Introduction
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Wireless Earbuds offer a premium audio experience with advanced features designed for clarity, comfort, and convenience. These in-ear Bluetooth earphones incorporate a true 24-bit connection and Qualcomm chipset with aptX Lossless technology, ensuring high-resolution audio that adapts dynamically to your environment. This manual provides essential information for setting up, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting your Pi8 earbuds.
What's in the Box
- 2 Pi8 ear buds
- Pi8 charging case and charging cable
- Ear tips (XS/S/M/L)
- Cable
- Literature pack
Setup
To begin using your Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds, ensure they are charged and properly paired with your device. The earbuds support Bluetooth 5.4 for stable connectivity and offer Google Fast Pair for quick pairing with Android devices. Multi-point pairing allows seamless transitions between two connected devices. The 'Made for iPhone' certification ensures optimal audio performance with iOS devices.
Image: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds in Jade Green, worn by a person, demonstrating fit and appearance.
Image: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds resting in their charging case, indicating charging status.
Ear Tip Selection
For optimal sound quality and comfort, select the ear tips that provide the best seal in your ear canal. The Pi8 earbuds come with XS, S, M, and L silicone ear tips. The medium size is pre-attached. These tips feature an integrated mesh to protect the speaker grill.
Image: A selection of silicone ear tips in different sizes (L, S, XS) provided with the earbuds.
Operating Instructions (Controls)
The Pi8 earbuds feature intuitive capacitive touch sensors on both earbuds for control. These sensors respond to gentle touches, preventing discomfort from pressing the earbuds into your ear.
- Single Tap: Play/Pause audio.
- Double Tap: Go to previous track.
- Triple Tap: Go to next track.
- Long Push and Hold (Left Earbud): Toggles between Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Passthrough modes.
- Long Push and Hold (Right Earbud): Activates voice assistant.
- Answering/Ending Calls: Double tap to answer, long push and hold to end.
Customizing Controls via App
The Bowers & Wilkins Music App allows for some customization of the touch controls. You can switch the long push and hold function from ANC/Voice Assistant to volume control, enabling you to increase or decrease volume directly from the earbuds.
Image: Smartphone screen displaying the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, showing options for customizing touch controls.
Audio Quality
The Pi8 earbuds deliver exceptional audio fidelity thanks to their advanced internal components. They feature a 24-bit connection and Qualcomm chipset with aptX Lossless, ensuring high-resolution audio transmission. The 12mm carbon cone drive units, adapted from the Px8 headphones, minimize distortion and enhance high-frequency detail. An upgraded Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) further refine the sound. The soundstage feels open and airy, providing great detail and definition between instruments and vocals. Higher frequencies are crisp, and music generally has good power, even tracks without heavy bass.
Equalization (EQ)
You can customize the sound profile of your Pi8 earbuds using the Equalizer feature in the Bowers & Wilkins Music App. You can adjust a 5-band EQ with 0.5 increment adjustments or activate the proprietary 'True Sound' setting for a balanced sound output. Your custom manual EQ settings will persist even when switching between 'True Sound' and manual modes.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) & Passthrough
The Pi8 earbuds feature bespoke active noise cancellation that adapts to your surroundings, ensuring an uninterrupted listening experience. They are equipped with three microphones for enhanced call clarity. While the ANC is effective at blocking lower frequencies and rumbling noises, some higher-pitched white noise may still be audible. The earbuds are designed to avoid the 'cabin pressure' sensation often associated with strong ANC.
The Passthrough mode allows external sounds to be fed into the earbuds, increasing your awareness of your surroundings. The strategically placed microphones prioritize sounds from in front of you, making it easier to have conversations while wearing the earbuds.
Image: Close-up of a Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbud in a person's ear, highlighting its design and fit.
Battery Life & Charging
The Pi8 earbuds provide up to 6.5 hours of playback with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled. The smart charging case extends the total listening time to 22 hours. For quick power-ups, a 15-minute charge in the case provides up to 2 hours of playback. A full charge of the earbuds in the case takes just under an hour, while fully charging the case itself takes approximately 2 hours.
The charging case supports Qi wireless charging. Additionally, if your smartphone supports reverse wireless charging, you can use your phone to charge the earbud case, providing a convenient power source when a cable is not available.
Image: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 charging case with earbuds, connected to a charging cable.
Unique Retransmission Feature
A standout feature of the Pi8 charging case is its retransmission capability. Using the included USB-C to 3.5mm auxiliary cable, you can connect the charging case to any device with a 3.5mm audio output (e.g., in-flight entertainment systems, older MP3 players, or even gym equipment). The case will then broadcast the audio wirelessly to your Pi8 earbuds using aptX Adaptive technology, allowing you to enjoy high-quality sound from non-Bluetooth sources.
Image: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds in Jade Green, showcasing the charging case and earbuds.
Maintenance
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 earbuds have an IP54 dust and water resistance rating. This means they are protected against dust ingress and splashing water from any direction. They are suitable for use during workouts or in light rain, but they are not designed for submersion in water or swimming. Regularly clean the earbuds and charging case with a soft, dry cloth. Ensure the ear tips are free of debris to maintain optimal sound quality and fit.
Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Noise Control | Active Noise Cancellation |
| Model Name | Pi8 |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless |
| Wireless Communication Technology | Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Battery Life | 6.5 Hours (earbuds), 22 Hours (with case) |
| Water Resistance Level | Water Resistant (IP54) |
| Control Method | App, Touch |
| Item Weight | 9.9 ounces |
| Color | Jade Green |
Troubleshooting
If you experience issues such as one earbud not working, or problems with ANC/Passthrough on a single earbud, try the following steps:
- Remove the affected earbud from your ear for 5 seconds, then re-insert it.
- If the issue persists, place both earbuds back into the charging case for at least one minute, then remove them.
- Ensure the earbuds are properly seated in the case and the case is charged.
- Check the Bowers & Wilkins Music App for any firmware updates or additional troubleshooting tips.
Warranty & Support
Bowers & Wilkins offers protection plans for their products. You may consider purchasing a 2-Year Protection Plan or a 3-Year Protection Plan for extended coverage. A Complete Protect plan is also available for monthly billing. For detailed warranty information or technical support, please refer to the literature pack included in your product box or visit the official Bowers & Wilkins website.