Bowers & Wilkins - Pi8

Loved my Pi7, and the Pi8 are massive improved. I’m thrilled with them. Alternate between these and my Perl Pros. Clarity, spaciousness, instrument separation and soul of both is just wonderful.

I have both. I can’t decide which I love more. The instrument, musicality, expressiveness and clarity of both is absolutely amazing. I’ve tested everything, and these two are at the top of my list. Beoplay Ex at the bottom :)

I love my Sony Xm5 buds but - and I can’t stress this enough - the bowers and Wilkins Pi8 with the case rebroadcast is an absolute audio game changer. One of my biggest issues with buds (and I’ve been through a lot) is that the audio quality is limited to what can be broadcast over Bluetooth and also Apple Music default broadcasts AAC. When you plug in the Pi8 case to the iPhone it up converts and rebroadcasts the sound at Aptx which is a higher quality codec and the audio difference in all music is incredibly noticeable

Thanks for this info. What device/phone are you using to send a signal to the AZ100s? Are you using much EQ to tweak for your level of frequency impairment? What's your age? Are you using LDAC or another codec? Are you using Dolby Atmos or other settings in addition? I tried the B&W Pi8s (clear beautiful sound with aptX but too buggy and app sucks) and the Sony XM5s (with LDAC, the settings, adjustment/tweaks are amazing in the app) and great when setup properly but I am going to get the AZ100s this weekend to compare. THANKS!

Over the past month, I’ve tested several earbuds across multiple work trips to evaluate ANC, transparency, voice quality, and music performance. Since trying the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, everything else has struggled to dethrone them as my #1 choice. They deliver the best sound quality, especially when paired with high-res audio from Qobuz, Tidal, and Deezer (24-bit or higher). At the same time, Apple Music and Spotify were great for casual listening during workouts or flights. One uniquely cool feature of the Pi8 is its transmitting case, which allows you to extract audio from non-Bluetooth sources without sacrificing fidelity—a fantastic option for home Hi-Fi setups or in-flight entertainment systems. **Earbuds Tested:** • **Bowers & Wilkins Pi8** • **Technics AZ100** **(**Tested and liked, but not worth a longer write-up, but happy to address deeper in comments)• **AirPods Pro 2** • **Nothing Ear (2024)** • **OnePlus Buds Pro 3** • **Technics AZ80** • **Technics AZ100** • **Sennheiser Momentum 4** After extensive testing, I’ve narrowed it down to the **Pi8** and **Technics AZ100**, as both are exceptional. Here’s how they compare: **Where the Technics AZ100 Excel:** • **Transparency Mode:** Outstanding for all-day wear. With eight+ microphones and ‘MyVoice AI,’ voices come through with crystal clarity. They even offer a priority mode to amplify voices while drowning out background noise • **All-Day Listening:** While not as comfortable as the Pi8, I never need to remove the AZ100 to hear clearly. This could make them a top choice for people who prioritize transparency over ANC and total disconnect • **Microphone Quality:** Calls sound super clean, even in noisy environments. • **Design Note:** Unfortunately, the AZ100 only comes in silver/white, which feels less premium than the midnight blue AZ80 or the Pi8.(personal preference) **Where the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Shine:** • **Sound Quality:** Simply unmatched, no question. Ridiculously good. My wife doesn't care about any of this crap, and she was also blown away, lol. The exceptional audio performance has set a new bar for wireless earbuds • **Comfort:** Perfect for extended listening sessions without fatigue. For me\* these were the most comfortable by far! • **Case Features:** The re-transmission case is a game-changer, allowing high-fidelity audio extraction from any source. Also, not boxy and comfortable in a front pocket. • **Design:** Sleek and premium, outshining most competitors in aesthetics. While the AZ100 has the best transparency and strong all-day usability, the Pi8 dominates in sound quality, comfort, design, and versatility. Unless I find significant value in the transparency features of the AZ100, I’ll most likely finalize my earbud journey with the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. Here's where Earbud reviews don't apply to everyone. We all have different ears and preferences, and your priorities may differ, but for me, the Pi8s are the pinnacle of wireless earbuds. I snagged mine for $319 during the recent holidays, while the AZ100s were $299—both well worth their price for what they offer. Hope that helps ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ Also, I found a great comparison document online that helped me begin this project to categorize and narrow down what worked best for me. Like my review, the rankings and numbers reflect my own, and this doc demonstrates his perspective. This document was linked in the comments of a YouTube post from creator PickyAudio on YouTube. If you've read this far, give him a follow. His content is top-tier in this tech [category.YouTube](http://category.YouTube) Video - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtit0nKrvfs&t=627s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtit0nKrvfs&t=627s&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0q7ubaiZtTS-i0g5iwun7DYMUaSTg0plcHQcI2qUOS694mFTN9I3zObt0_aem_C1BWWLUPUZFUBhSlryqAgg)Spreadsheet Link: [https://ko-fi.com/s/9dccc9b9c9](https://ko-fi.com/s/9dccc9b9c9)

This started as a comment in another post, but I figured it deserved to be a fresh post, because why not... Over the past month, I’ve tested several earbuds across multiple work trips to evaluate ANC, transparency, voice quality, and music performance. Since trying the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, everything else has struggled to dethrone them as my #1 choice. They deliver the best sound quality, especially when paired with high-res audio from Qobuz, Tidal, and Deezer (24-bit or higher). At the same time, Apple Music and Spotify were great for casual listening during workouts or flights. One uniquely cool feature of the Pi8 is its transmitting case, which allows you to extract audio from non-Bluetooth sources without sacrificing fidelity—a fantastic option for home Hi-Fi setups or in-flight entertainment systems. **Earbuds Tested:** • **Bowers & Wilkins Pi8** • **Technics AZ100** \*\*(\*\*Tested and liked, but not worth a longer write-up, but happy to address deeper in comments) • **AirPods Pro 2** • **Nothing Ear (2024)** • **OnePlus Buds Pro 3** • **Technics AZ80** • **Technics AZ100** • **Sennheiser Momentum 4** • **Status 3ANC** After extensive testing, I’ve narrowed it down to the **Pi8** and **Technics AZ100**, as both are exceptional. Here’s how they compare: **Where the Technics AZ100 Excel:** • **Transparency Mode:** Outstanding for all-day wear. With eight+ microphones and ‘MyVoice AI,’ voices come through with crystal clarity. They even offer a priority mode to amplify voices while drowning out background noise • **All-Day Listening:** While not as comfortable as the Pi8, I never need to remove the AZ100 to hear clearly. This could make them a top choice for people who prioritize transparency over ANC and total disconnect • **Microphone Quality:** Calls sound super clean, even in noisy environments. • **Design Note:** Unfortunately, the AZ100 only comes in silver/white, which feels less premium than the midnight blue AZ80 or the Pi8.(personal preference) **Where the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Shine:** • **Sound Quality:** Simply unmatched, no question. Ridiculously good. My wife doesn't care about any of this crap, and she was also blown away, lol. The exceptional audio performance has set a new bar for wireless earbuds • **Comfort:** Perfect for extended listening sessions without fatigue. For me\* these were the most comfortable by far! • **Case Features:** The re-transmission case is a game-changer, allowing high-fidelity audio extraction from any source. Also, not boxy and comfortable in a front pocket. • **Design:** Sleek and premium, outshining most competitors in aesthetics. While the AZ100 has the best transparency and strong all-day usability, the Pi8 dominates in sound quality, comfort, design, and versatility. Unless I find significant value in the transparency features of the AZ100, I’ll most likely finalize my earbud journey with the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. Here's where Earbud reviews don't apply to everyone. We all have different ears and preferences, and your priorities may differ, but for me, the Pi8s are the pinnacle of wireless earbuds. I snagged mine for $319 during the recent holidays, while the AZ100s were $299—both well worth their price for what they offer. Hope that helps ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯ Also, I found a great comparison document online that helped me begin this project to categorize and narrow down what worked best for me. Like my review, the rankings and numbers reflect my own, and this doc demonstrates his perspective. This document was linked in the comments of a YouTube post from creator PickyAudio on YouTube. If you've read this far, give him a follow. His content is top-tier in this tech Video - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtit0nKrvfs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtit0nKrvfs) Spreadsheet Link: [https://ko-fi.com/s/9dccc9b9c9](https://ko-fi.com/s/9dccc9b9c9) Edit: added Status 3ANC to list.

If you’re looking for closest to audiophile levels with excellent noise cancelling, regardless of price see the below: Noble Audio Rex5 Planar magnetic, first for an iem provides a best in class sound stage and clarity. App has a built in 10 band eq and a hearing test which I amazing. + every known Bluetooth code. After that the: B&W Pi8 Second best in terms of total audio quality. I use these at the gym. Great feature is that it can make your iPhone transmit in high level codecs as its case has a transmitter built in. Both are as comfortable as anything else in the market in my opinion.

Devailet Gemini II are heads and shoulders above everything else in this list and have noise cancellation. Just have to make sure you get the ones in the orange box.    Bower and Wilkins Pi8s are better than everything listed here also, when you use their case retransmission feature.

