About the B&W Pi7 S2
B&W's flagship earbuds make a strong musical connection
The B&W Pi7 S2 true wireless earbuds play music wirelessly via Bluetooth and offer adaptive noise cancellation.
B&W's flagship earbuds make a strong musical connection
The first-generation Bowers & Wilkins Pi7s offered top-tier noise cancellation for earbuds. That hasn't changed with the Pi7 S2 and neither has the pristine sound. Instead, B&W addressed the main quibble I had with the originals — there's a stronger built-in antenna for a better, more reliable Bluetooth connection.
It helps ensure that you can enjoy everything else that makes these wire-free in-ears so special. They sport a sleek design, stay-put fit, and serve up clear sound that's rich in dynamics. Plus, the sophisticated noise-canceling technology that uses six built-in mics to adjust to external sounds in real time.
An air travel game changer
I used the original Pi7s on my direct flight last year to Chicago for the AXPONA audio show and they were so convenient. These earbuds cancel noise as well as some of the best over-ear noise-canceling headphones and take up way less space. You'll get more battery life from over-ears, but Pi7 S2 earbuds offer five hours of battery life — enough to cover a short flight.
When they need more juice, just snap the earbuds into the included charging case. The pocket-sized case packs up to 16 hours of power to recharge the earbuds. And just 15 minutes inside the case gives you two hours of playback with noise cancellation.
Convenient touch controls and mobile app
Music plays wirelessly from your phone via Bluetooth 5.0, a newer version of the popular wireless technology. You can pair to two devices at the same time — which is helpful in the home office. Touch or tap either earbud to control music, calls, noise cancellation and more.
And the optional Bowers & Wilkins Music app will give you further control of the sound and noise cancellation, right on your phone. The app is available as a free download for Apple® and Android™.
You get 5 hours of listening with noise cancellation on a full charge, and the charging case banks up to 16 hours of power.
Dual-driver design for precise, well-rounded sound
The Pi7 S2 sound was developed and tuned by the sound engineers responsible for B&W's flagship 800 D3 loudspeakers. Inside each earbud, there's a combination of two drivers, each driven by its own dedicated amplifier. One is the same powerful 9.2mm dynamic driver found in their PI5 S2 earbuds and the other is a balanced armature tweeter to cover the upper-mids and highs.
I was particularly struck by the imaging — and how the size of the soundstage seemed to adjust based on the song. On some tracks the presentation felt more intimate, on others more spacious. But because of precision and sense of space, there was always a tactile depth and layering to what I was hearing, beyond what you might expect from a set of true wireless earbuds.
Add Bluetooth to any device with a headphone jack
B&W thought of a handy travel hack — the charging case can double as a wireless audio transmitter. A USB-C to stereo mini cable is included. It helps connect the case to in-flight entertainment, a laptop, or anything else with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Then, the case sends audio signals wirelessly to the Pi7 S2 earbuds via Bluetooth.
I tried this out one night and watched a show on a computer without Bluetooth built in. It worked seamlessly for me. I was worried that it might be hard to sync up with no screen involved, but I pressed the button on the case and the earbuds paired right up.
Ear tips stay firmly in place
In-ear headphones are only as good as their fit. And with noise-canceling headphones, a proper sound-isolating seal is half the battle. These earbuds lock into place with a slight twist, and simply did not budge as I moved my head around. B&W includes three sizes of soft, flexible ear tips to ensure a snug, secure fit.
Product highlights:
- 100% wire-free headphones
- outward-facing antenna for strong, reliable wireless connection
- Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless music listening and phone calls
- aptX® Adaptive automatically adjusts to prioritize audio quality or low latency, depending on the listening situation
- aptX HD decoding provides high-quality music streaming from compatible device
- multi-point connection for pairing to two devices at once
- IP54 waterproof design from premium materials
- aluminum housings and accents with satin finish
- charging case features a Bluetooth transmitter to send audio wirelessly to earbuds
- USB-C to 3.5mm analog miniplug cable connects case to a laptop, stereo, or in-flight entertainment system
- case sends audio wirelessly to earbuds
Audio performance features:
- hybrid dual-driver system inside each earpiece
- 9.2mm dynamic driver tuned for clear mids and extended bass
- balanced-armature driver for detailed, precise vocals and highs
- two built-in amplifiers inside each earpiece
- high-grade wireless connection between left and right earbud for proper stereo imaging
Adaptive noise cancellation and controls:
- advanced noise-canceling circuitry to minimize external noise
- designed to preserve listening experience by not interfering with audio quality
- six-mic system helps monitor external sound and automatically adjust noise cancellation
- noise cancellation level is manually adjustable
- touch controls on each earbud for noise cancellation, music playback, and calls
- "ambient pass-through" turns off noise-canceling so you can hear your surroundings
- access Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri using the button on the right earbud
- Bowers & Wilkins Music app for adjusting noise cancellation and sound (free download for Apple® and Android™)
Charging case and battery info:
- built-in rechargeable batteries offers 5 hours of listening with noise cancellation
- carrying case banks up to 16 hours of power to wirelessly recharge headphones
- 15 minutes inside case provides enough power for 2 hours of listening with noise cancellation
- USB-C to USB-C cable included for charging case
- wireless charging available with compatible Qi chargers (not included)
Accessories and specs:
- includes 3 sizes of silicone sleeves to keep earbuds secure
- frequency response: 10-20,000 Hz
- weight: 0.48 ounces (both earbuds)
- warranty: 2 years
- MFR # FP43788
What's in the box:
- Left and right true wireless earphones (Canvas White)
- Charging case
- 3 Pairs of silicone ear tips (1 pair installed)
- 31" USB-C charging cable (USB-C plug on both ends)
- 31" Audio cable (USB-C on one end and 3.5mm plug on other end)
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety & Warranty booklet
Customer reviews for B&W Pi7 S2
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More details on the B&W Pi7 S2
Features & specs
General | ||
---|---|---|
Fit Style | True Wireless | |
Earcup Type | Closed | |
Earcup Width x Height | 0.877" x 0.675" | |
Noise-canceling | Yes | |
Bluetooth | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | |
Single-earbud Operation | Yes | |
Mic For Taking Calls | Yes | |
Voice Assistant Access | ||
Amazon Alexa | No | |
Google Assistant | Yes | |
Siri | Yes | |
Connectors | ||
3.5mm | No | |
1/4" | No | |
Lightning | No | |
4.4mm balanced | No | |
XLR4 balanced | No | |
2.5mm | No | |
Other | None | |
Specs | ||
Frequency Response | Not Given | |
Sensitivity | N/A dB | |
Impedance | N/A | |
Weight | 0.5 ounces | |
Cord Length | N/A | |
Parts Warranty | 2 Years | |
Labor Warranty | 2 Years |
Product Research
Features
Overview: The Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) Pi7 S2 True Wireless in-ear headphones feature Bluetooth version 5.0 with aptX Adaptive for superior audio, as well as Adaptive Noise Cancellation. The Pi7 S2s come with a charging case, three pairs of silicone ear tips, a USB-C charging cable, and a USB-C-to-3.5mm audio cable. The Pi7 S2s are covered by a two-year warranty. Dimensions: Width 0.877", Height 0.675", Depth 1.082"; Weight 0.5 ounces (both).
