening experience, they're absolutely worth it.
At £349, the Pi8s are firmly in the luxury category, but they also deliver in every way that counts. For music lovers, these are the new earbuds to beat.
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