Great review! I recently got and tested both. Although I am a biased B&W fan due to their loudspeakers and prefer the brightness of their overall sound, I wanted them to win. I take business calls and would need to use the earbuds from time to time. Calls in a noisy place with the MyVoice AI, and transparency mode unfortunately beat out the sound quality as the deal breaker. I'll sadly return the Pi8s and happily roll with the AZ100s.

The best sounding earbuds are the Denon Perl Pros. I also own the Gemini 2, BW Pi8 and MTW 4. So far the best sounding has been the Denons the problem with them is there size and fit. Just below the Denons in sound quality are the Pi8 and Gemini 2. There are distinct differences you can hear in sound from each of these earbuds.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a fix for the size and fit. Denon would have to literally redesign the earbud to make it much smaller with the comfort level of the Gemini 2 or the Pi8.

Similar sound to the Pi8 with the 11mm driver. Better soundstage, tighter mid bass, and seems to hit lower with less muddiness than the Pi8.

My rankings based on what I own. My criteria are big soundstage, tight articulate bass, and comfort. 1. Noble FoKus Prestige 2. Master & Dynamic MW09 3. Devialet Gemini II 4. Noble Fokus Rex5 5. Denon Perl Pro 6. Technics AZ100 7. B&W Pi8

Devialet Gemini ii closely followed by Bowers and Wilkins Pi8. Denon PerL Pro are great too but I personally couldn’t live with the size of them, they are ridiculous

Pi8? The best sounding consumer tws earbuds imho. Ik this list is based off recommendations but it still baffles me how not here.

A vote for Pi8. I bought the Pi8 and was incredibly happy with its performance but kept reading that AZ100 and Gemini II had better bass response. This left me unsatisfied with my purchase so I ordered AZ100 and Gemini II while within my return window for Pi8. After in numerous AB tests between the three I have to say I am incredibly happy with the Pi8. The quality is on par with the other two, including in the bass response. When using the case as transmitter the quality surpasses the other two and any other. pi8 with the case transmitting sound, wipes the floor with the other two. The soundstage is insane. It’s like they are performing in front of you. Clarity and detail is crystal. Compared to the Pi8 the AZ100 sound a bit muffled and not the most clear in highs and mids. The low end is a bit muddy too. Similarly for Gemini II which are better in highs and mids but they are all over the place in lows. Still I wouldn’t recommend Pi8 or any other. What I realised is that one may fit for your ear better than the other. The Az100 is fat around the cushion and doesn’t fit into the ear canal. Pi8 is slim and slides right into my ear. It’s lightweight and hugs it snugly. No leaks. This was simply not the case with Az100 or Gemini. I strongly suggest buying atleast two, or even three and test it out yourself.

For me personally I felt the sound is better and above the other two brands. I like the clarity and the bass is very refined. It’s going to last me four to five years hopefully. To pay 100 extra for better sound for half a decade seems a good deal for me. The only thing AZ100 has going for it is the app. Its app is much better than B&w. But again, narrow it down to two and get both. Then AB it and return the one that doesn’t work for you.

Gemini 2 , Pixel Buds 2 pro, Pi8 and Bose Quiet comfort 2024.

Noble Rex5 I had the Pi8 to see which one I like better, Pi8 went back as they are just simply not in the same class. Recently got the Denon Perl Pro for working out and honestly I wouldn't pay the extra money for the Pi8 compared to these for the 130 dollars off woot.

I would not lean towards the pi8 just because everyone says so. Ask yourself first what type of music do you listen first. Because they clearly lack a substantial amount of bass compared to the competition. The only thing they have going great for them is the fit and details. I could not enjoy mine due to the lack of warmth in the sound and returned them. I would pick the denons or technics over them. Even the beoplay ex demolishes them on overall musicality.

If you can try Jlab Epic Lab Edition, bought them for 120eur, also have B&W Pi8 for 350, Jlabs are on the same level sound wise

Here are my first impressions of the Pi8s, after a day's use, including 8 hours of travel. Comfort: excellent, compared to the first iteration, the px7 s2, here wearing the headphones is top notch, you forget about them, they fit well (even when I'm running at the airport 🫠) and don't hurt after more than 4 hours of wearing them. Build quality: visually and to the touch, very very good, it feels well finished, it oozes luxury, and it's well thought out. To be seen in the long term. Sound: Incredible, really, I've got a wired setup at home with headphones (Hifiman edition XS) I've tried a number of headphones, Devialet Gemini II, Bang Olufsen Beoplay ex, Sennheiser Tw4, they're good, but the Pi8s are better then them (not the wired headphone of course) the sound is clear, precise, slightly warm in a very musical way, the whole thing sounds great, nothing to say. They're the loudest headphones I've ever heard, at 50% they're already far too loud for me (around 75% for the Tw4, 80% for the BO ex). ANC/TRANSPARENCY: It's good but not up there with the best (Sony, Bose). It's excellent for engine noise, but it has some difficulties when you get to the high frequencies, metallic style, and it's average for vocals. It's good, sufficient for me, but not the best. Quality of use: good, but not responsive enough, you have to press a bit, the Sennheiser experience was better on that point. Overall, for the moment it's the best wireless sound I've ever had. I will make some update here, and a review after like, one month of use. If you have any question, feel free to ask, but my english isn't the best.

I am thinking about changing the tips because the origin ones are really bad.

Everything is better on the Pi8 but not the transparency and the battery life imo. However the Pi8 is at least 150€ pricier and it is NOT 150€ better, you will have a diminushing return hitting hard at this price point. So maybe 10/15% better, no more.

For me the 7s are juste not usable on a daily life situation. Not comfy, bad ANC and very unstable connexion. So yes, every good tws are worth it over the 7s imo

No, or it will be useless, the case already as its own dac which is transmitting the signal to your earbuds, adding another dac to that is not optimal imo

So I can tel you with certaincy that you got a defective unit. They are much much much louder than the Buds 3 pro. I can go to ~75% of the volume with the Buds 3 pro and barely ~40/50 with the pi :D

The transparency us not pleasant, by that I mean it as a slight white noise, but it is efficient you will hear everything around

Hey! I also owned the px8, a great headset 👍. The pi8 has a better sound than the airpods pro 2, not 200 euros better, but better, more defined, fine, dynamic. On the other hand, you risk losing the quality of the Apple ecosystem, which is excellent. For me, it's not worth it, honestly. Keep your px8 for calm, quality listening, take the airpods for moving around and enduring the elements.

I am still here ! And no it is not worth it for me, the MTW4 is doing some things better than the Pi8 imo

I've had all the ones mentioned here for the last few weeks (ok, not the Technics 100, only the 80) If they fit your ears and you can live with the design, the Denon are the best. Anc is okay here, but the sound is so much better than the others after calibration that I was very surprised. Bowers & Wilkins have the problem that you either like them... Or you don't. There's zero customization. In terms of sound, the Sennheiser Momentum would be number 2 for me. Sony may have the best anc, but I honestly found them underwhelming in terms of sound.

Having B&O Pi8, divialet gemini II and just recently the noble fokus rex. Nobles are several steps above either, obviously subjective but to me its a clear winner overall.

I don't like it's tuning. They are high quality but weird dip on high mids and raised lows makes the music I know sound way strange

By the way I have found the measurements of the Pi7. Pi8 sounded very close to that and gave me the same feeling. They could be great after the compensation though. [https://imgur.com/a/LiZX1Rx](https://imgur.com/a/LiZX1Rx)

I gave them a listen. They have weird tuning especially on mids. They are so non linear that I couldn't recognize the sound after studio monitors.

Nobody knows what is good for you. You have to listen to them. Also it's useful to look into their measurements curve. I didn't listen to the Denon,Jabras and Nothing Ear. Sony are linear but will not amaze you with details and clarity. Same to Technics. Sennheisers sounds just wrong for me with no lows. Bose are ok but initial tuning is too bassy for me. It's like one just increased the bass with eq. I personally have Devialet Gemini 2. Very linear with slight increase of lows and trebles which is easily compensated. Amazing resolution, imaging, separations you name it. But again, just listen to them. I listened to Nobles, B&W, Bang and Olufsen and they did not suite my needs. But maybe they are for you.

I say if budget is not a problem then b&o eleven. I got the AZ-100, Pi8, and the elevens. If you want bass then i say eleven is the best out of them. When AZ-100 sounds better with lower bass and the same with Pi8s. Elevens has the best sound quality with the bass boosted in my opinion. Just make sure the ear tips fits your ear well

In my experience, best sounding can be very personal. If at all possible, I recommend doing what I did and find a store that lets you demo a bunch of earbuds that you are interested in. I A/B tested the Sony XM5, BW Pi8, Sennheiser MT4, Gemini II, Technics az80 and az100 - spent \~2x1 hour store visits switching earbuds with a range of my favorite tracks. End of the day, I liked the Pi8 and Gemini II the best (slight edge to the gemini), and the PI8 were on sale, so that's what I picked up. Basically I felt that out of the ones I had tested, these two gave the best clarity combined with strong but not overpowering bass. Also, they were the most comfortable in-ear, which is very important to me.

Yep, thirded. If you like bass, the Gemini (with some EQing) are the way to go. I had the Pi8 with them side by side and comparatively they just lack oomph. The treble also never sounded as "open" (for lack of a better word) as the Gemini no matter how much I EQed them. Just note that the Gemini app doesn't work on Android 15 because Devialet devs are lazy like that.

