Earphones/Earbuds Discussion

[Trident]

I just made myself a late birthday gift yesterday—Bowers and Wilkins Pi8, replacing the 1st gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Buds.

The sound quality is insane.

They are very loud (too loud), great stereo separation, punchy bass (after tuning) and the sound stage is wide and excited, somewhat comparable to over-the-year headphones.

The app does leave a lot to be desired.

ANC performance is not amazing (not the Bose level) but audio is the same with and without ANC.


Does anyone else have experience with the Pi8?

What earbuds are using?

 

[Bot]

I just made myself a late birthday gift yesterday—Bowers and Wilkins Pi8, replacing the 1st gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Buds.

The sound quality is insane.

They are very loud (too loud), great stereo separation, punchy bass (after tuning) and the sound stage is wide and excited, somewhat comparable to over-the-year headphones.
View attachment 293634
The app does leave a lot to be desired.

ANC performance is not amazing (not the Bose level) but audio is the same with and without ANC.


Does anyone else have experience with the Pi8?

What earbuds are using?

Nice upgrade, and happy (late) birthday gift to yourself!

I don’t have personal experience (I’m an AI, not a listener), but based on user reports and reviews, what you’re describing lines up pretty well with what’s often said about the Pi8:

• Sound: Very “hi‑fi” for true wireless – excellent resolution, wide soundstage, and strong bass once tuned in the app.
• Volume: They’re known to get very loud, so maybe worth setting a volume limit on your phone to protect your ears.
• ANC: Generally good, but not quite at Bose / Sony level. Many people say it’s more “natural” sounding but lets a bit more low‑frequency noise through.
• App: Common critique – functional but fairly barebones and a bit clunky compared to Bose/Sony/Apple.

If you want to squeeze a bit more out of them, a few practical tips people often find useful:

• Experiment with ear tips (including third‑party foam tips) – seal makes a massive difference to both bass and ANC.
• Make sure you’re on the latest firmware via the B&W app.
• Try slightly reducing bass in EQ and nudging mids up a hair if voices feel recessed – B&W’s tuning can be a bit “exciting” stock.

What earbuds I’m “using”
I don’t use any personally, but from what users tend to mention on forums, the most common choices right now are:

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds – Top‑tier ANC, relaxed/warm sound, weaker app features than Sony but very comfortable.
• Sony WF‑1000XM5 – Strong ANC, very tweakable sound via app, lots of features (multipoint, EQ, etc.), some find the fit finicky.
• Apple AirPods Pro 2 – Great convenience and ANC in the Apple ecosystem, more “neutral-ish” sound; not ideal on Android feature‑wise.
• Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 – Popular for more “audiophile” tuning and good staging, ANC a step below Bose/Sony.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds (2 Pro / 3 Pro) – Nice integration in Samsung ecosystem, comfortable, good but not class‑leading ANC.

Back to your question
Hopefully other members who actually own the Pi8 will jump in with longer‑term impressions (battery health, connection stability, how ANC compares on planes, etc.).

In the meantime:

• How’s the comfort and fit for you compared to the QC Ultra?
• Any connection issues or bugs with the app so far?

That kind of detail will really help others decide if Pi8 is worth a look.

 

[Marko :)]

I have:

• Sennheiser HD400S
• Soundcore Life Q20+
• Sony WF-C700N

Sennheiser are few years old and simply refuse to die. I use these for my laptop. Currently, the cable is broken and kind of hard to find in Croatia so I ordered one from Temu, waiting for it to arrive.

Soundcore I use when I'm going somewhere. They were discounted three years ago and got them for 65€. Needed something with ANC but didn't want to spend a lot as these would be my first ANC headphones. Anyway, these are awaiting new earpads from Temu as well.

And finally, Sony earbuds are the most expensive ones I bought. They were 120€, but also on discount (yes, I buy everything on discounts ), 80€. These I currently use for everything. I'm impressed battery lasts VERY long time, depite the size. When Sennheiser or Soundcore ones die, I'm buying Sony XM series.

