Bowers & Wilkins Pi6

Introduction

Bowers & Wilkins is world-renowned for its loudspeakers, but lately it’s been treating its headphone range with as much attention as its hi-fi kit.

Their last few headphones have been absolute bangers – the Pi8 true wireless are excellent, the PX7 S3 are the best sounding wireless over-ears at their price. When you hear the Bowers & Wilkins name with headphones, you expect very good things.

The Pi6 slot is the step-down model to the Pi8. That doesn’t mean they’re a scaled-down version of the Pi8, with a different noise-cancelling set-up in particular. The results though, are pretty impressive nonetheless.

Design

• More comfortable
• IP54 rating
• Extra small to large ear-tips

Bowers’ previous earbuds haven’t been the most comfortable; the Pi5 was another pair which caused a dull ache over time, but recent pairs have rectified that issue, as the Pi6 shows.

I’ve had no issues with comfort. I can still feel the presence within my ear over the course of listening sessions, but these earbuds leave a much better feeling in my ear.

The fit itself is good enough for the most part. They’re a little loose at times and need a twist and push to make the fit tighter, but that’s far from uncommon with most true wireless. You’ve got extra small to large ear-tips to find the best fit.

Touch controls can be hit and miss, but with the Pi6, they all work as expected. Whether it’s a tap or a hold, they’re responsive – it’s not a chore or overcomplicated to operate these headphones. An IP54 rating protects them from some water, sweat and dust but that’s much better than the average true wireless.

The version of the Pi6 I have comes in white, but you can choose from grey (which is sort of black), light green and a pale blue. It would be nice if audio brands were a little more effusive with colours – I’m not loving the autumnal aesthetic premium brands are going for.

The charging case has been reduced in size, but more than that it’s a sensible shape, so it’s one that should easily slip into the tightest of jean pockets.

Battery Life

• Extended battery life
• No wireless charging

Battery life was another area where the Pi5 was ho-hum. A single charge was 4.5 hours, which these days feels derisory.

The Pi6 ratchets battery life up to 8 hours on a single charge, even though the battery life including the charging case is around the same (24 hours compared to 24.5).

In the battery test I carried out – an hour’s streaming of Spotify at 50% volume – the Pi6 fell by 14%. That’s just above seven hours, which, even if it doesn’t fully match Bowers & Wilkins’ claims, is close enough.

What I have noticed is a discrepancy between the battery readout on Android and in the Bowers’ Music app (by as much as 4%). The earbuds also seem to have developed a habit of racing through their battery life once beneath a certain amount.

I can’t quite tell if the case isn’t properly charging or the earbuds, but once below 60%, the earbuds seem like they’re in a race to reach 0% as quickly as possible on a few occasions.

No wireless charging support is listed, but a 15-minute charge boosts the battery by another two hours via USB-C.

Features

• aptX Adaptive support
• Music app

A little like Apple and Bose, Bowers & Wilkins tends to keep things simple on the features front.

It’s Bluetooth 5.4 on the wireless front, with Bowers claiming the earbuds can maintain a “true 24-bit connection”, helpful if you’re signing up to any music streaming services that support High-res audio. Bluetooth codec support runs from the lower quality SBC to aptX Adaptive, which should maintain a strong connection wherever you are.

I’ve found that to be true. The Pi6 didn’t lose connection or even really falter, offering a similar performance as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Bowers’ own Pi8. While the connection doesn’t break down, what I do hear is the soundstage becoming compact – usually a telltale sign the wireless signal is fighting against interference. It rarely lasts for too long and is back to normal fairly quickly.

Everything else is found in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app. You can cycle through the Environment Control (noise cancellation) options, edit treble and bass EQ, turn the wear sensor on or off (which works as it should), change the streaming quality (of music through the app), and customise touch controls.

Not a huge loss, but these earbuds aren’t aimed at the inveterate tweaker but those who want something of a hands-off relationship with their headphones. If that’s you, then you’ll find the lack of complexity reassuring.

Noise Cancellation

• Effective ANC and transparency mode
• Below average call quality

The Pi6s don’t have the most powerful noise-cancellation, but neither did the Pi8. The noise-cancellation performance is a combination of the noise-isolating fit and the ANC system working together, and I think they dovetail a treat.

I’ve used the headphones in multiple countries and in many environments, and I can’t say I’ve ever felt they’ve let me down. Noise is reduced by quite a significant amount. On planes, buses, shuttles, it’s not been quite silent but the outside world stays there and doesn’t intrude.

It’s not Bose, Technics or Sony level of suppression, but it’s not too far off the JBL Tour Pro 3, which I think is very good.

The Transparency mode is clear enough to have a conversation with someone else and keep an ear out for announcements, but both the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds sound clearer and more detailed. Switching on the transparency mode doesn’t seem to affect the quality of audio, which is a plus.

Where things go slightly awry is with the call quality. Taking a call around Farringdon train station and the person on the other end said my voice sounded distant, that the microphones picked up all the noise around me. Whatever was loudest dominated my voice.

Call quality for both Bowers’ latest earbuds is a drop in quality from before.

Sound Quality

• Expansive soundstage
• Strong bass
• Clear highs

Bowers & Wilkins has made great gains in providing better sound quality and the Pi6 is another forceful, energetic performer from the British audio brand.

The tone strikes a more balanced and controlled performance than the Pi8. There’s a little less energy and bombast about the Pi6, which does mean a little less fun, but these little earbuds summon a performance that’s among the best for the money.

The soundstage is expansive for true wireless earbuds, there’s a good sense of flow and dynamism that brings music to life more than the somewhat flat and neutral performance of Bose and JBL earbuds. Compared to the JBL Tour Pro 3, there’s more detail, resolution, energy and dynamism, and that results in a more exciting sound.

Highs are clear and precise and even with tricky tracks such as Andreas Ihlebæk’s Come Summer which the Pi6 somersaults through with a treble performance that’s bright, clear, sharp and varied without sounding fuzzy.

It strikes a better sense of naturalism with voices and instruments than Bose, for example. It often feels like the more articulate listen.

The midrange is clear and precise as the Pi6 retrieves plenty of detail from tracks. It’s not the sharpest performance, but I’m less fussed by that when detail and clarity are this good.

Bass levels aren’t as strong as the Pi8 but still substantial. There’s strong, firm bass across any track but with test favourite Warren G’s Regulate, there’s an impact and energy that makes the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM5 sound a little underfed.

Whatever track I listen, the Pi6 proves its mettle. Around this price, only the Technics AZ100 feels like it’s better, and that’s a good rival to have.

Should you buy it?

FAQs