New Products

Bowers & Wilkins today announced two hi-res-capable wireless earbuds designed by the engineering teams that developed the brand’s Px7 S2e and Px8 over-ear headphones.

Hailed as a reference-quality set of earbuds, the new Pi8 (shown) is priced at $399 and will be followed up in early September by the slightly smaller Pi6, which will sell for $249. The new models will replace the existing Pi7 S2 and Pi5 S2 earbuds.

Both are equipped with active noise cancellation (ANC) based on a proprietary algorithm designed to cancel as much unwanted noise as possible without impacting the musicality of the performance and Qualcomm wireless transmission for improved stability and reliability. Both also support aptX Adaptive Bluetooth for 24-bit/96-kHz high-resolution sound and are water resistant with an IPX54 rating.

The flagship Pi8 adds aptX Lossless and features upgraded DAC, DSP, and amplifier components and has 0.5-inch (12mm) carbon cone drivers that borrow technology developed for B&W's award-winning Px8 over-ear headphones. The Pi6 has bass and treble controls, while the Pi8 adds a five-band equalizer for more control over the sound. The Pi6 drivers are the same size but made of bio-cellulose and based on technology used in the Px7 S2e over-ear headphones.

Extensive Bowers & Wilkins research into the variation in human ear form across gender and ethnicity led to the ultimate shape and form factor of the Pi6 and Pi8. The result is exceptional comfort and seal in the ear, according to the company.

Both models also benefit from improvements in setup and user experience. Multipoint Bluetooth pairing uses upgraded antennas, enabling the earbuds to be quickly paired with a second device without being removed from the ears. Made for iPhone (MFI) support ensures seamless integration with iOS devices and onboarding into the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. Google Fast Pair (GFP) support is expected to follow soon after launch.

Bowers & Wilkins has also improved the user interface. The top of each earbud has a large capacitive surface with more advanced sensors to improve the responsiveness and reliability of touch-based interactions. The new design also repositions antennas and microphones within the earbud to avoid accidental blockage of signals, while a new IR proximity sensor provides more reliable and responsive sensing.

Charging cases have also been reshaped to make them slimmer and easier to slip into a pocket. In addition, the Smartcase supplied with the flagship Pi8 retains support for both wireless charging and the Wireless Audio Retransmission technology introduced in the Pi7, which allows listeners to retransmit audio at 24-bit/96kHz quality to their earbuds wirelessly from connected analog or digital sources, such as in-flight entertainment systems, home computers, or the latest generation of USB-C-enabled iPhones.

Other improvements made to both models include carefully positioned microphones to reject unwanted external noises during voice calls. The Pi6 is built around the same noise-rejection platform used in the outgoing Pi7 S2, while the Pi8 adopts the technology found in the flagship Px8 over-ear headphones.

Rated battery life for the Pi6 is up to 8 hours per charge with ANC on plus an additional 16 hours via the charging case. The Pi8 battery life is 6.5 hours, owing to its upgraded DSP/DAC, plus an additional 13.5 hours from the charging case. Both models have a rapid 15-minute recharge mode that provides 2 hours of listening time.

The Pi6 will be offered in Storm Grey, Cloud Grey, Forest Green, and Glacier Blue, while Pi8 is offered in Anthracite Black, Dove White, Jade Green, and Midnight Blue. For more information, visit bowerswilkins.com.