Overall Score 8.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 7.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro | Bowers & Wilkins PI7 |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IPX4 | IP54 |
weight | 12g | 50g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
wingtips included | ✓ | ✗ | |
sweat resistance | ✓ | ✗ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 10.6mm | 9.2mm | |
lowest frequency | 20Hz | 10Hz | |
highest frequency | 40,000Hz | 20,000Hz | |
sound pressure level | 92dB/mW | ✗ | |
POWER | battery life | 8hours | 4.5hours |
battery life of charging case | 24hours | 18hours | |
charge time | 2hours | 3hours | |
has wireless charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5.2 | v5 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
has ldac | ✓ | ✗ | |
has aptx adaptive | ✗ | ✓ | |
has aptx hd | ✗ | ✓ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 6only | 6only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✓ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✓ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
multipoint count | 2only | ✗ | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
warranty period | 1Years | ✗ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✓ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Ingress protection ratings refer to the rating of protection given by a casing, against solids and water. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value represents protection against solids say dust, followed by the one that refers to resistance against liquids (sweat).
Scoring IP54, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7's rating is read as, the first number of 5 denotes 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 of liquids that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes. In comparison to the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro have a rating of IPX4 meaning that
no data available to specify a protection rating
and that of liquids is that,
they both have the same rating against liquids
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a weight of 50g . We prefer a lower weight best for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to transport.
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro, at 12g weigh less than the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by -38g True wireless devices have no cables connecting any part of the device together, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 are true wireless for this matter since they don't have wires. This is a key distinction since wireless earbuds have wires connecting the two earbuds together. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro also is true wireless since it has no wires connecting the two earbuds together.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Bowers & Wilkins PI7's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience. The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro also have stereo speakers ANC makes use of advanced technology to actively cancel noise. ANC works when, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and after generates a mirror signal to cancel it out.
Simply put, it's like taking +1 (noise) then adding -1 (inverted noise) giving 0 thus "diluting" the noise.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower levels of volume, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the earbuds volume to outcompete background noise. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both earbuds ideal for plane rides and morning travels.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 and Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro work with different noise cancellation modes, pick the noise cancellation type that you prefer for commute or that suites your chill time. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 stay tightly in place, this creates a sound covering that reduces your environment noise while preventing the earbuds voice audio from leaking out at the same. Both Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro, and Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have passive noise reduction which means that they limit ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 driver unit is 9.2mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that makes sound in the earbuds, its size corellates with the sound produced by the device. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro driver unit is 10.6mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 1.4mm , many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they deliver better quality sound. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio component generates low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on its way through. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 produce a juicier bass than the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response shows how well a particular audio component makes high recognizable frequencies and if it changes to the signal while at it.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, this implies that Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro generate a clearer and crispier treble than the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery life is 4.5 hours, these last less than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is commonly given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro's battery life is more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 3.5 hours . Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time.
The effect is not noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time. The battery life of the charging case is given by the manufacturer, and Bowers & Wilkins PI7's case has a charge of 18 hours. A charging case with a longer battery life allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go several times before having to recharge the case itself.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro's charging case has a battery life of 24 hours, more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 6 hours It takes 3 hours to fully charge the Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery. It is highly adivsable to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for long periods. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 1 hours The Bowers & Wilkins PI7, the device supports wireless charging.
To charge the device, you just put down on a supported charging pad. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro also support wireless charging, take note of the charging standard of a device. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the device has a low battery.
The battery indicator lights display the charging status of your device and case. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too have a battery level indicator, these allow you determine the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or having a low battery. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too use USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current electronics. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, newer than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 . Newer versions provide faster data transfers. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio.
It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 will work well with your iPhone.
If you are planning on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well. The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro 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.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps). The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support APTX HD, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It supports high-quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps). Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have 6 microphones.
While the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro microphones are 6, equal to that of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 . More microphones result in better sound quality and help the device to filter out noise. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are made to reduce background sounds from the desired sound. The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too have a noise-canceling microphone.
This is useful in noisy environments. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound so that they can still be heard even when wearing them The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music while being aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re having a run but would still want to be able to hear traffic. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused.
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears saving battery life. When misplaced in a room, or can't be found in your bag, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support the find earbuds feature. The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too have the find earbuds feature.
You can use the earbuds app on your phone to play an alarm from your device to locate them. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support fast charging. Most often, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to charge the earbuds.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, just that the battery fills up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just thirty minutes.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a mute function, they have the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds. The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro also have this function. It means that you can turn off the device's microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.
With the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro also have a control panel on them. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have voice prompts.
With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, say if there is a problem with the connection. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too have voice prompts meaning the earbuds will notify you if the battery is running low, and you need to recharge the earbuds. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 come with a special case.
Carrying earbuds without a case, or putting them inside your bag without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro too have a case included, which offers safe transportation.