Over the years Sony WF 1000XM4 has stood against the most premium earbuds like Bose QC earbuds 2 or AirPods Pro 2. This is all because of Sony’s dedication to innovation through software updates for its XM4.
Recently Bowers & Wilkins release a more premium Pi7 S2 that sits above the Pi5 S2 in the company’s lineup. It features 24-bit/48kHz streaming sound, aptX Adaptive, adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), and more.
Despite both earbuds having many similarities, they also have unique differences that set them apart from each other. To help you choose the better ANC earbud, Our B&W PI7 S2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM4 comparison will break down their performance in different areas like Design, Sound Quality, ANC, and Battery Life.
So let’s get right and dive in!
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2:
B&W Pi7 S2 is a newly released premium earbud, which comes with 24-bit/48kHz streaming sound, adaptive ANC, and more. With decent comfortable fit and intuitive controls, these earbuds are good for commuting and travel.
Pros:
- Great crisp and clear sound quality
- Improved Bluetooth range
- New color variation
- 9.2mm Dynamic Drivers
Cons:
- Pricey
- same Qualcomm chipset as its predecessor model
- Average ANC
- Missing some features typically found on premium buds
Sony WF-1000XM4:
The Sony WF-1000XM4 is best selling wireless earbud in the market. With pleasant sound quality, Comfortable minimalistic design these earbuds are good for sensitive ears. Plus they are compatible with both Android and iOS.
Pros:
- Impressive, rich, and robust sound quality
- Effective ANC
- intuitive touch controls
- Excellent call clarity
- Bluetooth 5.2; SBC, AAC, and LDAC
Cons:
- Decent battery life
- Pricey
- Require some adjustment to get a comfortable fit
Sony WF-1000XM4 vs B&W PI7 S2: Specs Compare
| Specs | B&W PI7 S2 | Sony WF-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | about $399 | about $279.99 |
| Wireless charging case | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Qualcomm chipset | Sony V1 Chipset |
| Battery life (rated) | 5 hours with ANC, 6.5 hours without ANC, 21 hours (ANC on with charging case), 24 hours (ANC off with charging case) | 8 hours with ANC, 12 hours without ANC, 24 hours (ANC on with charging case), 28 hours (ANC off with charging case) |
| IPX rating | IP54 (buds only) | IPX4 (buds only) |
| Size and weight (buds) | NA, 7 grams | 1 x 0.8 x 0.8 inches, 7.3 grams |
| Size and weight (charging case) | 2.4 x 1.1 x 2.2 inches, 47 grams | 2.4 x 1.5 x 1.1 inches, 41.1 grams |
| Special features: | Adaptive ANC, ambient listening mode, Eartip Fit Test, Customizable EQ, Ambient Pass-Through, Voice Assistance, and Wear Sensors | Active noise cancellation, transparency mode, customizable EQ, 360 Reality Audio, DSEE Extreme upscaling, LDAC, Bluetooth 5.2, Speak-to-Chat, digital assistant support, quick charging, Multipoint connection |
B&W PI7 S2 vs Sony WF-1000XM4: Price
Ultimately, the price difference is an important factor for many consumers and there is a significant difference of $120 between the B&W PI7 S2 and the Sony WF-1000XM4.
You can buy Bowers & Wilkins earbuds at $399, whereas, the Sony WF-1000XM4 will cost you about $279.99. You can buy these earbuds from their own website or from different retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, or other electronic stores.
Here are the top deals on both Sony WF-1000XM4 and B&W PI7 S2:
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Bowers Wilkins Pi7 S2 vs Sony WF-1000XM4: Design
When it comes to design B&W PI7 S2 goes with a more traditional look with a stem that protrudes from the ear. Moreover, the company uses glossy black plastic with metallic accents for the construction of PI7 S2.
On the other hand, the design of the Sony WF-1000XM4 sounds more modern, as they have compact round shapes and a minimalistic look. Plus Sony uses a matte black finish and a copper-colored ring around the touchpad to add a touch of elegance.
In terms of comfort, both companies Bowers & Wilkins and Sony equipped their earbuds with the support of multiple ear tips. To ensure a comfortable fit, the B&W PI7 S2 comes with three sizes of ear tips, while the XM4 comes with four sizes. However, due to its more ergonomic shape, the XM4 fits snugly in the ear, whereas PI7 S2 cause some discomfort due to its shape.
