Home Wireless Earbuds Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jbl Live Free 2

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jbl Live Free 2 Review

Last updated on Mar 14, 2023   7 minute read
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Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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Reasons why you might like the Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Overall Score 6.4 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP54
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 4.5 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
JBL Live Free 2

JBL Live Free 2

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Reasons why you might like the JBL Live Free 2

Overall Score 5.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX5
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 7 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jbl Live Free 2 Review In Summary

Category Features Bowers & Wilkins PI7 JBL Live Free 2
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IP54 IPX5
weight 50g 9.8g
has no wires or cables
sweat resistance
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 9.2mm 11mm
lowest frequency 10Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 20,000Hz 20,000Hz
sound pressure level 102dB/mW
POWER battery life 4.5hours 7hours
battery life of charging case 18hours 28hours
charge time 3hours
has wireless charging
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5 v5.2
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has aac
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
has voice prompts
travel bag is included
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Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jbl Live Free 2 Review In Detail

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 IP54
JBL Live Free 2 IPX5

Ingress protection ratings is the rank of protection offered by an enclosure, against solids and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating represents protection against solids such as dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (water).

Scoring IP54, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7's rating for solids indicates 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 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 Bowers & Wilkins PI7, JBL Live Free 2 have a rating of IPX5 meaning that no data available to specify a protection rating and that of liquids is that, JBL Live Free 2 has a higher liquid rating than Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Weight

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 50g
JBL Live Free 2 9.8g

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a weight of 50g . We take in account a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to transport.

JBL Live Free 2, at 9.8g weigh less than the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by -40.2g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

True wireless devices have no wires connecting any part of the device together, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 are true wireless for this case since they have no wires. This is a key difference since wireless earbuds have wires linking the 2 earbuds together.

JBL Live Free 2 also is true wireless since it doesn't have cables linking the two earbuds together.

Sweat Resistance

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

JBL Live Free 2 have sweat resistance

Has Stereo Speakers

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The JBL Live Free 2 also have stereo speakers

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

Active noise cancellation makes use of advanced technology to reduce ambient sounds. How it works, it studies the sound pattern of incoming noise and after inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) then adding -1 (inverted noise) to make 0 which results in a reduced level of noise.

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have ANC enabling you to listen at lower levels of volume, good for your ears since you don't need to crank up the earbuds volume to outcompete background noise.

The JBL Live Free 2 too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both earbuds ideal for flights and rush hour commutes. Each work with different noise cancellation types, pick the mode that suits your travel or that suites your relaxation time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 stay well in place, creating an acoustic covering that tones down background noise while preventing the device music from leaking out .

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction which means that they reduce ambient noise without using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 9.2mm
JBL Live Free 2 11mm

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 driver unit is 9.2mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is the component that makes sound in the device, the unit size determines the loudness of the device.

JBL Live Free 2 driver unit is 11mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 1.8mm , many people have a misconception 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 mean that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 10Hz
JBL Live Free 2 20Hz

Bowers & Wilkins PI7's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component generates low audible frequencies and if it alters the signal on its way through.

JBL Live Free 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that Bowers & Wilkins PI7 make sound with a juicier bass than the JBL Live Free 2

Highest Frequency

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 20,000Hz
JBL Live Free 2 20,000Hz

Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response indicates how well an audio device generates high audible frequencies and if it changes to the signal while at it.

JBL Live Free 2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices can generate equal treble

Sound Pressure Level

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2 102dB/mW

The sound pressure level, is the level of pressure of sound, in decibels, dB, JBL Live Free 2's measurement is 102dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

Power

Battery Life

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 4.5hours
JBL Live Free 2 7hours

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery life is 4.5 hours, these last less than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

JBL Live Free 2's battery life is more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 2.5 hours . Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less playing time. The effect is not noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 18hours
JBL Live Free 2 28hours

The battery life of the charging case is given by the vendor, and Bowers & Wilkins PI7's case has a full charge of 18 hours. A charging case with a longer battery life allows you to recharge your earbuds on the go multiple times before having to recharge the case itself.

JBL Live Free 2's charging case has a battery life of 28 hours, more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 10 hours

Charge Time

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 3hours
JBL Live Free 2

It requires 3 hours to fully charge the Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery. It is recommended to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for extended periods.

Has Wireless Charging

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

Bowers & Wilkins PI7, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you just put down on a compatible charging pad.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a battery level indicator, an indicator alerts you when the device has a low battery. The battery indicator lights display the charging state of your earbuds and charging case.

JBL Live Free 2 too have a battery level indicator, these allow you determine the charging state of your device, if charged fully, or having a low battery.

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.

JBL Live Free 2 too support USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug comes along with most current electronics.

Bluetooth Version

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 v5
JBL Live Free 2 v5.2

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

JBL Live Free 2 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, newer than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 10meters
JBL Live Free 2 10meters

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.

JBL Live Free 2 have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Has Aac

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support AAC, a codec that is 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.

Being the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 will work fine with your iPhone. If you are planning on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

Has Aptx Adaptive

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

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).

Has Aptx Hd

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

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).

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 6only
JBL Live Free 2 6only

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have 6 microphones.

The JBL Live Free 2 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 background sounds.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are designed to filter out noise from the desired sound.

The JBL Live Free 2 too have a noise-canceling microphone. Especially useful in noisy areas.

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient sound so that they can still be heard even while wearing the earbuds

The JBL Live Free 2 support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, say you’re having a run but still want to be able to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears .

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

When misplaced in a room, or can't be found in your bag, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a find earbuds feature.

Supports Fast Charging

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device.

The JBL Live Free 2 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 30 minutes.

Multipoint Count

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2 2only

The JBL Live Free 2 support multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you connect 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.

Has A Mute Function

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a mute function, they have the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.

The JBL Live Free 2 too support this function. The mute function means that you unilaterally turn off the device's microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

With the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the earbuds.

The JBL Live Free 2 too have a control panel on them.

Has Voice Prompts

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, like if there is an issue with the connection.

JBL Live Free 2 also support voice prompts .i.e the earbuds will notify you if the battery is low, and you need to recharge the device.

Travel Bag Is Included

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
JBL Live Free 2

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 come with their own special pouch. Carrying earphones without a case, or placing them inside your bag without a casing can easily damage them.

JBL Live Free 2 too have a case included, which offers safe transportation.

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