Bowers Wilkins - Pi8 True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-ear Earbuds - Dove White - PI8DOVEWHITE - 714346349111

I’m massive on sound quality and would have to be held at gunpoint to allow another feature to take precedent over fidelity. For me, the speaker that sounds best wins, even if I have to connect it through a fiber optic cable strapped to a leprechaun. I’ll do it. But software that actively interferes with the basic principle usage of the device is infuriating.I personally think these sound excellent and rival (in some ways) my technics AZ-80’s, which I consider a marvel of engineering and a seriously overlooked contender for the goat of earbuds. Compared to the Pi7 S2’s, these are far and above better. I thought the B&O EX’s and Az-80’s were in another league from those.Although these have objective superiorities to the technics, lying mainly in their natural ... MoreI’m massive on sound quality and would have to be held at gunpoint to allow another feature to take precedent over fidelity. For me, the speaker that sounds best wins, even if I have to connect it through a fiber optic cable strapped to a leprechaun. I’ll do it. But software that actively interferes with the basic principle usage of the device is infuriating.I personally think these sound excellent and rival (in some ways) my technics AZ-80’s, which I consider a marvel of engineering and a seriously overlooked contender for the goat of earbuds. Compared to the Pi7 S2’s, these are far and above better. I thought the B&O EX’s and Az-80’s were in another league from those.Although these have objective superiorities to the technics, lying mainly in their natural vocals and bright (somewhat sibilant (which can be considered both good and bad)) presentation, their lack of depth in bass, which is clearly compensated for with a bass heavy tune, is laughable in comparison to what Panasonic cooked up with the technics. The technics also manage a natural sound without speaking parseltongue to me and I respect them evermore for it. If I had to have one of these only, I’d take the technics over these any day even given the same price tag. Luckily I’m fortunate enough to not have to make that choice, and that’s the only reason I’m keeping them as daily carrying these has been a nightmare.The Pi8’s do possess detail prioritization that is irrefutably better than any other set of earbuds I’ve heard, bringing what other high end earbuds would present as ‘distant details you’ve never heard before’ to the foreground as integral parts of the song. In short, it’s like a magical portal to a land of fidelity that’s also demented and full of snakes hissing loudly. It is, however, like listening to your favorite songs for the first time, but not the original. More like a re-recording.My largest gripe with these is the horrendous software. Now I've always been one to scoff at software complaints and minor feature difficulties in reviews as a spectator when there are easy-enough solutions to their problems and life should just go on. But these are some next level tomf*ckery. Allow me to name some of the bugs I’ve found off the top of my head:App not detecting the case (after multiple reconnects)App getting battery wrongApp changing battery reading drastically after reconnectingCase giving its own inconsistent signals with its LED that don’t even match the disheveled app readingsOnly one headphone working requiring multiple reconnectsCrackling when turning anc on (I don’t use ANC but it automatically turns it on)Inconsistent starting position for ambient sound (one day it starts on anc, the next it’s ambient)Blatant refusal to detect tap gestures (which I despise but when they’re all I’ve got I need them to work)One of these for a first generation product is fine, but this is insanity at this price range when the competition has come so far.The lack of touch control customization and barebones eq options are just insult to injury.There is no denying these objectively sound great, and that’s my Achilles heel. Anyone else who doesn’t have expendable income or who prioritizes having functional software should stay away.

Since receiving these headphones, I have literally used them every day. They are a pleasure to wear and use for listening to music whether I have been at the gym running on the treadmill, doing housework, travelling or just relaxing at home streaming music. Having previously come from using a well known other brand of in ear headphones, I was really shocked at the difference in terms of sound quality. I am now hearing base notes and parts of songs that I had previously missed before. The headphones really hold their battery charge and also have enabled wireless charging via the case on my existing wireless charging pad, which I thought was a good bonus feature. I liked the fact that I could easily pair these headphones with my iPad and iPhone simultaneously without ... MoreSince receiving these headphones, I have literally used them every day. They are a pleasure to wear and use for listening to music whether I have been at the gym running on the treadmill, doing housework, travelling or just relaxing at home streaming music. Having previously come from using a well known other brand of in ear headphones, I was really shocked at the difference in terms of sound quality. I am now hearing base notes and parts of songs that I had previously missed before. The headphones really hold their battery charge and also have enabled wireless charging via the case on my existing wireless charging pad, which I thought was a good bonus feature. I liked the fact that I could easily pair these headphones with my iPad and iPhone simultaneously without having to unpair and re pair etc. I have recently been abroad on holiday and I was really chuffed that I was able to use the headphones for a long haul flight to watch the inflight movies and listen to music whilst on the airplane. The headphones come with an additional free included cable that you plug directly into the charging case and the other part into the port by the airplane seat and they paired easily and were also a dream to use during the flight. The headphones really blocked out the aircraft noise and when I compared them with the free inflight headphones that were provided and the difference was absolutely outstanding. The provided ones were bulky and not of the same quality as the Bowers and Wilkins headphones, which were first class to use. The only thing to flag was that there was no mains charger plug included in the box, so you will need to either connect the USB-C charging cable into your own USB-C compatible power plug or a power socket that is USB-C enabled or have a wireless enabled charging pad to use.

My first concern with in-ear headphones is- will they stay in my ears! Previously I haven't got on well with any earbuds that didn't have a wing tip to make it more secure. But these are the first ones that I have had that are very stable in my ear without any wing tip. You need to put them in and give them a bit of a twist as it explains in the user guide and then they fit really nice and securely. They have multiple sizes of earbuds in the box but the standard ones have been fine for me.In terms of sound quality they are brilliant, I can't claim to be an audiophile but these sound great and better than other earbuds I have previously owned. The noise cancelling is very good as far as earbuds go. Obviously not as good as over ear headphones, but I used them on a ... MoreMy first concern with in-ear headphones is- will they stay in my ears! Previously I haven't got on well with any earbuds that didn't have a wing tip to make it more secure. But these are the first ones that I have had that are very stable in my ear without any wing tip. You need to put them in and give them a bit of a twist as it explains in the user guide and then they fit really nice and securely. They have multiple sizes of earbuds in the box but the standard ones have been fine for me.In terms of sound quality they are brilliant, I can't claim to be an audiophile but these sound great and better than other earbuds I have previously owned. The noise cancelling is very good as far as earbuds go. Obviously not as good as over ear headphones, but I used them on a plane just to block out the noise and they were brilliant.The case is slightly larger than some others but is more just a bit wide and isn't very chunky so it fits nicely in my jean pocket.The battery seems very good, I have yet to have to really worry about the battery life. I have used them for some extended sessions when travelling and as long as I have occasionally put the case on charge then they have lasted very well.There is an app available, it is useful if you want to change the function of the touch buttons on the side of the buds from toggling noise cancelling and passthrough to volume controls. On the side of the bud you can switch between noise cancelling and passthrough mode. There is an option on the app to use neither of these that is useful, so I am not sure why you can't select that without the app as I think it would help the battery life even more!One feature that when I opened the box I didn't really understand the use for but now I wish I had used. There is an AUX to USB-C cable that you can plug from an AUX into the case. This then passes the audio from the AUX into your headphones. So for air travel this would be perfect to plug in and use your own earbuds instead of need