I just got the Pi8's and I'm returning the Perl Pro's just for the design alone. I do think the Perl Pro sounds a little better in terms of sound quality and it's because of the sound personalization technology. The Pi8 sound is very close to it, I do think they sound more rich but I feel like I was hearing a few more sounds with the Perl Pro's.

They have been as good as the ex's I used to have

Between B&O EX and Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 They to me have the best overall sound stage for my taste

Ou and if you want the best of the best go for the Gemini 2 or pi8. But these are 350+

My headphones died on my last flight, so I've been exploring an in-ear wireless replacement. While I don't consider myself an audiophile, I am very particular... I'm a classical musician and want high-quality sound. I need great ANC since I travel frequently, and long bike rides introduce lots of wind noise. I'd like them to replace my desktop headset for calls if the mic is good enough, and being able to customize the controls is a must. So far here are the ones I've tried: * **Sennheiser MTW4:** Love the sound (one of the best), controls are customizable enough for me, the fit is amazing right out of the box with max isolation. ANC is excellent and wind reduction is amazing (the best). I was riding about 15 mph into a headwind and it sounded like a weather channel reporter in a hurricane. Turned on wind reduction and if not for feeling the wind, I could've been in a concert hall. App is easy, intuitive, simple, and fast. Unfortunately the mic and call quality are atrocious. * **Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2**: Great sound (not the *best*, but very good (although they do *not* support aptX). Controls are customizable enough for me. I feel like the fit would be amazing if they went just a touch further in. Again, if I could get a better fit, I think the ANC is outstanding. The wind reduction isn't as good as the MTW4, but I suspect that's mostly due to poor isolation: I'd welcome recommendations on replacement ear tips. Call/mic quality is the best. The app is a little confusing, and has some neat features. My first pair was defective--constant static in the left earbud. Customer service was phenomenal and I had a new pair with next day shipping for free. * **B&W Pi8:** Overall sound quality is amazing. I'd consider these the best. ANC is on the better end, but leaves quite a bit to be desired with ambient noise. Wind reduction is pathetic, but this isn't marketed for an active lifestyle. The controls are not very customizable, and there's no way to enable/disable ANC without going through the app (which doesn't help me if I'm listening from a laptop). The app is straightforward, though a little bloated, and it took me three attempts to get them paired with my devices. Mic/call quality is very good. Apart from lacking good wind reduction, my chief complaint--and it would have been enough to send it back regardless of everything else--is the obnoxious (and obnoxiously loud) haptic noises when using the controls. I couldn't figure out how to adjust them, so even when listening at low volume to a quiet section of a song, you get acoustically assaulted by a chime. These were sent back, and I'll add their customer service is horrendous and slow. * **Bose QC Ultra:** Outstanding ANC in the low and low/mid range. Doesn't work as well for intermittent sounds or higher frequencies. Fit is so-so even with the wings, sound quality is what you'd expect from Bose: an inauthentic representation of highs and lows to make the illusion of superior sound. I was sufficiently turned off by the fit, sound, and controls that I didn't test anything else. * **Apple AirPods Pro 2:** Quite honestly, I hate white and was reluctant to even try them. I couldn't get these to fit comfortably any which way, so they went back. I'll confess some of this may be personal bias, so don't write them off on my account. My wife uses hers all the time and I know from being on the receiving end the call/mic quality in noisy environments leaves a lot to be desired--even worse than the MTW4. * **Sony WF-1000XM5:** The default sound really (I mean *really*) emphasizes the lows and highs. For classical music lovers, I'd advice against these. The balance of ANC, wind reduction, and controls makes them all-around a good product. Controls are good, but I couldn't get a great fit that truly isolated the sound and made them feel secure. Since everything else was "good" I didn't bother with other tips and sent them back. * **Denon PerL Pro:** Takes a little bit to personalize the sound, at which point they sound pretty good. Not the best, but they pass my tests across multiple genres. Something feels a little "off" with the default frequency response curve, but I don't have the equipment to test it. Fit is great right out of the box. The wings fit in my ears perfectly and they feel the most secure out of them all. App is straightforward, wind reduction is good; not great, but good enough. Controls are the most customizable of them all. Worth noting: you can also customize whether they pause automatically when one or both earbuds are removed. Call quality hasn't been tested yet. Also, and this is a real annoyance: they're really hard to get out of the case. I have to turn it upside down and shake it to release the earbuds, so one-handed use isn't possible. I'm going to hang on to these a while longer--they definitely make the final cut along with the Jabra and MTW4. * **Technics AZ100:** Out of the box, the sound was... weird. There's definitely some heavy bass, but also a really pronounced high end. This was immediately striking me as a turn-off and would be exhausting to listen to all day. The fit was good--it took a little finagling to get them firmly in place, but once I did, I barely knew they were there. App was pretty buggy for me. Despite supporting multipoint connections, I couldn't control the EQ on the earbuds from my phone while listening from my computer. Controls are highly customizable. ANC works on all frequencies (unlike some others which are more effective on certain frequency ranges). but it's effect isn't as dramatic as Bose or Sennheiser. Haven't tested the mic/call quality or wind reduction yet. What other earbuds should I be considering? (Before anyone jumps on it: yes, both my computer and Qobuz are sending via aptX.) ETA: Updated with description of pros/cons of each.

Don't get me started on the Pi8. Sent it back the same day it arrived. The frequency response is terrific, dynamic range equally impressive, and it's a great fit. The ANC is mediocre considering the price point. The wind noise reduction is barely noticeable. The lack of full customizability of controls is super annoying. But the thing that really ruined it for me is the obnoxious noise every time I use the controls.

From my personal experience: 1) Devialet Gemini II 2) Technics AZ80 3) Bowers and Wilkins Pi8 4) Sony XM5 The Gemini II are flat out best sounding buds period to me and I'm yet to find something that out ranks it in the sound department. I have to listen to my planar magnetic wired headphones to get better sound. Looking forward to a comparison between the Gemini II and the AZ100.

Pi8 do sound better than AZ100 but Pi8´s ANC, mic and transparency is not good.

Out of these 4? Galaxy Buds if you have a Samsung phone. Otherwise either B&W Pi8s, Denon Perl Pro or Nothing Ear(2024).

I have the Pi8 and wf-xm5, the latter is an excellent all around earbud with great sound, the Pi8 has a significantly more engaging and enjoyable sound though has shorter run time.

I've really been enjoying mine, I find them very loud too, volume level is set at about 30% on my phone.

For pure engagement and fun I really enjoy the B&W Pi8. For a full featured, everyday user with well above average battery runtime that sounds great, the AZ100 are a good choice. If you'd rather spend less the Sony wf-xm5 are also very good.

I have both the B&W Pi8 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 buds and while the Pi8 are amazing and are my daily driver, I recommend the XM5 if battery life and noise cancelling are important a priority to you. They both sound amazing and overall the Pi8 is my top pick but it still has some minor quirks still being worked out for connection.

For me pi8 is really standing out from the rest of the top earbuds. I also use denon pearl pro and b&o eq. Both of them are very good but far behind pi8 in sound fidelity. Even my friends who don't care much about audio are very very impressed comparing pi8 to their latest airpods pro/Galaxy buds etc. Haven't had a chance to listen to new Technics az100 - those are supposedly superb as well.

I have two pairs of AirPod Pro2, and they are great. I wear them every day. I will say they that my B&W Pi8's sound better, but I had to buy special tips to keep them from falling out of my ears. Stick with the AirPods.

They are not the loudest earbuds by any means, pretty disappointed to be honest. At max volume they pale in comparison to M&D MW09, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (or even 2 Pro for that matter), and the Noble Audio FoKus Prestige.

They WERE the best. Along with the Denon Pearl Pro. That all changed recently with the Bowers and Wilkins Pi8's just released. Unmatched. But the Sennys are just below. I am a Senny only guy and will probably get the Bowers when they go on sale.

I just got the AZ100s and I've only had them for a few hours, but they're fantastic. I would say the Denon Perl Pro, Pi8, Devialet Gemini 2, and BeoPlay EX still have a slight edge in terms of sound quality, but the AZ100 sound pretty fantastic and aren't that far behind, at least in LDAC (which is all I've tested). The AZ100 are better all-arounders than any of those, although I have no real complaints about the Devialet and Denon. My initial impression is that they've dethroned my beloved Sennheiser MTW4 for best sound in the $300-ish range, but I need to spend some more time with them to know for sure. I preferred the MTW4 over the AZ80 but so far I think the AZ100 has them both beat.

Nothing compares to the ANC in Bose earbuds. As for the Pi8, I find their ANC to be pretty average. It will be a big step down from the Bose ANC. Pretty much every earbud will be a big step down in ANC from Bose. I find the best ANC *after Bose* to be on the Devialet Gemini 2, Sennheiser MTW4, Sony XM5, and Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 if the oval eartips are a good fit for your ears. All of these have better ANC than the Pi8. The Pi8 ANC is functional but it's nothing special.

