Are Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 True Wireless Earbuds Worth Buying?

In August, British loudspeaker brand Bowers & Wilkins announced the launch of the Pi6 and Pi8 True Wireless earbuds. I reviewed the Pi8 in August and now the Pi6 model is available for sale and I’ve managed to try a pair to see how they perform.

Like the more expensive Pi8 model, the new Pi6 earbuds support Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio codec, delivering high-resolution sound up to 24-bit/96kHz. However, the Pi6 can’t handle aptX Lossless, but unless you have a compatible device that can handle that codec, it’s no big deal. If you use an iPhone, the Pi6 is a great choice as it also handles the AAC standard that Apple uses.

The Pi6 earbuds have large 12mm bio-cellulose drivers based on a similar technology used in B&W’s superb Px7 S2e headphones. The earbuds have an all-new industrial design and have been completely revised in terms of mechanical, electronic and acoustic engineering. The Pi8 are a fabulous pair of earbuds so I had high hopes for the Pi6.

Like any good pair of wireless earbuds, the Pi6 use Qualcomm Bluetooth technology and are equipped with the latest active noise cancellation technology for canceling unwanted sounds when, say, listening to music on the train or a plane.

The differences between the flagship B&W Pi8 are subtle. The Pi6 have different drivers DAC and DSP, but still feature a similar design and excellent comfort and fit that makes these earbuds easy to wear even on a long flight or train journey. The advanced Qualcomm chipset used in the Pi6 provides better wireless stability and a reliable connection thanks to the latest Bluetooth 5.4 specification.

There’s also multipoint support so that two devices can connect to the earbuds at the same time, enabling the wearer to listen to music playing on one device and still be able to take a phone call coming through on another. If you are one of those people who must juggle work and personal smartphones, you’ll love multipoint connectivity.

The build quality of the Pi6 is exquisite, The charging case is finished in a classy matte plastic while the earpieces feel so solid when you pull them out of their charging case. The overall feel is high quality and durable materials, plus the earbuds are rated IP54, protecting from splashes and rain.

The overall shape of the Pi6 earbuds was inspired by an extensive Bowers & Wilkins research project into how human ears vary in shape, including the differences by gender and ethnicity. The brand’s industrial design team used the results of the extensive study to create a completely new earbud form that’s exceptionally comfortable to wear and fits snuggly to add a layer of passive noise isolation to work alongside the active noise cancelation. The result is an incredibly efficient ANC function that’s almost as good as a pair of over-the-ear ANC headphones.

Other improvements on this upgraded earbud design includes new Bluetooth antennae and simpler connectivity between the earbuds and the streaming device. Users can now quickly pair a second device to their Pi6 without having to remove the buds from their ears.

Apple fans will be pleased to note that the Pi6 are Made for iPhone to ensure seamless integration with iOS devices and easy onboarding to the Bowers & Wilkins all-encompassing Music smartphone app. For Android users there is support for Google Fast Pair with a forthcoming firmware update.

The Pi6 earbuds have basic bass and treble tone controls but no five-band EQ that the Pi8 offer. To be honest, these earbuds sound so good out of the box, there isn’t any need for tone controls so it’s no big difference.

The earbuds are much more usable than previous versions thanks to some significant revisions to the user interface. The top of each earbud forms a large capacitive touch surface with advanced sensors that provide more responsiveness and the reliability of touch-based controls. The new industrial design has repositioned all the antenna and microphones inside the earbud to avoid any possible blockage of wireless or audio signals. Meanwhile, a new IR proximity sensor provides a more reliable and responsive wear-sensing function.

The charging case of the Pi6 is slimmer and curvier than the previous version, making them nice and easy to slip into a pocket. The overall feel is more luxurious and the material used feels more robust.

The Pi6 Smartcase doesn’t have the wireless charging and Wireless Audio Retransmission technology found on the Pi8, so if that’s something you feel you might need, you may want to upgrade to the more expensive model. The retransmission function enables the Pi8 to connect to an analog source and then transmit it wirelessly using the aptX Adaptive codec for high-quality audio from any source.

The repositioned microphones in the Pi6 have been cleverly sited to reject unwanted external noises when making phone or video calls. The Pi6 use the same noise-rejection technology used in B&W’s previous flagship Pi7 S2, so you’re getting a helping of trickle-down technology.

Battery life is an important factor when choosing a pair of wireless headphones and the Pi6 can play for up to 8 hours before they need to be popped back in the charging case for a top-up. That’s long enough for a transatlantic flight and the charging case holds another two complete charges, taking the overall playtime to a potential 24 hours. Those figures are quoted with ANC turned on, which is impressive.

Setting up the earbuds is straightforward and the Bowers & Wilkins Music app is a deluxe piece of software offering access to your music without the need to leave the app. I could access my TIDAL library from within Music and the settings could all be adjusted with ease.

The sound produced by the Pi6 is pure class. Even better, unlike some wireless earbuds, the Pi6 are loud and provide ample volume. Nothing annoys me more than a pair of earbuds that must be cranked up to almost maximum volume to get a decent listening level. The Pi6 have plenty of amplification and the tone is spot on. From the deep and separate bass, through to the immaculate mids and silky-smooth treble, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 are a class act.

The distortion levels are very low, which means you can listen to these earbuds without developing a headache. The comfort levels are also excellent, which is incredibly important with earbuds. Bowers & Wilkins provides a selection of ear tips in sizes ranging from XS to Large. The large size worked perfectly with my strange ears and the fit was snug enough to block external sounds and deliver a brilliant bass.

First up on my playlist was Diana Krall’s “Sway” which is possibly one of the best audition tracks because it’s recorded beautifully and everything from the acoustic bass to the dreamy brush drums give the Pi6 a full workout. The 12mm bio-cellulose dynamic drivers are so smooth, creating a spacious soundstage with plenty of space and very little compression. If gentle jazz isn’t your thing, no problem. The Pi6 are at home with almost every genre of music, even Heavy Metal, if you must.

Verdict: The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 are a superb pair of premium true wireless earbuds without some of the extras that you may or may not want in the Pi8. If you are willing to do without support for aptX Lossless, the discrete DSP and DAC, then you’ll love the Pi6 because the sound is so good. Are the Pi8 worth the extra? Maybe, but with eight hours of battery life, a seriously good ANC function, plus that super-comfy fit and luscious sound, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 offer a lot for the money. The build quality is second to none and that sound is infectious. Highly Recommended.

Pricing & Availability: The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 are available now in Storm Grey, Cloud Grey, Forest Green and Glacier Blue colorways and priced at $249 / £219 / €249.

Tech Specs:

• Drivers: 12 mm bio-cellulose.
• Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3081.
• Bluetooth version: 5.4.
• Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Classic, aptX Adaptive (up to 24-bit/96k).
• Battery life: 8 hours (earbuds) / 24 hours (earbuds and case).
• Burst charge: A 15-minute charge gives 2 hours of playback.
• Charging: USB-C fast charging.
• Wireless charging: No.
• Microphones: 3 per earbud for calls and ANC.
• Voice call noise reduction: cVc2.
• EQ: Bass / Treble.
• True Wireless mirroring: Yes.
• Wear sensor: IR.
• MFI Pairing and App match: Yes.
• Multipoint connectivity: 2 devices.
• Ear tips: XS, S, M, L.
• Waterproof rating: IP54 (earbuds only).
• Case dimensions: 65 x 29 x 52mm.