IP ratings refer to the level of protection offered by a casing, against dust and water. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value means protection against solids such as dust, followed by the one that refers to resistance against liquids (sweat).
Scoring IPX4, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's rating is read as, the first number of X denotes that no data available to specify a protection rating, and the second value of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes. Compared to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a rating of IP54 meaning that
ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety
and that of liquids is that,
they both have the same rating against liquids
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a weight of 12.5g . We prefer a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are easier to carry.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7, at 50g
weigh more than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by of 37.5g
True wireless devices have no wires linking any part of the device together, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are true wireless for this case since they don't have wires. This is a key difference as some wireless earbuds have cables connecting the 2 earbuds .
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also is true wireless since it doesn't have wires connecting the two earbuds together. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have wingtips, these are commonly used for earbuds for workouts and are usually an optional add-on to each silicone ear tip for a better fit.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have sweat resistance
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience. Both Bowers & Wilkins PI7 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have stereo speakers
Active noise cancellation utilises more advanced kind of tech to actively cancel noise. How it works, it studies the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and then inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out.
Simply put, it's like taking +1 (noise) and producing -1 (counter sound by the device) giving zero hence "diluting" the noise.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears since you don't have to crank up the device volume to outcompete background sounds. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have Active Noise Cancellation making both devices ideal for plane rides and morning travels.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and Bowers & Wilkins PI7 work with different noise cancellation settings, pick the mode that you prefer for commute or that enhances your chill time. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 sit tightly in place, this creates a sound covering that reduces background noise and also prevents the device sound from leaking out at the same. Both Bowers & Wilkins PI7, and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have passive noise reduction which means that both tone down ambient noise without using technology to cancel it out.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a unit size of 9.3mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is the component that produces sound in the earbuds, the unit size dictates the loudness of the device. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 driver unit is 9.2mm in diameter,
which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 0.1mm
, a common assumption that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so yes, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not imply that they produce better quality sound. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component produces low frequencies that can be heard, and if it alters the signal on its way through. Bowers & Wilkins PI7's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, this implies that
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 make sound with a juicier bass than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well an audio component produces high human frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that
both devices can produce equal treble
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's battery life is 6 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often. Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery life is
less than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 1.5 hours
. Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time.
The effect is not noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to. This is given by the vendor, and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's case is said to have a full charge of 18 hours. A charging case with more battery hours allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple times before recharging the case itself.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's charging case has a battery life of 18 hours,
equal to that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
It takes 2 hours to fully charge the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2's battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for long periods. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 takes 3 hours to fully charge the battery,
more than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 1 hours
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a battery level indicator, an indicator notifies you when the device has a low battery.
Its lights show the charging status of your earbuds and case. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have a battery level indicator, these allow you determine the charging state of your earbuds, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too support USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug comes along with most current laptops, phones, and tablets. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have Bluetooth version of 5.3, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data transfers between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 has a Bluetooth version of 5,
older than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio.
It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it provides better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 will work fine with your MacBook.
If you intend on using these with Android you need to pay even closer attention to codec support for if they only have AAC they won't provide the best audio quality possible, ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps).
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support APTX Adaptive as well which implies that both can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as reducing interference from other devices. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have 8 microphones.
While the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 microphones are 6,
less than that of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 by 2
. More microphones record better sound quality and help the device to filter out background sounds. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are intended to reduce noise from the desired sound. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too use a noise-canceling type of microphone.
Especially useful in noisy areas. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound so that they can still be heard even when wearing the earbuds
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of your surrounding, say you’re having a jog but still want to be able to hear traffic. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears .
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears improving your listening experience.
When lost in a room, or can't be found in your bag, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a find earbuds feature. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have the find earbuds feature. You can use the device app on your smartphone to play a sound from your device to help you locate them.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the amount of time it takes to charge the earbuds. Also the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support fast charging.
It's very similar to regular charging, only that the battery fills up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in just thirty minutes. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them.
For example, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have a mute function, they support the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also have the mute function.
The mute function means that you can turn off the earbuds' microphone, but still hear the other party's voice. With the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have a control panel on them.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information through audio messages, like if there is a problem with the connection. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also support voice prompts meaning the earbuds will notify you when the battery is running low, and you need to recharge them.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 come with a special case. Carrying earphones openly, or putting them in your bag without a cover can easily put them at risk of getting damaged. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have a case included, which offers safe transportation.
