AWESOME sound! But... 🤔 B&W Pi8 review vs Pi7 S2, Denon, Sony, Technics, Melomania M100

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00:00 B&W Pi8 Real World Mic Test
00:34 It sounds awesome! But...
03:07 Wired connection differences
05:36 Microphone comparison
08:09 Active Noise Canceling comparison
10:19 Transparency mode
10:52 Sound quality comparison
12:21 Sound Samples
13:32 It's not perfect yet...

[michaljn]

I bought Denon Perl Pro recently. In the video they sounded quite bad for me, but when I played the song by myself, they sounded totally different (better). I guess it's not that reasonable to place them in comparison as they are most about personalized setting? I have some profiles from other people in my app and I totally prefer mine :)
Anyway, nice video as always!

[alexle]

I really like the W tuning on the PerL Pro, that's also why I like the Elite 10. I just can't find a pair that's as well rounded as the Elite 10.

[IMHO-dmxf]

Thanks Aaron for checking these out.
Been looking forward to this.
But where's the MTW4 buds??
I've noticed you've left out the MTW4s' in your ear buds comparison videos recently...

[Yellowdragonbh]

I use the wf 1000xm5 for calls but the PI8 sound so much better for listening. So good in fact that I carry them both because the Sony's....as good as they are...are a levle below the Pi8s in music quality

[Daausby]

I own both and totally agree with you on the sound signature…the midrange is more reserved on the Pi7 s2 and more forward on the Pi8…I also agree with you on the low end…I personally enjoy both because they sound a little different.

[zehahaha]

With your sound sample, the Pi8s sounded the best to me followed by the AZ80s. I was really surprised the denon’s sounded kind of off putting here

[geminus]

waitting for this Pi8 review thanks. sound awesome but for the mic pickup...

[Mr.D.Michael]

Please tell me in your professional opinion between the Pi8 and the the B&O EX. And what has the premum sound, in your opinion. I want to upgrade from my Sony WF1000XM5. Help me make the right choice. Thanks!

[AndrewYouTubehandle]

My favourite for audio is still the Status Between ANC.

[maximilianocampos]

Arron, i know this is a slightly older video now, but was wondering if you have ever tested the Devialet Gemini 2 and if you recommend the PI8 sound quality more than the Gemini 2? As always, great review. By the way, i am visually impaired and cannot see the videos, but always appreciate your sound quality samples, and great detailed reviews! Cheers my friend and a great 2025!!!

[Rob-eyhp]

Great review I have been waiting for your review before buying

[KonstantinosFilopoulos-xn]

Hi Aaron, I read and listen to your reviews with great interest. Congrats for your analytical approach.
I have the B&W Pi7 S2s since about 11 months now and I totally agree with your previous reviews. However, when connecting them to my Pixel 8 Pro (w. Android 15) I encounter similar stutter issues as described by you with your Pixel 9 Pro XL phone. These issues are not existent when I connect these B&W buds to my Oppo Find X2 phone. I tried out various internet searches, but to no avail. I compared also the BT settings in both phones, but didn’t find any differences, even in developer mode.
The solution in my case was to uncouple the B&W Pi7 S2s completely from my Pixel. Then to connect my Focal Bathys with the Pixel 8 . The Focal Bathys headphones have, as you know, BT 5.1 MULTIPOINT connectivity, compared to BT 5.0 of the B&Ws. After only listening to one track on the Focal, I reconnected the B&W Pi7 S2s as a completely new BT connection. The stuttering disappeared!
A 2nd turnaround is to, after normally connecting the Pi7 S2 over BT, to start the Bowers & Wilkins app which is available over Google Play, as you know. I have often seen that the Pi7 S2 is NOT connected in the B&W App, although it is connected over BT with the Pixel! However, after successfully connecting it to the app (it may take 2 or 3 trials to connect it also to the app) there is NO more stuttering observed when listening to music!
I would appreciate if you can repeat this on your Pixel phone.
In conclusion. I think therefore, it is a Pixel and not a B&W issue, since all these turnarounds are NOT necessary on my other Oppo Find X phone. Thanks

[nightkid]

Hi Aaron, I’m curious, the type c retransmission fr curve is similar to Bluetooth. Which Bluetooth codec and phone exactly ? Is it tested on an aptx adaptive supported android or AAC iPhone compared to the retransmission type C on the same phone?

Is it the same phone again with the 3.5mm ?

I’m about to buy pi8 and these details will help big time.

TIA

[unonice]

I will be getting the Pi8 Earbuds for listening to music .. hopefully call quality will be decent .. I'll see what it do once I get them ( trying to wait for Black Friday 🛒🛍️ )..
@Aaron thanks for sharing your experiences .. Keep up the great work 👍🏾😁🙌🏾

[maddog]

I'm waiting for the Fiio BT11 to go on sale so I can take advantage of aptX Lossless with these. I read there's some firmware issue that's being worked out by Fiio before they release it in the US.

[Panda-masterr]

I've had all of these and hands down, the Pi8 have the best, cleanest sound. Even at really low volume you can still hear everything clearly. Cheaper headphones you have to turn all the way up to the loudest setting to hear some background instruments. The Pi8 have the most beautiful sound for any genre.

[Saethyan]

The Default sound of the Denon Perl Pro is just broken. Any chance of testing them with a Personalised profile? There is a relatively small difference between different Personalised profiles as opposed to the huge improvement from Default. i have no idea what they were thinking with the stock tuning. All I can imagine is that they deliberately sabotaged the default sound profile so that the personalisation seems more impressive...

[Gadgetibles]

Great video as always ...Does the Pi8 sounds alot better than the technics az80 and the Jlab Epic becos you can get the technics cheaper now

[oMeGa]

how reliable is the sound samples over a recording? I'm asking because my Soundpeats Opera 5.0 sounds %50 more clearer with the adaptive EQ than the PI8!! While retaining a phenomenal base extension rumple.

[PeterWhite-qk]

Thank you for this outstanding review! All of my questions have been answered re: B&W Pi8. I love my PX7 S2e over ears so wanted to see what the Pi8's brought to the party. I was aware that most reviewers loved the sound quality but was unclear of other important aspects of the user experience.
Thanks to this awesome review I will no longer consider the Pi8 earbuds. Connectivity, noise cancelling, and microphone quality are high on my list. Regrettably, these three aspects are unacceptable to me as presented by the Pi8s in this review. B&W- please keep working on these issues. If other brands can be so much better you can, too. Best wishes to all!