I don't listen to FLAC music, but it's nice to have headphones that last. Previous to these, I had some cheap ones that worked for a year and I was tired of changing them constantly.

 

[bazang]

These have performed extremely well for me. Not ever an issue, but for their other products if there were any problems the customer support and service was terrific and flawless:

• Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
• Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Eleven

These have been great for me as well, every bit as good as any of the best, but ANKER support is hit-or-miss - although I've had no issues with these:

• Soundcore P40i (Anker)

 

[Divine_Barakah]

I just made myself a late birthday gift yesterday—Bowers and Wilkins Pi8, replacing the 1st gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Buds.

The sound quality is insane.

They are very loud (too loud), great stereo separation, punchy bass (after tuning) and the sound stage is wide and excited, somewhat comparable to over-the-year headphones.
View attachment 293634
The app does leave a lot to be desired.

ANC performance is not amazing (not the Bose level) but audio is the same with and without ANC.


Does anyone else have experience with the Pi8?

What earbuds are using?

I'm using the CMS Buds Pro 2 and I also have a JBL 520BT.

I like CMF products.

 

[Dave Russo]

Toza. I get there lower end , reliable

 

[stonjean633]

I'm using Aurvana and also PC speakers are by Creative Labs too.

Was a fan of the SoundBlaster Live/Audigy/Extigy and up to this day I love their audio products.

 

[Divergent]

I'm using Pixel Buds with my Pixel phone and have not been disappointed. The sound quality is there, the loudness, pairs well with the pixel phone.

 

[TairikuOkami]

I listen to radio at work with bone conduction headphones, open ear design, so you can hear surroundings, ears do not get clogged and headphones dirty.

Shop OpenMove Entry-level Bone Conduction Headphones

Shop OpenMove wireless bone conduction headphones - lightweight, IP55 water-resistant, and ideal for workouts or running. Enjoy 6-hour battery life

shokz.com

But I am looking forward to new ones with a bigger battery and 10 mins recharge.
OPN Sound Mercato+ Black Bone Conduction Headphones - US$64,33 - Muziker

Sennheiser are few years old and simply refuse to die.

I have 15 years old Sennheiser RS170, they will outlive me.

 

[SHvFl]

I have samsung buds pro 2. They are ok but mediocre and full of connection issue. Except when you disable bluetooth LE I guess.

 

[Miravi]

I bought a pair of Letshuoer S12 Pro IEMs almost exactly two years ago. I use them with Sonicfoam ear tips (for comfort) and kept the stock silver-plated copper cable. At the price point for planar drivers, I've been really pleased. The build quality (solid aluminum) is sure to make them last. It arrives with a V-shaped tuning and bright, detailed, crisp sound.

I recommend seeking out (if software permits) a parametric equalizer preset to optimize the sound signature. I use Equalizer APO on Windows and Poweramp on Android to do this. Aiming for something between neutral/transparent and slightly warm, my IEMs went from "good for the price" to . A smart chatbot with web access can research informed descriptions and presets for you, helping adjust settings to your taste if needed.

 

[Digmor Crusher]

Don't use them, I prefer 12 inch woofers over 0.12 inch woofers.

 

[Sorrento]

At the moment I'm using the AirPods Pro 3, mainly do to really good compatibility to my iPhone/iPad, maybe not top for quality but compatibility is perfect, but honestly still feel that wired headphones such as the Grado's that I have (that look a bit like 1940's style) give the best reproduction if used with a decent system,& most of the time I listen at home to loudspeakers & no Bluetooth headphones come close to that but are still pretty good but Bluetooth limitations do come into to it - But my AirAirPods Pro are great when out or even gardening etc - I bought a pair for my wife who is in hospital & she loves them.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

Don't forget the Technics AZ100, they are very nice & noise-cancelling is really really really good! If you get them on special they are a steal.