Devialet Gemini 2, Denon Perl Pro, Bang and Olufsen BeoPlay EX, and sometimes Sennheiser MTW4. That being said, I think my first pair was defective. My new pair sounds much better and more consistent, especially after I replaced the somewhat flimsy ear tips with foam ones. I now consider the Pi8 to be in the same league as those others. I was hoping it would blow one or more of them away but I think it's more or less tied. It has a more mellow, warm sound which works great for some tracks and makes other tracks sound a bit low-energy. It responds well to EQ but I wish the built in EQ had more bands. I'm happy with them: the only reason I'm not jumping for joy is that I already have a lot of amazing sounding earbuds so these didn't really add a lot of value to my collection.

From your list, (EDIT: your original pre-edit list of 4) the Pi8 have the best sound. But the Sennheiser have very good sound too, and are better overall. If I could only choose one, I'd pick the Sennheiser MTW4.

My original comment was based on your first list. I've owned most of the earbuds in your edited list, and I'd consider them *all* among the best sounding earbuds out there. I'd probably say the Gemini, Denon, B&W, and B&O are roughly tied for "best sounding," and the winner comes down to personal preference. But if I had to choose only one set, I'd still probably go with the Sennheiser MTW4 or Technics (AZ100, which I like better than the AZ80). The Gemini and others may have slightly better sound but the Sennheiser and Technics still sound fantastic: they're not far behind, and you wouldn't be missing out on some mindblowing sonic experience. But I consider these two to be better overall, in terms of functionality, app, features, etc.

>If you don't mind, could you share your ranking list for best overall and one for sound quality? Thank you in advance! Of the ones listed in your post, my personal rankings would be: BEST OVERALL: 1. Sennheiser, Technics 2. Denon, Devialet 3. Bose, Sony 4. Pi8, BeoPlay BEST SOUND: 1. Devialet, Pi8, Denon, BeoPlay (in roughly that order if I *had* to rank them, but I consider them more or less tied, and my preferences might change from day to day or song to song) 2. Sennheiser, Technics AZ100 3. AZ80 4. Sony, Bose I've never used the EQ or the Eleven.

Sony XM5 will never win a "most comfortable" contest. The most comfortable earbuds are the Jabra Elite 10, and they sound *good* but there are several earbuds with better sound and more hi-res codecs. If money is no object, the Devialet Gemini 2 are very lightweight and comfortable, and are widely considered the best sounding earbuds on the market today. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are growing on me as well: they are comfortable and well made, and sound fantastic, and support some high res codecs like APTX lossless. I still think the Devialet sounds slightly better but my mind changes from track to track. Sennheiser MTW4 and Technics AZ80 are a bit more reasonably priced (though still on the high end of the consumer earbud market). Both are pretty comfortable and sound fantastic. To my ears, the Sennheiser sound a bit better and the Technics are a bit more comfortable. In the under-$200 range, the Nothing Ear (2024) and the OnePlus Buds *Pro* 3 are both very comfortable and sound fantastic. The Nothing supports more high resolution audio codecs but whether this matters depends a lot on what your phone supports.

Noble audio prestige and b&w pi8 beats these two easily but only in term of sound quality .

>I am seeing the pi 7 being sold on eBay new for £100 are they worth it. Pi7 had decent sound quality, but they had poor ANC, and lots of people reported they were very uncomfortable to wear. The new Pi8 earbuds have much better ANC and more comfortable. Sadly, this group is mostly a mix of audio enthusiasts and students on a budget. You'll get some audiophile opinions, but most opinions will come from those who shop on a tight budget. You have given us minimal information to go on aside from your budget. You haven't told us what is important to you and your needs. There is no "Best". Heck, I wear different earbuds depending on what I need them for.

I love my Bose QC-Ultra, but they are not the "top" of the line for sound quality (but they do have amazing ANC and are very comfortable). From your list, the B&W Pi8 gets my vote. I'm a big Bowers & Wilkins fan (love their headphones). However, I suggest you also add the Bang & Olufsen Eleven to your list - those are also really nice higher end earbuds.

Lol yeah I've been using Bose earbuds for about twenty years in the gym (first wired soundsport earbuds using a Jabra BT3010 streamer pendant, then wired bluetooth soundsport earbuds, then original Quietcomfort, then QC2, and now QC-Ultra earbuds). They have been my de-facto choice for gym and cardio (outdoor cycling daily) needs. However like I said, they're still not the "best". Bowers & Wilkins scores very high on sound quality with the pi8 earbuds (which fixed one of the biggest issues with the Pi7 earbuds which sounded great but were VERY uncomfortable to wear lol) However, keep in mind that Bang & Olufsen often scores higher in terms of sound quality. The B&O Beoplay EX was the previous generation earbud that also scored VERY high on sound quality but had a terrible (almost useless) ANC system. The new B&O Eleven earbuds have fixed the ANC system (otherwise I believe they're very close to the Beoplay EX model)

Ahhh yeah if you wear glasses then headphones are terrible - I have never found anything comfortable for my glasses (but I wear contacts most of the time so it's not an issue) In that situation, I'd be going for high fidelity earbuds for sure. I'd be looking at Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 or the Bang & Olufsen Eleven - go for the most premium sound quality you can get. It'll be a huge upgrade from your laptop speakers that's for sure hahaha.

How do the Pi8 compare in ANC with the Bose Ultra? I have old wires BOSEs and the battery in the ANC unit is toast, holds charge for max 3h (not good for intercontinental flights) so I need to be double wired to USB and outlet. Got AKGs on eBay but they are not as comfortable and have a hissing background all the time. Time to upgrade I thought. Love my P8 but am worried how good the ANC is as these are pretty much exclusively for traveling.

Technis AZ-100 and B&W PI8 are the 2 best ones you can get, no debate

Pi8, sound great, B&O 11.

I see, I listen to a lot of jazz mostly rich arranged, intensive ones; same applies to dance music. I think I can let go some quantity for mid range in return of transparency; wide, punchy bass and crispy treble. So I guess I'll look into Pi8 instead. Thanks.

It's good enough for me. Hides most of the noise at the gym and that's all I really care about. It's either on or off, no levels. That's the nice part about the Technics but sound quality just doesn't stand up. If I'm working or traveling and I want really good ANC I go for my over ear headphones anyway. B&W ANC for my use is fine.

B&W Pi8 or Pi7 S2 and it's not even close, used em all and have no budget restrictions for some reason I just ever so slightly prefer the S2 sound but not sure that's because my new buds aren't broken in yet

Pi8

Erm, no? Pi8 is way better

I woukd keep bowers and wilkins pi8

Haha ok. Take a listen as the Geminis are my favorite to date. Denons sound good but I ended up selling them when I got the Pi8 which I found a little better detailed and a wider staging but too bad I couldn't get them to stay connected to my iPhone.

For anyone wondering, they are good but not better than pi8. Pi8 is still the best earbuds in the game.

Ah, man, that really sucks. Any you'd recommend instead? I tried the B&W Pi8 but they didn't fit as nicely, and where really expensive. And the Pi6 sadly wouldn't connect to my phone so I couldn't test them out. 

Try the Bowers and Wilkins Pi8 or the Jabra elite 10 gen 2. Both are comfy and one of the best on the market no doubt

They both provide stellar sound and the comfort is top notch

Pi8 definitely are towards realism but I'm guessing you prefer the sound of the nothing ear based on what you rather prefer. But yes, reviewers nowadays will definitely lie and deliver a sense that the more expensive item is "better"

Nice review. I've tried most earbuds (including these) and I think (at the end of the day) fit is going to be the deciding factor. They can be the best on the market at this or that, but if they don't fit well, it's a moot point. Example. The AZ-100's are very good, yes... but the fit was terrible for me (so I returned them). I've always had issues, though, with getting something to fit right (AirPods Pro, Sony's, etc.). For some reason... Bose fits me perfectly (I returned the QC Ultra's, however, since my QC 2's were as good; the immersion thing didn't impress me and Apple's spatial is better)... even though the sound quality is a bit lackluster. Like someone else mentioned, the Pi8's are fantastic (and if you use their case trick, it skyrockets to #1 as far as great audio). I'm heavily wedded to Apple's ecosystem, so I use AirPods Pro for most things... but if I'm trying to block out noise (which I'm sensitive to)... Bose all the way. Always. Every time. I haven't tried the super pricey ones (Devialet Gemini, B&O Beoplay, etc.), but I'm not spending $500+ on earbuds. While I know everyone hates them, the AirPod Pro's do the trick most of the time (for me).

I have all of them, apart from OnePlus. You will see that AZ100 will be the best one in the end. But, if you love bass, you will fall in love with Denon; the downside will be its size. The Pi8 is great as well, but the app... Also,I believe I must buy a memory foam ear tips for them.

The Pi8 is better than the AZ80, but the AZ100 is better than the Pi8.

Take it your apple fan having there buds at top the only good thing about them is transparency not sound quality Samsung buds pro 2 sound way better than apple's plus bowers and Wilkins pi6 and pi8 even better sound quality again than this

Just got the Pi8 - astounding earbuds.

The ANC isn’t even close to my APP2. However, they’re very comfortable and the mic is good, so I’m happy with that trade off. Other than having a good mic, they’re not as good as the Pi8 or Gemini II that I returned for having bad call quality.