Drivers: The Pi7 S2 wireless headphones feature specially-designed 9.2mm dynamic drivers with Balanced Armatures.
Ear Tips: Three pairs of silicone ear tips (Small, Medium, Large) are included to help ensure you get the best fit.
Charging Case: The Pi7 S2s come with a sturdy and attractive charging case for charging the earbuds when not in use. The case is equipped with two 350mAh rechargeable batteries. Each earbud has a rechargeable battery which provides up to 5 hours of wireless playback. The charging case can provide an additional 16 hours for a total of 21 hours of continuous playback. The earbuds fully charge inside the case in approximately 3 hours. A 15-minute quick charge provides up to 2 hours of playback time. Charging case dimensions: Width 2.417", Height 2.185", Depth 1.092", Weight 1.7 ounces (w/o earbuds).
Bluetooth 5.0: The Pi7 S2 true wireless headphones feature Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX Adaptive for high fidelity, 24-bit wireless streaming audio from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. aptX Adaptive automatically adjusts to provide optimum audio quality or latency depending on what content is being played on the device. It is also backwards compatible with classic aptX and aptX-HD enabled devices. SBC and AAC codecs also assure high quality audio. The headphones support the following Bluetooth platforms: A2DP (v1.3.1), AVRCP (v1.6.1), HFP (v1.7.1), HSP (v1.2) and BLE GATT (Generic Attribute Profile). For compatible Android devices, the Pi7 S2 can pair using GFPS (Google Fast Pair Service), allowing you to pair the headphones by placing the charging case within 4 inches of the device.
Media Streaming: You can stream music through the charging case by connecting it to a media source with one of the supplied USB-C cables (USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to 3.5mm). This allows you to listen to the music source with the Pi7 S2 earbuds or a pair of Bowers & Wilkins wireless headphones. The charging case can transmit to only one pair of headphones at one time, so both earbuds need to be inside the charging case when transmitting to another pair of headphones.
Adaptive Noise Cancellation: The B&W Pi7 S2 headphones feature the latest innovations in adaptive noise cancellation. Noise-cancelling microphones pick up ambient noise and cancel it with an equal, but opposite, audio signal. You can activate ANC using the multi-function button on the left earbud or the B&W Music App. In the app, you can choose between traditional Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Noise Cancellation, or no Noise Cancellation.
Ambient Pass-Through: When you need to stay aware of your surroundings, you can activate and adjust the Ambient Pass-Through feature. Ambient Pass-Through allows in some external noise from your surroundings so you can hear announcements, conversations, or oncoming traffic without taking your headphones off. In the B&W Music App, you can enable/disable and adjust the amount of transparency of the Ambient Pass-Through feature.
Wear Sensors: The Pi7 S2's feature wear detection sensors in each earbud. The earbuds will enter standby mode when they are removed from the ears. When placed back in the ears, the Pi7 S2s will automatically awake and reconnect to the last connected Bluetooth device. During media playback, the Pi7 S2 automatically pause the content when either earbud is removed from the ear, and resume when the earbud is replaced. The wear sensor functionality is turned on/off in the B&W Music App.
Controls: Each earbud has a touch-sensitive multifunction button. Playback and phone call control can be performed with either earbud with single (play/pause, answer call), double (skip forward, end call), or triple presses (skip backward). Holding the left earbud's multifunction button for 1 second enables/disables Adaptive Noise Cancelling. Holding the right earbud's button for 1 second activates your device's voice assistant.
Bowers & Wilkins Music App: The Bowers & Wilkins Music App is designed to optimize the use of the PI7 S2 headphones with your smartphone or tablet. Initial setup of your headphones is easy through the app, letting you set the noise cancelling and pass-through levels. At a glance, you can view the battery charge levels of each earbud. When a software update becomes available for your headphones, the app will notify you, and you can update the headphones through the app. The app pulls together all of your streaming music sources and podcasts into one location. When you mark your favorite songs in the app, and it will learn your preferences the more you use it, and make personalized music recommendations. The B&W Music app is compatible with Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with the devices running iOS 12.0 or later. It is also compatible with Android smartphones and tablets running Android version 5.0 and up.
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