Moreover, Both wireless earbuds come with touch controls, but PI7 S2 features controls on both earbuds. While XM4 has the touch controls panel only on the left earbuds. In addition, both PI7 S2 and XM4 are splash and sweat resistant due to the IPX4 and IP54 water-resistance rating.
Winner: Draw
Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2: Features
In terms of features, Sony WF-1000XM4 offers a wider range of advanced features than the Bowers Wilkins Pi7 S2. Thats include the adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Control, fast pairing, speak-to-chat, and app control with numerous options for customization.
Additionally, Sony recently added support for Multipoint Connection in the latest upgrade, allowing users to connect to multiple devices at once.
On the Other hand, the B&W PI7 S2 comes with a limited range of features, which include Adaptive ANC and Transparency mode, Eartip Fit Test, Customizable EQ, Ambient Pass-Through, Voice Assistance, and Wear Sensors.
Overall, the Sony WF-1000XM4 offers a more comprehensive set of advanced features compared to the Bowers Wilkins Pi7 S2.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 vs Sony WF 1000XM4: Noise-Cancelling
Just like in advanced features, Sony WF 1000XM4 takes the lead in the Noise-Cancelling department from B&W Pi7 S2. Our tester wears both earbuds in different noisy environments to check the effectiveness of the ANC.
Our testers found that the Sony WF 1000XM4 provided better noise cancellation in various noisy environments, including traffic, trains, and airplanes. The ANC was more effective in blocking out low-frequency sounds, such as engine noise, and provided a better listening experience.
In contrast, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 had some difficulty in blocking out these low-frequency sounds. However, what else we found in our test when wearing the Pi7 S2 with the right ear tip, the ANC would show some improvement in noise cancellation, but it still fell short compared to the Sony WF 1000XM4.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony WF 1000XM4 vs Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2: Audio Quality
The sound quality is an important factor for buying and both earbuds produce top-class sound, but with different strengths.
The WF-1000XM4 produces a dynamic sound due to specially designed 6mm drivers. These high-compliance drivers also improve the bass range for all kinds of genres.
Moreover, XM4 also supports High-Resolution Audio, which allows these earbuds to entertain users with superior audio quality.
However, Our testers found that the sound quality was clear and crisp across all frequencies, including highs, mids, and lows.
In contrast, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 comes with a 9.2mm Dynamic Drive with Balanced Armature that provides highly crisp treble with full-ranged bass and soft mids.
Plus, the aptX Bluetooth codecs of Pi7 S2 provide high-quality audio streaming via Bluetooth. Furthermore, Our testers also found that the Pi7 S2 has a warm, natural sound profile and excellent detail and clarity in the kinds of music than the XM4.
Winner: Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2
B&W PI7 S2 vs Sony WF-1000XM4: Battery Performance
When it comes to battery performance, the Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds outperform the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2.
The WF-1000XM4 provides up to 8 hours of playback time with ANC on and up to 12 hours with ANC off, which is significantly longer than the 5 hours of playback time with ANC on and 6.5 hours with ANC off offered by the Pi7 S2.
However, the charging case of WF-1000XM4 holds two extra charges for your earbuds. which means these earbuds provide a total battery life of up to 24 hours with ANC and up to 28 hours with ANC off.
Whereas, the charging case of Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 gives extra 16 hours of listening time, providing a total battery life of up to 21 hours with ANC on and up to 24 hours with ANC and other advance features off.
Furthermore, the 15 minutes of quick charge on B&W PI7 S2 gives almost 2 hours of listening time whereas a quick 5-minute charge on WF-1000XM4 will allow you an hour of playback time.
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony WF 1000XM4 vs Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2: Final Words
When we compare both headphones on the basis of relative weaknesses and strengths, the ultimate winner is Sony WF 1000XM4.
With a modern, minimalistic design and a dynamic sound profile with High-Resolution Audio support, the WF-1000XM4 ruling the market since 2021. These earbuds are known for their versatility as they fit into each category. So if you are looking for earbuds as your workout companion or for your sensitive ears, The XM4 will satisfy your needs.
However, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 has its unique strengths. As their warm, natural sound profile provides an enjoyable listen-to experience with clarity and detail in sound. Moreover, the support of aptX Bluetooth codecs helps in seamless and uninterrupted playback.
Here are the top deals on both Sony WF-1000XM4 and B&W PI7 S2:
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