Earbuds frequency response measurements are less reliable than headphones. They vary a lot ear to ear based upon one’s ear structure, distance from the driver to one’s ear canal, quality of seal, etc. There’s multiple reviewers that have addressed this in their reviews. Being close to the Harman response doesn’t automatically make it better or worse, that’s a human created measurement based upon an average of what people generally like. I thought the Pi8 sounded as good or better than the Gemini II in back to back testing, but others hate the Pi8 for how it sounds in their ears.

Just received the Bowers and Wilkins Pi8. They’re lovely but definitely needed some different tips and some EQ. End of the day, I don’t think any true wireless can compare to a good wired IEM set. But maybe that’s just me.

got them because I do have a rotation of buds right now but haven't really spent this much on one pair and wanted one of the high ends. I agree with everything you said but I do have some things the app can do better. First I would like a few EQ presets as yes I already made my custom EQ that works but sometimes I try the brand's EQs presets and sometimes if there is an EQ that is known as the signature tuning of the brand, sometimes I go with that if custom EQ doesn't work out. Second, I hate the voice assistant letting you know when a device is connected and its loud so you should be given the option to adjust the volume of it or change it to a tone instead which other buds have that option. Everything else is fine besides that and I immediately changed to third party tips as I rarely use originals. Using the Azla Sednaearfit Max Standard tips.

I'll be picking up the Pi8s to go with my PX cans as soon as I save some money

B&W Pi8 undoubtedly Not AZ100.

My top Picks are 1. Technics AZ80 2. Bowers and Wilkins Pi8 3. Denon Perl Pro

Yes but unfortunately no one earbud set contains all of the good things. Best ANC = Bose QC Ultra Best sound = MTW4, Technics Az80/100, Pi8, Devialet Gemini 2 etc etc Best comfort = Bose QC Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro imo Best mic and call quality = Galaxy Buds3 Pro imo. Some say Huawei pro 3 Best battery.. Most are 6hrs+ without anc and up to 6hrs with There are prob buds I've forgotten but I have tried a lot and my faves up to no have been the MTW4's. Not the best at everything but the best all round imo.

Same with my XM4s, after years of daily use though. Now they last about an hour. I recently replaced them with the AZ100, which are kinda fine.. Just fine. The sound is fine (fine by my standard of dailying H95 and PX8 recently), but the ANC is average and the wind noise cancelling is... non existent. I also demoed the Pi8 or whatever the B&W are called, also the Denon and a few others. Oh and I also have soundcore p40i. The Denon were just meh, the B&W were on the same level as the AZ100 for double the price. My soundcore sound impressive for the price but the ANC turns on and off as it pleases, unuseable. I got the AZ100 because the ANC is usable, not great but OK and the sound isnt wow to me but there is nothing to complain about. I'll get the MX6 whenever Sony release those if the ANC is a little better than the XM5s.

Of the ones you listed, the pi8s are the best sounding in my opinion. However, if you're interested in features as well as sound quality, you may want to look at the jbl tour pro 3. They're pretty great.

Wow, the Pi8 didn’t even make the list?

Same. I am also pleased with the Pi8, although they both are very different.

I kept the B&W Pi8 and couldn’t be happier with them. I got the extended warranty in case anything happens, especially at their price. They sound incredible and they fit better than anything I’ve had in the past with the standard tips. Good luck with your search. I lost my last pair which were the Sennheiser Momentum 4 while cleaning up the yard and found them in the deep grass months later! 🤦🏼‍♂️ Although they were still in the case, only the left one worked.

Devialet Gemini 2 without a doubt beat anything out for sound alone. Second would be the new bowers and Wilkins pi8 earbuds, crazy good as well. Gotta pay to play. Well worth the investment.

I sold my Pi8 and bought the AZ100. The Pi8s had a perfect, full, and warm sound, but they were plagued with issues. Every unit I owned had a faint hissing sound, the volume wouldn’t go low enough, one bud would randomly disconnect if no music was played for a while, the ANC was bad, mics are shit across all modes, and the battery life wasn’t great. Absolutely agree with the tones, bunch of clowns at B&W thought this was good to go and they’re also obnoxiously loud. Every B&W headphone and earbud has this issue of being loud. I guess they’re all hard of hearing. The AZ100s don’t sound nearly as good, which was disappointing. Personally, they’re not even close for sound but it might just be my preference. AZ100s excel in literally everything else and sound way better with their Treble+ preset. I wish they had the same preset with less bass as I can’t recreate it with the sliders for the life of me. I’m not sure why they lean so much on the bass… it’s really boomy.

I bought a set from Amazon which has a great price on them at the moment and I find them to have fantastic sound quality especially for the current price but are beat by just a smidgen by the Bowers Pi8 which has a grander sound to me, not sure if it's to do with the slightly larger driver size. Both great sets but Perl Pro is priced better.

The Denon's sound very good but not as good as either of my B&Ws earbuds. When listening to either the Pi7s2 or Pi8 and then switching to the Denons I notice how horrible the vocals really are in the Denon's. If I judge an earbuds sound quality by how well it produces bass the Dennon's do well but so do the Pi7s2s. For overall sound quality I chose the Pi8's.

B&W PI8 or Devialet Gemini II's would be my choice. All the ones you listed are very good but the two I listed are in a different league.

My go to earbuds are the Devialet Gemini II and B&W Pi8's. I find that they are both very good but I reach for the Gemini II's more often.

Pi7 don't, just don't. If you want B&W, go with pi8, one of the best sound, good anc, no bugs after firmware update, good fit. But price tag is higher. Devialet Gemini 2 are also good, technics az100 more budget friendly but not cheap.

Same issues. The only thing going for them for me is that they stay in my ear and the ability to connect the case to IFE while travelling is excellent. Other than that the volume is so low that you can't even comment on sound quality. I also tried troubleshooting, sent them back to BW but no improvement. Stayed away from the PI8 for that reason and I struggle to believe anyone who says they are excellent.

Hollow and tinny sound might be a caused by a bad fit. You need to make sure that you are using eartips that fit well, and also make sure that you put the earbuds in your ear the right way. Sometimes you need to twist them a bit. But fit is very, very important. I returned my B&W Pi8’s because of this reason. I tried various eartips but I couldn’t get a tight fit. So I bought a pair of Technics AZ80’s and they fit great.

It’s blasphemy to say Bose sounds better. It’s just bloated and muddy, especially their flagship QC Ultra earbuds that are just a buggy mess. But the B&W Pi8 do sound better, even the Denon Perl Pro. But Bose is the only one that competes with Sony in terms of ANC. The Momentum True Wireless 4 have ok ANC, the Perl Pro’s ANC is subpar (even at their $150 sale price), and the Pi8’s ANC is only slight better than that.

I have. The JBL Tour Pro 3, Denon PerL Pro after their acoustic measurements, B&W Pi8, Jabra Elite 10 gen 2, and even more budget-friendly options. The EX and Eleven are overpriced and provide generic warm audio. Nothing wrong with that if you want to spend the money. But their ANC is b-tier at most with an interesting and comfortable design. Nothing wrong with liking them, but there are other true wireless earbuds that sound better and have better ANC.

Test out the B&W pi8. Sounded better than AZ80 and momentum 4 IMO

Both MTW4 and pi8 are my top choice

Change ear tip size bro. Or buy other branded ear tips or foam tip. I used spin fit omi for my pi8. It helps it last longer with less irritation from stock tip ( irritation around 30 mins ) extended to 4 hrs!

My experience, pi8 then MTW4

Still a poor design flaw. You will simply have a battery that deteriorates faster due to how many charge cycles it has gone through.

So I personally just upgraded from my Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds as well. I did a bunch of research & narrowed down my search to these earbuds: -Sony WF-1000XM5 -Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (& QC II) -Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 -Technics EAH-AZ100 -Denon Perl Pro -Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 (& Buds Pro) I tried the XM5, which had a slightly nicer sound quality & bass extension, slightly nicer ANC/transparency/call quality, & overall nice design & connectivity. My issue with these is twofold: one, I want to get away from foam tips because I'm tired of replacing them & they hurt a little after some hours; two, the tips of the buds aren't as long as the XM4, so I just couldn't get them to fit my ears. Returned but otherwise would've kept them. The Bose I didn't try, but I did try the QC II earbuds, which are virtually identical in real world use. I returned my QC II because the noise cancelling on the high frequency range was just bad compared to my XM4. At the time, I got Sony to give me an out-of-warranty replacement on the buds since the battery life was crapping out after an update. The Pi8 were the most comfortable earbuds I've ever tried, the sound quality was top-notch (even with the AAC codec), the case retransmission feature made them sound even better, & they look super nice. I had major issues with them unfortunately. ANC/transparency/call quality was unacceptable for $400 earbuds, as were the constant connectivity issues I experienced. The buds would randomly not turn on when taken out of the case, or just one wouldn't turn on, or they wouldn't connect, or sometimes the buds would randomly disconnect/reconnect, or sometimes the buds would disconnect from each other. I really wanted to keep them but they were borderline unusable, even after an update. Returned. I've tried the Pixel Buds Pro twice, & I tried the Pixel Buds Pro 2 once recently. I had high hopes for them since I have a Pixel phone & since I really enjoyed the Pixel Buds 2 that I had before my XM4. Both of the Pros had sound quality that wasn't as good as my XM4, as was the ANC/transparency. They'd be decent for the right person, but not for me. Returned. I was going to try the Denon Perl Pro earbuds until I tried the Technics AZ100. The Technics have virtually everything I was looking for & then some: LDAC codec support for high quality listening; ANC/transparency/call quality that is as good (if not better) than my XM4 (the ANC doesn't block as much high frequency sounds due to silicone tips instead of foam, but it's close enough for me); super comfortable & I don't have to jam the earbuds into my ear canal; very customizable touch controls for each ear bud; great battery life; slim case; solid connectivity with no drop outs so far; low latency for video; and they look great! TL;DR: I bought the XM5, AZ100, Pixel Buds Pro 2, QC II Earbuds, & Pi8 to replace my XM4. XM5 didn't fit right, Pixel Buds weren't great, QC II/Ultra were a wash, & Pi8 had way too many issues for the price. AZ100 are such solid all-rounders that they're worth the price. If the XM5 fit your ears, they're also really good. Pi8 are phenomenal if listening quality is your top priority. Bose are decent as well. I picked AZ100!