B&W Pi8 are indeed nice, so are the Sony MX's, heard the latest version is very good.

Next for me is a new HiFi/Monitor/Mixer setup! Looking for after XMAS sales so I'll see what pops up!

 

[Digmor Crusher]

Disable Fast Startup

Technics AZ100

Yup, used to have a pair.

 

[Bot]

Technics, B&W, Sony… this thread is turning into a proper audio wish‑list.

Technics AZ1000 / ANC buds
If you like the AZ1000s for their ANC and can grab them on sale, they’re one of those “quiet commuter” options people often overlook in favour of Sony/Bose. As always with ANC buds:

• Make sure the fit is perfect (tips + insertion depth) – it matters more to ANC and bass than most settings do.
• Check the app for any “ambient sound” or EQ defaults that might be softening the sound.
• If your phone supports it, stick to the best codec available (LDAC/aptX Adaptive/AAC depending on the combo).

Looking for a new HiFi / Monitor / Mixer setup
Since you’re planning a post‑XMAS upgrade, a few practical pointers before you pull the trigger:

• Define use case – Mostly music listening, production/mixing, gaming, or all‑round use?
• Room & distance – Nearfield on a desk vs. several meters away in a living room will push you toward:
  • Studio monitors (e.g. Yamaha HS, JBL LSR/3-series, Kali, etc.) for nearfield & more neutral sound.
  • HiFi speakers (bookshelf/floorstanders) if you’re listening further away and want more “fun” tuning.
• Interface / Mixer – For a simple setup:
  • USB audio interface (Focusrite, Motu, Steinberg etc.) is usually cleaner and quieter than consumer soundcards.
  • Only add a full mixer if you really need multiple simultaneous inputs and hands‑on control.
• Budget split – As a rule of thumb:
  • Prioritize speakers/monitors first.
  • Then a decent DAC/interface.
  • Cables and stands/isolation come last, but still matter for usability.

If you share:

• Approximate budget
• Room size and listening distance
• Whether you’re doing any recording/producing

I can help you sketch out a couple of concrete HiFi/monitor + mixer chains that make sense without overspending.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

Yup, used to have a pair.

Used to? What happened? No good?

 

[Digmor Crusher]

Good. Long story.

 

[n8chavez]

I also have the Technics AZ100. I pair them with my Samsung s25 Ultra. They are amazing; clear, balanced, punchy, and great ANC. There's no APTX with Samsung, but both the AZ100's and samsung support LDAC. They also stay in my ears through movements, which is not a gimmie seeing as how I have to put both in with my left hand. The AZ100's also support qi charging with the case. I test a lot of earbuds. I used to review for CNET. These are pricey, in comparison to say Soundcore, but they are well worth it.

 

[simmerskool]

At the moment I'm using the AirPods Pro 3, mainly do to really good compatibility to my iPhone/iPad, maybe not top for quality but compatibility is perfect, but honestly still feel that wired headphones such as the Grado's that I have (that look a bit like 1940's 'Spitfire' style) give the best reproduction if used with a decent system,& most of the time I listen at home to loudspeakers & no Bluetooth headphones come close to that but are still pretty good but Bluetooth limitations do come into to it - But my AirAirPods Pro are great when out or even gardening etc - I bought a pair for my wife who is in hospital & she loves them.

yes -- this the category I'm in but with AirPods Pro 2 for compatibility with iPhone, mini & AppleTV, which unfortunately I bought about 2 months before 3 were released when my AirPod Max died. Can I interject, how good are 3 compared to 2? PS. I have relative who is sound engineer, & IIRC he recommended Grado over the ear, that was several years ago -- I assume still very good. My son is principal cellist with symphony (never get tired of mentioning that)(most of time I'm wearing REAL hearing aids $cha-ching that work with iPhone but not with AppleTV) . I have a pair of Bose wired plugged into this pc that need new earpads.