Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) has launched new variations of its two fashions of noise-canceling earbuds: the Pi5 S2 ($299) and Pi7 S2 ($399). They’re out there beginning January 25 and have small however welcome enhancements to their predecessors, the PI5 and PI7, which launched in 2021. The corporate says each new fashions have improved battery life and higher Bluetooth connectivity.
The earbuds now are available new shade choices. The Pi7 S2 can be found in Satin Black, Canvas White, and Midnight Blue. The Pi5 S2, which has seen a $50 worth enhance from the PI5, are available three new shade choices at launch: Cloud Grey, Storm Grey, and Spring Lilac, with a fourth shade — Sage Inexperienced — coming later this spring.
B&W says that the refreshed earbuds have higher battery life, but it surely’s solely a modest acquire over the earlier variations. The Pi5 S2’s said battery life is now 5 hours, up by half-hour over the PI5’s 4.5 hours. Unusually, the charging case has a smaller capability than the PI5 — simply 19 hours as an alternative of 20 (24 hours in complete). For his or her half, the Pi7 S2 even have a claimed 5 hours of steady playback on a single cost, versus the 4 hours of the PI7. Its case maintains the identical 16-hour reservoir for a complete of 21 hours of use.
Bluetooth working distance is the one different {hardware} change. B&W claims now you can put 25 meters (about 82 toes) between these earbuds and their music supply, which is a substantial bounce from the claimed 10 meters (nearly 33 toes) of the first-gen merchandise. It credit a change of fabric — the beveled aluminum finish caps are actually plastic — and a change within the Bluetooth antenna design. Sadly, Bluetooth Multipoint, which was lacking from the primary era, hasn’t been added.
- 1.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi5 S2 in Cloud Grey. - 2.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 in Midnight Blue.
On the software program aspect of the story, B&W is continuous to consolidate all of its merchandise below its Bowers & Wilkins Music app. The PI7 and PI5 have been managed by way of the corporate’s Headphones app, however this was strictly restricted to performing adjustments to the buds’ settings. Beneath the Music app, the Pi7 S2 and Pi5 S2 will be managed, together with another appropriate B&W audio system, like its Panorama 3 Soundbar or its newest wi-fi headphones, the Px7 S2 and Px8. The app additionally provides customers direct entry to a number of streaming companies like Qobuz, Tidal, and Deezer.
Aside from these minor adjustments, all different facets of the earbuds stay the identical. Each supply lively noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, an IP54 ranking for water and dirt resistance, and put on sensors for music auto-pause and resume. The Pi7 S2 additionally retains the intelligent Bluetooth transmitter operate inside its case. Merely join the case to an analog or digital supply with the included cables and the case will act as a wi-fi hyperlink to the earbuds utilizing aptX Low Latency, making it a useful choice for players who want the shortest doable time between seeing one thing on the display and listening to it via the earbuds.
Editors’ Suggestions
