Bowers & Wilkins aren’t always the first at the party, but when he arrives, he definitely likes to make an entrance. Today, the company launches not one, but two debut sets of real wireless headphones, PI5 and PI7.
The latter are the most premium of the pair, with an active noise-canceling system with six microphones. Built-in microphones will work for both voice calls and smart functionality (both Siri and Google Assistant are supported).
Each headset has an arrangement with two drivers to provide what Bowers refers to sound “comparable to speakers”. The two sides have a balanced reinforced tweeter for the top notes and a set of 9.2 mm drive units for mid / bass, all with their own dedicated amplifier.
True wireless stereo transmission comes via aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, enabling 24-bit high-resolution audio streams (when connected to a compatible source). Bowers has worked to provide a reliable and closely synchronized connection between the left and right headphones.
The PI7 charging case has more than just storage and battery life. Uniquely, it has USB and 3.5mm ports, allowing you to connect it directly to an audio source. The case sends that music to your ears wirelessly using AptX Low Latency. The idea behind it, according to Bowers, is to allow users to connect to an in-flight entertainment system without the need for ear cables.
Meanwhile, the real B&W PI5 wireless headphones are slightly down, but still very much from the same stables. They lack the dual-driver arrangement and come instead with a single unit developed by Bowers of 9.2 mm. TWS + technology is instead used to transmit audio from the source to both buds simultaneously. There are also only the two microphones on each side to eliminate noise and there are no inputs on the case.
PI5 and PI7 have a headphone battery life of 4.5 hours and 4 hours, respectively, but the charging case stores four more full cycles, providing a reasonable total (but not class leasing) of 22.5 hours, or 20 hours on a single charge.
Bowers says it has promoted driver technology and wireless battery life for a better audio experience. Explaining the company’s late entry into the true wireless system, Bowers & Wilkins, director of product marketing, Andy Kerr, said: “We are not proud to be the first, but to be the best. In each case, we waited and watched We chose to stay out of the market until we felt we could make a difference. “
Both genuine Bowers & Wilkins wireless headset sets are available starting today, in white or charcoal versions. The B&W PI7 costs £ 349 ($ 699, $ 399, $ 399) – one of the most premium price tags we’ve seen attached to a pair of true wireless headphones – while the PI5 is priced more than 199 GBP ($ 369, € 249, $ 249).
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