BOWERS AND WILKINS ENTER THE TRUE WIRELESS IEM MARKET
After an extensive period of development, Bowers & Wilkins is launching two new True Wireless In Ear Monitors, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 and PI5, their first in this headphone category.
BOWERS & WILKINS PI7 TWS IEMS
The flagship model is PI7. PI7 supports Qualcomm® aptX™ Adaptive wireless transmission from compatible mobile devices, allowing for high-resolution music transmission from suitable streaming services, such as Qobuz. PI7 backs that high-resolution capability with 24-bit/48kHz wireless transmission
between each earbud. In addition, while the enclosure of each PI7 is compact enough to fit comfortably in the ear, each earbud has a specification remarkably close to that of an advanced conventional loudspeaker. Each features a 9.2mm bespoke Bowers & Wilkins drive unit, joined by a high-frequency ‘balanced armature’ driver, with each of the four drive units in the system (two in each earbud) actively driven by its own amplifier.
PI7 also features Adaptive Noise Cancellation to automatically monitor, analyse and adapt to its surroundings. That ANC system is paired with six microphones, three in each earbud, for clear sound quality with phone calls.
The PI7 smart charging case can connect to an external audio source, such as an in-flight entertainment system, by 3.5mm or USB cable, and then wirelessly retransmit audio from that source to the earbuds.
BOWERS & WILKINS PI5 TWS IEMS
Joining the PI7 is the new PI5, which uses TWS+ technology for earbud-to-earbud synchronisation, coupled to a single 9.2mm Bowers & Wilkins-developed bespoke drive unit in each earbud. The PI5 supports CD-quality playback thanks to the inclusion of high-quality aptX wireless transmission of music from an aptX-compatible mobile device. PI5 also offers access to user selectable noise-cancelling plus an ambient pass-through mode, and it features twin built-in microphones phone calls.
BOWERS & WILKINS COMPANION APP
Both the PI5 & PI7 can be configured via the Bowers & Wilkins companion App and both have a simple one-button user interface, a single capacitive button that can perform multiple tasks, coupled to voice assistant support via either Siri or Google Assistant, depending on the connected device.
Multiple source devices can be wirelessly paired to either model, allowing the user to easily and reconnect to each source as and when needed, such as quickly switching from music on a phone to an online conference call on a laptop.
WIRELESS CHARGING
Finally, both models offer the convenience of wireless recharging compatible with a wide range of suitable accessories, plus charging cases that can recharge each earbud once its built-in battery life is exhausted.
PI5 will operate for four and a half hours before it requires a recharge, with four hours for PI7. Both cases will then offer up to four full recharges for their respective earbuds.
PRICE
B&W PI7
Available in White and Charcoal
£349 | €399 | $399
B&W PI5
Available in White and Charcoal
£199 | €249 | $249
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