Noble Fokus Rex 5 are supreme, Pi8’s are a close second

Same, I usually listen about 3/4 volume on most headphones and these I had to max out and still wasn't loud enough. And yes I troubleshot every possible issue.

Tw4 and Az80 are known for not being very loud. Denon Perl Pro, Devialet Gemii or B&W Pi8 won't dissapoint you.

If you're only aiming for sound quality the best are Denon Perl Pro (best for bass) the pi8 (the best balance and mids) AZ100 (best for details) and the Gemini 2 (best overall but more expensive and subjectively the best because of their unique sound). If money is tight i'd go for the Denons, the difference in price with the others is way bigger than the difference in sound quality.

I have a pair of B&W pi8s. They are noise cancelling so less helpful if you want to listen out for traffic, but I do most of my running on trails and I love the immersion in whatever I’m listening to. Also brilliant for commuting.

B&W Pi8 for me. Pairs easily and consistently with my iPhone. Better sound quality than I expected with earbud (my usual over the ear headphones for flights are Sony XM2s from 2017 that are still going strong). I recently stopped using my Sonys on flights because the Pi8s have solid ANC and do the job for me. I also love the tethering function so I can use them on flights instead of the shitty provided headphones. They look and feel very premium. I’ve gotten a lot of random compliments on them or been asked what they are. They just stand out and look beautiful in your ears. They are the most comfortable earbuds I’ve ever tried. They charge quickly in the case. I originally bought them because I wanted a good balance of sound, ANC, reputable company, and premium look and feel. I’ve been very happy although I should note I’ve only had them for about a month. I think you could find a pair that sound better, or have better ANC, or better battery life, etc. but I don’t think you’ll find one that does all of them overall better than the Pi8s. For the record, after extensive research, my runner ups were the Devialet Gemini IIs (probably in the Opéra de Paris configuration because I love the high end look).

I’ll copy my comment from another thread: B&W Pi8 for me. Pairs easily and consistently with my iPhone. Better sound quality than I expected with earbud (my usual over the ear headphones for flights are Sony XM2s from 2017 that are still going strong). I recently stopped using my Sonys on flights because the Pi8s have solid ANC and do the job for me. I also love the tethering function so I can use them on flights instead of the shitty provided headphones. They look and feel very premium. I’ve gotten a lot of random compliments on them or been asked what they are. They just stand out and look beautiful in your ears. They are the most comfortable earbuds I’ve ever tried. They charge quickly in the case. I originally bought them because I wanted a good balance of sound, ANC, reputable company, and premium look and feel. I’ve been very happy although I should note I’ve only had them for about a month. I think you could find a pair that sound better, or have better ANC, or better battery life, etc. but I don’t think you’ll find one that does all of them overall better than the Pi8s.

If you value quality music reproduction, you may want to look at the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. They are pricey, but sound Great.

The ANC is not as good as a pair of Bose earbuds I also own, but the music sounds better.

I have a pair of Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds that sound far better than any others I have tried. Very musical.

Pi8 as well. Its a toss up between these two for me

Yup. These 3 are in a class of their own and which u pick is just based on budget. Cant go wrong with any

This is marketing and brand reach doing what it does best. There are plenty of brands doing great things in the market that aren't getting a lot of attention. JLAB's Epic Lab earbuds were fantastic; JBL, Moondrop, Nothing Ear, SoundPeats, numerous other brands tested very well against the top of my list, which consisted of the Denon Perl Pro, Technics AZ80, Sennheiser True Wireless Momentum 4, Sony XM5, AirPods Pro, B&W Pi7 S2 and Pi8. I have the AZ100s on the way, and I'm sure they'll occupy one of those top spots. It's important to note, however, that many of these brands do not need to push as many units to remain successful. At the economies of scale companies like Sony, Sennheiser, and Bose are operating at, the investment into their production, distribution, customer service, and operations pipelines is immense. They are likely expecting to sell tens of thousands of units, to the thousands that other brands need to turn a profit. And while you may see those more prolific brands everywhere, don't forget the communities of people on social media platforms that regularly market and recommend the opposing brands. They're not as common, but that's to be expected and will remain that way by nature. In other words, while the popular brands may be ubiquitous, that is by design. It doesn't mean opposing manufacturers are on a downward trajectory. This was the assumption when Jabra cancelled its TWS ANC lineup, and that may have been part of the decision, but Jabra had other, more profitable interests and chose to constrain their business goals around those interests because there was more opportunity there. As someone that's tested dozens of ANC earbuds (and has a wide ranging collection of dedicated, wired IEMs), I have very few biases when it comes to competing brands. If it works well, I'll use the thing. I have no qualms recommending a pair of Soundcore VR P10s, right alongside top-tier TWS sets if I think it fits the individual's use case. Recently, I took a long flight overseas and left all the other major TWS brands behind and took a cheap pair of PortaPros and a $20 pair of Aliexpress stem-style earbuds with me. Everyone else on the plane was wearing AirPods.

My ranking (pictured [here](https://imgur.com/a/tws-ranking-left-to-right-MBqgKk5)) based on sound quality, battery life, app, and features: MTW4 (w/ Sound Personalization) > Technics AZ100/AZ80 > Denon Perl Pro (w/ AAT) > B&W Pi8 > Devialet Gemini II > Sony XM5 > APP2 > Bose QC Ultra Sound quality isn't an empirical measurement. It will be based on preference. Most TWS within a certain price range aren't going to suffer from "qualitative" issues and will all perform well, but will be tuned very differently from one another. Recency bias also plays a major role in recommendations within the community, so keep that in mind. MTW4 with SP was the best balance of tuning, battery life, features, and user experience for me, and is my typical go-to. I'm also a fan of rock/metal and hip hop, thus a set like the AZ100, which excels in many other areas -- including battery life and ANC -- and beats the MTW4 in some genres, gets ranked lower as the timbre and tonality in genres with high gain guitars is lacking. It's as if Technics applied a high shelf filter and rounded off the treble, which diminishes some of the dynamics and energy/attack of guitar-based tracks. AZ80 is better in this regard, but a downgrade in ANC and battery life. The Perl Pro sound stellar with AAT, but AAT can be hit or miss for some and is very tip dependent. AAT *should* be used in conjunction with EQ to get the most out of the Perl Pros -- something many users miss, as AAT is correction, not intended as a replacement EQ -- and I'd recommend looking at alternative tips like the Dunu S&S, Divinus Velvet, Spinfit Omni/Neo, etc. B&W Pi8 sounds very good, but is a bit too neutral for my tastes. It was also plagued with connectivity issues. I replaced my original unit, and had the same problems, so that set is rarely used. I know a lot of users that swear by this set, but it was not near the top of my list even without considering the connectivity issues. EQ could not fix my issues with the tuning; in some cases, it introduced sibilance. Outside of ANC, the Bose QC Ultra is at the bottom of my list. And to be fair, that list is much larger than what was pictured above as I have tested dozens of TWS sets. The tuning of the Bose is just not for me, but I know other hobbyists that swear by it. The ANC is world class, however. One of the few sets I quickly returned as I had no interest in keeping it around, even to collect dust. TLDR; this is very subjective, and I wouldn't recommend basing your buying decision on one user or reviewer's opinion unless you know your preferences align -- and even then, you may be disappointed with the results. If sound quality is your one and only goal, there are better options. Even the best TWS in my rotation will rarely beat out a dedicated IEM, running on something like the Q5k, iFi Go Pods, or the FiiO UTWS5 -- the former and the latter both have access to EQ. Unless I need ANC or TWS features, this is what I use the majority of the time.

Pink Floyd is tied with Tool as my favorite band of all time; pretty much molded my music career. But in this case, I would not recommend the MTW4, but the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. This is the area where they excel. They are more neutral and well-balanced. Due to their tuning, classic rock era records (which are mixed and mastered much differently than mainstream records) sound phenomenal, with more forward and present mids, and a less prominent sub and mid bass region. Highly recommend the Pi8 if Floyd is your go-to.

