Written by Maurits
Edited on
13 October 2025
·
14:35
Compare the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 to the Pi6
With the Pi8 and Pi6, Bowers & Wilkins launched 2 pairs of earbuds at the same time. Both sets of earbuds have Hi-Res audio and noise canceling. Still, the earbuds differ from each other in some areas. For example, you can't connect the Pii6 to an airplane entertainment system. You can read about the big differences in this article.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
Thanks to a DSP, amplifier, and Hi-Res audio, you can enjoy more details in music and a high sound quality. You hear less of your environment thanks to noise canceling. With the Bowers & Wilkins app, you can adjust the sound reproduction via an equalizer. The noise canceling of the earbuds is less strong than that of headphones.
Retail price Bowers & Wilkins
419,-295,-
Delivered tomorrow
Bowers & Wilkins Pi6
- Thanks to a DSP and Hi-Res audio, you can enjoy a high sound quality.
- You hear less of your environment thanks to noise canceling.
- With the Bowers & Wilkins app, you can adjust the sound reproduction via an equalizer.
- You can't connect the earbuds to an airplane entertainment system as they don't have a transmitter.
Retail price Bowers & Wilkins
249,-179,-
Delivered tomorrow
Comparison Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and Bowers & Wilkins Pi6
| Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 | Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material drivers | Carbon | Biocellulose |
| Noise canceling | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | 6.5 hours | 8 hours |
| Wireless charging | Yes | No |
| Hi-Res audio | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable as transmitter | Yes | No |
Sound quality
Pi8: Hi-Res audio and carbon drivers
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 have Hi-Res audio. This means that you can listen to larger audio files than MP3 with these earbuds. This way, you can hear more detail in the music. The Pi8 also has carbon drivers. These drivers distort the music as little as possible. This way, the treble, mids, and bass sound detailed.
Pi6: Hi-Res audio and biocellulose drivers
Just like the Pi8, you can listen to large audio files with the Pi6 thanks to Hi-Res audio. In addition, the Pi6 has biocellulose drivers. These drivers ensure lots of detail in the music, but the music sounds less refined and detailed than with the Pi8.
Battery life
Pi8: 20 hours in total
The earbuds have a battery life of 6.5 hours. The charging case has a 13.5-hour battery life. That way, you can listen to music for 20 hours on a full battery. Are the earbuds empty? Charge them for 15 minutes to get 2 hours of extra music.
Pi6: 24 hours in total
The Pi6 have a battery life of 8 hours. With a 16-hour battery in the charging case, you can listen to music for 24 hours in total. If the earbuds run out of battery, charge them for 15 minutes to get 2 hours of extra music.
Charging case functions
Pi8: transmitter and wireless charging
You charge the Pi8 earbuds with the charging case. You can also use the charging case as a transmitter. This means that you can use the included audio cable to connect the case to the entertainment system of an airplane, for example. That way, you can watch movies with the Pi8 while flying. You can charge the charging case both wired and wirelessly, so you have options as to how you want to charge your charging case.
Pi6: charging earbuds
You can use the charging case to charge the earbuds. You charge the charging case via a cable. It doesn't have any extra functions.
Conclusion
You can enjoy clear and detailed sound with both the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and Pi6. The Pi8 has more detailed sound than the Pi6 thanks to the carbon drivers. Thanks to the transmitter, you can also use these earbuds to watch a movie in an airplane. This is useful when you travel a lot.
Article by Maurits
Audio Expert.
