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

A Review By Comparison of the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jbl Live Pro 2

Last updated on Mar 14, 2023   8 minute read
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JBL Live Pro 2

JBL Live Pro 2

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Reasons why you might like the JBL Live Pro 2

Overall Score 7.2 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IPX5
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 10 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
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

A summary of the review by feature comparison

Category Features JBL Live Pro 2 Bowers & Wilkins PI7
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating ipX5 ip54
weight 9.6g 50g
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 11mm 9.2mm
lowest frequency 20hz 10hz
highest frequency 20,000hz 20,000hz
sound pressure level 93db/mw
POWER battery life 10hours 4.5hours
battery life of charging case 30hours 18hours
charge time 2hours 3hours
battery power 65mah
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 aptx adaptive
has aptx hd
MICROPHONE number of microphones 6only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone
mic sensitivity -38dbv/pa
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
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A breakdown of the review per specifications

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

JBL Live Pro 2 ipX5
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ip54

Ingress protection ratings refer to the level of protection given by a casing, against solids and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating means protection against solids say dust, followed by the one that refers to resistance against liquids (sweat).

Having a value of 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.

Compared to the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, JBL Live Pro 2 have a rating of IPX5 meaning that no data available to specify a protection rating and that of liquids is that, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 has a lower liquid rating than JBL Live Pro 2

Weight

JBL Live Pro 2 9.6g
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 50g

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a weight of 50g . We prefer a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to carry.

The JBL Live Pro 2, at 9.6g weigh less than the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by -40.4g

Has No Wires Or Cables

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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 cables. This is a major distinction as some wireless earbuds have wires linking the two earbuds .

JBL Live Pro 2 also is true wireless since it doesn't have wires linking the two earbuds .

Sweat Resistance

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

JBL Live Pro 2 are resistant to sweat

Has Stereo Speakers

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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 JBL Live Pro 2 also have stereo speakers

JBL Live Pro 2
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Active noise cancellation makes use of more advanced technology to actively cancel noise. How it works, it studies the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and after inverts the soundwaves to counter it. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) then adding -1 (counter sound by the device) to make zero therefore "diluting" the noise.

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

JBL Live Pro 2 too have ANC which makes either of the devices ideal for flights and rush hour travels. Each operate with different noise cancellation settings, pick the mode that suits your travel or that enhances your relaxation time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 sit well in place, creating a sound seal that reduces background noise well as preventing the device music from leaking out at the same.

Both JBL Live Pro 2, and Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have passive noise reduction which implies that they tone down ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

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

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a unit size of 9.2mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the earbuds, the unit size corellates with the loudness of the device.

JBL Live Pro 2 driver unit is 11mm in diameter, making them have a larger driver unit than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 1.8mm , as many tend to believe 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 are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not imply that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

JBL Live Pro 2 20hz
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 10hz

Bowers & Wilkins PI7's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device produces low recognizable frequencies and if it alters the signal while at it.

JBL Live Pro 2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that Bowers & Wilkins PI7 can produce a juicier bass than the JBL Live Pro 2

Highest Frequency

JBL Live Pro 2 20,000hz
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 20,000hz

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response tells how well a particular audio device produces high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.

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

Sound Pressure Level

JBL Live Pro 2 93db/mw
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

The sound pressure level, is the pressure level of sound, measured in decibels, dB, JBL Live Pro 2's measurement is 93dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.

Power

Battery Life

JBL Live Pro 2 10hours
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 4.5hours

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 commonly given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

JBL Live Pro 2's battery life is more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 5.5 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 have shorter listening time.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

JBL Live Pro 2 30hours
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 18hours

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

JBL Live Pro 2's charging case has a battery life of 30 hours, more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 12 hours

Charge Time

JBL Live Pro 2 2hours
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 3hours

It takes 3 hours to fully charge the Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been unused for extended periods.

JBL Live Pro 2 takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 1 hours

Battery Power

JBL Live Pro 2 65mah
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

JBL Live Pro 2's battery capacity is 65mAh, battery power, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store.

Has Wireless Charging

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

JBL Live Pro 2 also support wireless charging, always look out for the charging standard of a device.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

JBL Live Pro 2 too have a battery level indicator, these enable you to tell the charging state of your device, whether fully charged, or having a low battery.

JBL Live Pro 2
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

JBL Live Pro 2 too have USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets.

Bluetooth Version

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

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

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

Maximum Bluetooth Range

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

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

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

Has Aac

JBL Live Pro 2
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 provides better results than other codecs at the same bit rate.

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

Has Aptx Adaptive

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

The 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).

JBL Live Pro 2 support APTX Adaptive as well which implies that both can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as reducing interference from other devices.

Has Aptx Hd

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

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

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have 6 microphones.

JBL Live Pro 2 microphones are 6, equal to that of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 . More microphones record better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background sounds.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

The JBL Live Pro 2 too have a noise-canceling type of microphone. This is useful in noisy environments.

Mic Sensitivity

JBL Live Pro 2 -38dbv/pa
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

The JBL Live Pro 2 microphone sensitivity is measured at -38dBV/Pa. The size of the analog or digital output signal from the microphone with its input stimulus is a measure of its sensitivity. It's the 'loudness' of the sound that the earbud microphone can pick up.

JBL Live Pro 2
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

The JBL Live Pro 2 support ambient sound mode as well, helpful when you want to listen to music while being aware of what’s happening around you, say you’re having a jog but would still want to be able to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when removed from your ears so that the music is paused.

JBL Live Pro 2 support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears improving your listening experience.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

The JBL Live Pro 2 too have the find earbuds feature. Use the device app on your smartphone to play a sound from your device to help you locate them.

Supports Fast Charging

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support fast charging. Usually, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to fully charge the earbuds.

JBL Live Pro 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

JBL Live Pro 2 2only
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

The JBL Live Pro 2 have a multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you connect to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them. Say, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without manually disconnect and reconnect.

Has A Mute Function

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

The JBL Live Pro 2 also have this function. The mute function means that you unilaterally turn off the earbuds' microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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

JBL Live Pro 2 also have a control panel on them.

Warranty Period

JBL Live Pro 2 1years
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

The JBL Live Pro 2 have a warranty period of 1 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals.

Has Voice Prompts

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information through audio messages, like if there is a problem with the connection.

The JBL Live Pro 2 too support voice prompts .i.e the device will notify you if the battery is running low, and it's time to recharge them.

Travel Bag Is Included

JBL Live Pro 2
Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 come with their own special pouch. Carrying earphones openly, or placing them in your pockets without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged.

JBL Live Pro 2 too have a travel bag included, which offers safe transportation.

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