Sony and Bose are still the leads if ANC is your main priority. However, they are much further down the list if you're prioritizing sound quality/tuning. My current list consists of the Denon Perl Pros, Technics AZ100s/AZ80s, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, and a few other budget options. The Devialet Gemini II and Noble Audio Rex5 are both pricier sets, but the Gemini II -- while it's an excellent sounding earbud -- had several issues that held it back for me. The deal breaker in my case was latency, which was quite high even for a TWS. The Rex5 is the best earbud Noble has put out thus far, but they need to make improvements to their app and overall user experience. My current rotation looks something like the AZ100s, MTW4 and Denon Perl Pro, as each provides a good overall balance of battery life, sound quality, and features. The AZ100s have excellent ANC, that gets close to competing with Sony and Bose, but is a slight downgrade in some areas of the frequency response compared to the AZ80s. The battery life is excellent, however, which makes them a contender as my main travel earbud. The Denon Perl Pros with AAT can be one of the best sounding buds on the market, but AAT can be hit or miss for some and is very tip dependent -- and I do suggest you change the tips, to something like the Dunu S&S. The Perl Pros also offer an EQ over the top of the AAT correction, which is a nice touch. I still reach for the MTW4 a lot of the time as well; with Sound Personalization it is still one of the best sounding earbuds on the market, with very solid ANC and transparency. I was not as sold on the Pi8, although I found the "case as transmitter" feature much more useful than I originally thought. I preferred the bass response of the Pi7 S2. In general the Pi8 feels a bit safer, and a bit more boring, for lack of a better word. It is still an excellent sounding earbud if you prefer a more balanced, more neutral tuning that prioritizes clarity and detail. I tend to lean towards warmth and energy, and so it didn't quite make the top of my list. TLDR; if money is no object, buy a BT dongle DAC/Amp or ifi Go Pods/FiiO BT ear hooks and a pair of dedicated IEMs. For now, this market is still juggling a "winner" and you'll be hard pressed to decide what is the best for the price -- no matter if it comes at a premium.

Sound: Sennheiser's Momentum lineup, Denon Perl Pros, Technics AZ80/AZ100, and B&W Pi8, in that order (taking into account Sound Personalization and AAT are being used). Everything else on the market, from the typical brands, falls below that line -- APP2, XM5, Bose QC Ultra, etc. Longevity, having tested dozens of these sets, the AirPods Pros are likely to outlast most of the other brands (my first and second gens are still charging well without any discernible issues). I've had battery and charging issues with the XM4s and XM5s, Sennheiser's MTW3 (MTW4 hasn't been on the market long enough to know whether there are any battery longevity issues); Denon is already showing serious battery degradation issues; Technics are in the charging issue camp as well (one or both earbuds often do not charge and need to be reseated often, similar to the Sony's); Pi8 has intermittent connectivity issues. The list goes on. There are outliers like the JLAB Epic Lab Edition, which have excellent battery life and seem to hold up well over time. Surprisingly, these are some of the best sounding and longest lasting buds on the market, for sometimes half the price of competitors. It can't compete with the top brands on tuning, but it gets damn close for the price. At some point, chasing sound quality (and longevity) begs the question, should you just sacrifice wireless connectivity and choose a traditional IEM? Despite owning most of the current premium earbud lineup, I find myself recommending and often daily driving the Epic Labs -- just due to the convenience of the battery life alone. And if that battery starts to degrade, there's enough overhead where I could still potentially get a good amount of time out of them before the issues are untenable.

Apple AirPods Pro are near the bottom of my list for sound quality. Their value is in feature set and ecosystem integration. It no longer owns the top spot in ANC, which goes to the Bose QC Ultra. If you want the best earbuds for sound quality and balance of features, Denon Perl Pro with AAT, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 with Sound Personalization, Technics AZ100, Technics AZ80, Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, Pi7 S2, and the Sony WF-1000XM5. In that order. If you need a cheaper option, the JLab Epic Lab Edition is a great “budget” option. I don’t own the JBL sets, but I’ve heard good things. Which buds you choose should be based on personal preference. If I preferred a more neutral tuning, the Pi8 would probably be higher on my list. I prefer JM-1 or V-shaped tunings, with strong low frequency emphasis, and bright, clear treble. The best overall performer if you places ANC and sound quality on the same scale would be either the AZ100 or MTW4. Both have solid ANC, with the AZ100 coming out ahead, but the MTW4 beating the Technics in tuning due to the AZ100s strange upper mid/treble timbre. Anything below the JLab, you’d need to reassess your expectations. Some sets have decent enough sound quality, but below a certain budget you’d might as well shoot for a dedicated IEM and something like a Qudelix 5k for your wireless connection.

This is a repost, but is still relevant. Sony and Bose are still the leads if ANC is your main priority. However, they are much further down the list if you're prioritizing sound quality/tuning. My current rotation consists of the Denon Perl Pros, Technics AZ100s/AZ80s, Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, and a few other budget options (JLab Epic Lab, Beats Fit Pros, etc.). The Devialet Gemini II and Noble Audio Rex5 are both pricier sets, but the Gemini II -- while it's an excellent sounding earbud -- had several issues that held it back for me. The deal breaker in my case was latency, which was quite high even for a TWS. The Rex5 is the best earbud Noble has put out thus far, but they need to make improvements to their app and overall user experience. My current rotation looks something like the AZ100s, MTW4 and Denon Perl Pro, as each provides a good overall balance of battery life, sound quality, and features. The AZ100s have excellent ANC, that gets close to competing with Sony and Bose, but is a slight downgrade in some areas of the frequency response compared to the AZ80s. The battery life is excellent, however, which makes them a contender as my main travel earbud. The Denon Perl Pros with AAT can be one of the best sounding buds on the market, but AAT can be hit or miss for some and is very tip dependent -- and I do suggest you change the tips, to something like the Dunu S&S. The Perl Pros also offer an EQ over the top of the AAT correction, which is a nice touch. I still reach for the MTW4 a lot of the time as well; with Sound Personalization it is still one of the best sounding earbuds on the market, with very solid ANC and transparency. The new Smart Control Plus app finally allows you to disable ANC, which was the only real weak point of this set. I was not as sold on the Pi8, although I found the "case as transmitter" feature much more useful than I assumed it would be. I preferred the bass response of the Pi7 S2. In general the Pi8 feels a bit safer, and a bit more boring, for lack of a better word. It is still an excellent sounding earbud if you prefer a more balanced, more neutral tuning that prioritizes clarity and detail. I tend to lean towards warmth and energy, and so it didn't quite make the top of my list. If you’re a neutral plus bass boost lover, it doesn’t get much better than the Pi8 in this price range. TL;DR: For now, this market is still juggling a "winner" and you'll be hard pressed to decide what is the “best” for the price -- no matter if it comes at a premium. Of all the major brands, I lean heavily toward the MTW4, Denon Perl Pro, AZ100 (unless you enjoy metal/rock, then replace this with the AZ80), and the Pi8, in that specific order. If you want a more budget conscious set, you can often find the JLab Epic Lab for half the price of the aforementioned brands, and it’s a set that’s not recommended enough. Excellent sound quality and decent ANC for the price.

Noble Rex5 by far in terms of sound quality and mic quality. Fine for gym use, commute, and work. Only issue is slightly worse ANC than the Geminis (hopefully fixed in future software patch) and in case ergonomics (they don't come in and out easily). And more personally, for some reason I can't get the right volume. Either too loud or too soft. Also kind of visually loud.... green earbuds. But sound quality is A+ with good call volume. Second best devialet geminis. Good bass. Vocals sound muted on these though, they don't drive highs well. Kind of like instruments are infront of you and main singer is 20 rows away. Pi8s were okay, didn't test them long since both geminis and Noble were better for me. Technics were around the same level, maybe a notch below. Under that sits all the other standard buds like galaxy 3 pro / etc. Only better atm true wireless IMO might be the Breggz Audio. They retail for $2,000. I have not tried them (but 4 drivers vs Rex's 5)

I really don't think the TP3's give up anything in sound quality to the AZ100s. Bass rendering is DIFFERENT but down to personal preference, and the TP3s are more dynamic in the upper ranges. For musicality I like the Pi8s better but for all around use, office/gym/calls... the TP3s are my favorite set on the market right now.

I don't see a huge difference in soundstage between the two... Pi8s beat them both for me, but they're all solid. JBL app has hands down the best EQ of any I've seen and overall they have a crazy comprehensive feature set. Case transmitter/receiver is a game changer also. I use them plugged in even when I'm just doing calls, the connectivity is so much cleaner than BT.

I tried all three at the same time, with the same songs in about 10 different genres. TLDR; the Technics AZ80 for me, despite slightly better battery life in MW09. An all rounder in sound. PI8 are very pretty looking, but bad call quality, enough to not regret at all sending them back.

