Bowers & Wilkins has unveiled the second-generation — or “S2,” as the brand calls them — versions of its 2021-released Pi7 and Pi5 wireless earbuds. The Pi7 S2 and Pi5 S2 look basically identical to the predecessors (save for the fact that they’re available in new colors), but promise improved battery life and connectivity.
Just like before, Bowers & Wilkins is positioning its new models as two of the best sounding wireless earbuds you can buy. And at $399 and $299, respectively, they’re also not cheap.
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If you’re familiar with the differences between the Pi7 and the Pi5, you’re in good shape here; the new Pi7 S2 and Pi5 S2 have basically the same differentiating factors. The Pi7 S2 have higher-end drivers — specifically, they’re “high-frequency balanced armature” drivers — and they support aptX Adaptive, which allows them to play audio files up to 24-bit/48 kHz, but only if you have supported device (like a flagship Android smartphone) and subscribe to a lossless streaming service such as Tidal, Qobuz or Deezer.
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Perhaps the coolest thing about the Pi7 S2 is that, like its predecessor, it has a special charging case that doubles as a Bluetooth receiver that supports aptX Adaptive. This allows you stream higher-resolution audio from devices that don’t support it (such as lower-end Androids or even a Mac), but it also allows you to use the Pi7 S2 with devices that don’t support Bluetooth, such as an in-flight entertainment system. It comes with a USB-C to USB-C adapter as well as a USB-C-to-3.5mm dongle.