So I own the xm5s the Bose QC ultra and just picked up the pi8 this evening. When I first put them on I thought something was broken because there was so much treble the high pitch sound hurt my ears. I changed up the eq but the bass on the pi8 is nowhere near as hard hitting as the other 2. Yes the bass is more clear on the pi8 but it doesn't give that sensation that I get from sitting in a car with a sub like the xm5 and the Bose QC ultra I use comply foam tips on all the ear buds for comparison

I like the sound of the QC ultra and xm5 better then the pi8 I have since returned them and purchased the beoplay ex hopefully they are more to my taste. I just can't see how the Gemini 2 are worth 750 dollars for something that will eventually be garbage unless they're repairable (changing out the batteries) My first set on Sony's I changed the batteries in them 3 times and kept them for 4 years.

Bower wilkins pi8 if you can afford them .They really are great sounding and a very nice fit as well .I swapped the tips for the spin fit w1 tips

I have the opposite experience, tried both the Denon and B&W, heard SO MUCH good here on Reddit about the Denon, I wanted them to be good. My first focus is sound quality, the rest is optional. And when I tried them it was a total let down, not great but not bad, that's all. The sound is lacking detail. Maybe good for the price, but that's it. I wasn't expecting anything with the B&W, but I was astonished by the sound, especially about the global restitution and the details. Bass is good, treble is smooth and not hard at all like people are saying. I also tried the Hifiman which for me had the best overall sound, but they had issues with Bluetooth while walking, impossible to use when moving. So I kept the B&W. If that helps anyone, I use at home the Dan Clark E3 with preamp and amp.

You should they are great

Easily to most debated topic in bluetooth right now ....Denon vs pi8s vs Az80...for me the pi8s have no equal in sound and comfort for me. However the Denon perl Pro are just under them and with their new price of $149..it is easily the best choice of them all now if you can take advantage of the price deduction now. But at their orginal price of $350...the Az80 at $280 was the best purchase. The Az80, while 3rd in sound, has the sound that is still amazing in timbre and at the cost to performance ratio,  represented a better value when all were new. Overall I still don't believe any bluetooth earphone is worth more than $300, let alone the overpriced cost of $399 for the PI8. I regret buying them still today becauee they don't live up to the cost-performance over the denon or az80. They have battery issues and the features work at a basic level at best. But again if all you asking is who is the top and best in sound regardless of margin of advantage it had over the other, the PI8 are it. Just be ready to spend the money and get issues with the battery life and charging sync consistency( You can find you earbuds only at 80% aftrt having them charging in the csse for 2 days) .  For those interested: Sound= 1. pi8:10 2. Denon perl Pro: 9.7 3. AZ80: 8.8  My overall score though with features, cost, and performance trust as of today 1. Denon perl Pro $149 2. AZ80 $260 3. PI8 $399

That's a loaded question. Cost focused options (no order)  1. Earfun Air pro 4 ( 50 hours total in battery with over 8 per listening charge, very rich sound, comfort is just like all airpods like shaped earphone, good ANC, good phone call quality and under $100. 2. Bose 2nd Gen QC with over 10 per charge, greatest ANC, amazing hear thru, good phone call quality, and good sound, good fit under $180 3. Denon perl pro.. Will get you at least 5 hours of battery life, decent ANC, decent phone call quality, but the best sound quality under $250, could argue higher. Under $180 If you don't care about prices.  1. Az100 easily!  Beast battery life, good comfort, nice ANC, good hear thru, one of very best timbre, mid range, and bass quality out there. A very nice phone quality with the best ANC phone call noise block ever seen in the world. 3 device connection,. Amazing app and pen point touch control that can customized.. $299 one of the world's greatest dependable, zero problem devices in Bluetooth.  2. Noble Rex5... One of the best complete range audio experience you can get. Comfort a little on the chucky side but still nice for me, ANC is OK, hear thru is OK, but the phone call quality is one of the very best. ...can be a little tricky to get the perfect sound for some people due to the 3 level EQ system. You have to know what you are doing to get the best. But once you do... Its hard to beat it's sound $449  Honorable mention:  3. PI8'S.. They are Kryptonite and the sun at the same time. I would suggest this hands down as the best period in sound and comfort. But because they have horrible ANC and bad phone call quality I don't think this fits your list. But if just sound and comfort.. They are "inevitable"! Oh.. They have a battery drainage issue if you don't used them regularly they drain every day of none use. But omg, I can't stop picking them up to listen to my music. 

The Earphone game of subjective views always gets people going. Dude congrats, if this is the best of 2025 to your subjective view and ear ...nobody can say you shouldn't think this. I have the pi8 and Gemini 2 and feel they are the absolute best in sound quality (while not living up to anything much after that)and yet I would take the AZ100 out the door faster than I would them because Technics have been more reliable and offer better all-around experience while the others are overpriced and don't ever prove the price difference in sound over the az100. So yes, subjectively to me too, I feel they are the ones to beat this year and believe it will be a long year and it will be tough to do it. Congrats regardless ...and don't forget to enjoy music more than analyzing it.

For me, this is the big 5 in endgame audio TWS earbuds. 1. ($449) Noble FoKus Rex5 2. ($499) Devialet Gemini 2 3. ($399) Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 4. ($249) Hifiman Svanar Wireless 5. ($299) Technics AZ100

Top 3 - Noble FoKus Rex5 - Technics AZ100 - Devialet Gemini 2 Honorable Mention - Bowers & Wilkins Pi8

Do you actually own the BeoPlay EX? I've had them since launch and they are not close in terms of sound quality. They sound quite thin & have 0 bass or dynamics. I used to think they were great, but many others have impressed me much much more. Devialet Gemini 2, Technics AZ100, B&W Pi8 are all far superior in terms of dynamics, transients, texture, resolution, etc. Btw I come from 16 years of musical experience (played in Carnegie Hall), own many high end headphones & earbuds, and have a very keen ear.

If a great sound experience is your goal, Bowers and Wilkins Pi8 is an amazing set of earbuds. They're worth the price

Currently have the Sennheiser Momentum TW4, Sony XM5, Buds Pro 3 And Bowers and Wilkins Pi8. Sennheiser is the winner for me.

My personal top-3 is: 1. Technics AZ-80 2. Bower & Wilkins Pi8 3. Sennheiser MTW 4

Of the ones I used B&W Pi8 are the best in sound quality.

I have pi8 and love the sound quality but the mics are almost unusable. Such a pity.  Had frequent connectivity issues but all resolved with the last firmware update.

I'm in a similar journey so this thread I could have created almost equally.  Currently using the Pi8 but the mic quality is so terrible I started eying az100, perL pro and Nothing ear. It is very hard to find the perfect one.

best sound, PI8 best anc out of these, Sony

I wanted to like the Denons, but, those damn things just wont stay in my ears, regardless of the 6 or so different tips I tried, so I tried the PI8's and low and behold, mind boggling sound, and they stay put in my ears.. AZ 80's are solid, premium buds, but sound wise, the B&W PI8 and the Denons pearl pros definitely sound better

i felt the same way, but they hit one out of the ball park with the PI8; TONS better than the PI7-2

Bowers and Wilken, PI8, full stop, look no further

I just got B&W Pi8 and love them

I ordered the pi8.I had momentum mtw4 and wanted to test these new favourite earbuds of Flossy Carter.Everybody says they are better on sound quality.let see

To add to the discussion.I bought two pairs for me and my girlfriend.On the first the right bud has no sound .I hear only some scratches when touching the touch panel.After only a month!The second had wave like feedback again in right earbud.Both sent for rma to the store that bought them and we got new pair.Now after a month they work but if it happens again sorry sennheiser,I will go for BW pi8.The sound from mtw4 is phenomenal but they didn't fixed the mtw3 problems

I agree with the pi8 sibilance.I had them for a week and I didn't like the sharp treble.I prefer mtw4 that is my favorite pair.I didn't try the az100 yet

Quiet comfort for ultimate ANC, PI8 for ultimate sound quality

happy with pi8 but if you like more v-shape sound go for gemini or rex5

Ma vai a cagare .. io ho le BOWER & WiLKiNS top gamma da 399 euro , e Ho anche queste EarFun Air Pro4 , sono un Audiofilo appassionato da 30 anni , e non ho mai ascoltato nulla di simile al prezzo che ho speso per acquistarle ( 79 euro ) è assurdo, ma queste EarFun come qualita' del suono non hanno nulla da invidiare alle mie B&W , alle mie sennhaiser top gamma e alle mie Bose da 360 euro .. non capisco come hanno fatto a crearle e a prezzarle 79 euro ... chi le conosce, chi le ascoltate e le ha comprate, puo' ritenersi fortunato, anzi miracolato .

Stay away from B&W. All models have trash call quality. Crazy disappointing. Denon Pro Pearl are a big upgrade vs B&W. Good earbuds going for $150 these days. No complaints on my conference calls now.

I would suggest Technics and Bowers and Wilkins on top of QC ultra. Galaxy Buds 3 pro is not even close to competition. Airpods are more consistent and we have to wait till the end of the year to see if Sony spats something out. Found a thread that might help others to find the "[best earbuds](https://www.reddit.com/r/soundnation/comments/1in69fm/best_wireless_earbuds_2025_reddit_recommendations/)" Yeah the 'top sources' are not good.

Long time Sennheiser fan, MTW2 was fantastic. Two pairs of MTW4 went faulty. Sound for audio is great, but terrible phone call issues and cracking issue which a lot of people have reported. Changed for B&W and no issues.