Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Sony Linkbuds S Review In Detail

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 IP54

Sony LinkBuds S IPX4

IP ratings refer to the level of protection offered by a casing, against solids and water. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating 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 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 number 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, Sony LinkBuds S 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

Weight

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 50g

Sony LinkBuds S 9.6g

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

The Sony LinkBuds S, at 9.6g are lighter than the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 with a difference -40.4g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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

Sony LinkBuds S also is true wireless since it doesn't have wires linking the pair of earbuds together.

Sweat Resistance

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✗

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Sony LinkBuds S are resistant to sweat

Has Stereo Speakers

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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 Sony LinkBuds S also have stereo speakers

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

ANC makes use of more advanced kind of tech to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. How it works, it studies the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and after generates a mirror signal to counter it. In simple terms, it's like taking +1 (noise) and producing -1 (counter sound by the device) to make zero resulting in a reduced level of noise.

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have ANC enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue since you don't need to crank up the device volume to outcompete background noise.

The Sony LinkBuds S too have Active Noise Cancellation which makes both earbuds ideal for plane rides and morning travels. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 and Sony LinkBuds S operate with different noise cancellation modes, pick the mode that you prefer for travel or that suites your relaxation time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 stay tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal that tones down your environment noise and also prevents the earbuds voice audio from leaking out at the same.

Both of these devices have passive noise reduction this implies that they limit ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 9.2mm

Sony LinkBuds S 5mm

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a unit size of 9.2mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass. The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device, the unit size determines the loudness of the device.

Sony LinkBuds S driver unit is 5mm in diameter, which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 4.2mm , a common assumption that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yes, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not mean that they deliver better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 10Hz

Sony LinkBuds S 20Hz

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

Sony LinkBuds S's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this implies that Bowers & Wilkins PI7 can produce a juicier bass than the Sony LinkBuds S

Highest Frequency

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 20,000Hz

Sony LinkBuds S 40,000Hz

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device generates high human frequencies and if it adjustments to the signal on its way through.

Sony LinkBuds S's highest frequency is at 40,000Hz, this implies that Sony LinkBuds S produce a clearer and crispier treble than the Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Vs. Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Review

Battery Life

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 4.5hours

Sony LinkBuds S 6hours

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 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.

Sony LinkBuds S's battery life is more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 1.5 hours . Every time you recharge your earbuds, 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.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 18hours

Sony LinkBuds S 14hours

This 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 many times before having to recharge the case itself.

Sony LinkBuds S's charging case has a battery life of 14 hours, less than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 4 hours

Charge Time

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 3hours

Sony LinkBuds S 2hours

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 for the first time.

Sony LinkBuds S takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 1 hours

Has Wireless Charging

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✗

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

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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

Sony LinkBuds S too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators allow you to determine the charging state of your device, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low.

Has Usb Type-C

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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

Sony LinkBuds S too support USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug comes along with most current electronics.

Bluetooth Version

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 v5

Sony LinkBuds S v5.2

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

Sony LinkBuds S 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

Sony LinkBuds S 10meters

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

Sony LinkBuds S have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Has Aac

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 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 Bowers & Wilkins PI7 will work fine with your iPad. If you intend on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

The Sony LinkBuds S 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.

Has Ldac

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✗

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

The Sony LinkBuds S support LDAC, a codec developed by Sony which allows streaming high-resolution audio over Bluetooth connections at up to 990 kbps at 32 bit/96 kHz. It can reach a high bitrate of 990kbps, providing high-resolution audio.

Has Aptx Adaptive

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✗

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 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✗

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).

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Vs. Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Review

Number Of Microphones

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 6only

Sony LinkBuds S 6only

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have 6 microphones.

Sony LinkBuds S microphones are 6, equal to that of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 . More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background sounds.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✗

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

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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

The Sony LinkBuds S support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of your surrounding, for example when you’re having a run but would still want to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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 Sony LinkBuds S support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears saving battery life.

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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

The Sony LinkBuds S too have the find earbuds feature. You can use the device app on your phone to play a sound from your device to find them.

Supports Fast Charging

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support fast charging. Commonly, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to fully charge a device.

The Sony LinkBuds S too support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, just that the battery fills up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in just thirty minutes.

Has A Mute Function

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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

The Sony LinkBuds S also support this function. It means that you unilaterally turn off the device's microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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

Sony LinkBuds S too have a control panel on them.

Has Voice Prompts

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

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

Sony LinkBuds S too have voice prompts meaning the earbuds will notify you when the battery is low, and you need to recharge them.

Travel Bag Is Included

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 ✓

Sony LinkBuds S ✓

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 come with a special pouch. Carrying earbuds openly, or placing them in your pockets without a casing can easily damage them.

Sony LinkBuds S also have a case included, which is useful for safe transportation.

Jbl Endurance Peak 3 Vs. Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Review

Category	Features	Bowers & Wilkins PI7	Sony LinkBuds S
DESIGN	ingress protection (ip) rating	IP54	IPX4
	weight	50g	9.6g
	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	5mm
	lowest frequency	10Hz	20Hz
	highest frequency	20,000Hz	40,000Hz
POWER	battery life	4.5hours	6hours
	battery life of charging case	18hours	14hours
	charge time	3hours	2hours
	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 ldac	✗	✓
	has aptx adaptive	✓	✗
	has aptx hd	✓	✗
MICROPHONE	number of microphones	6only	6only
MICROPHONE	has a noise-canceling microphone	✓	✗
EXTRAS	has ambient sound mode	✓	✓
	has in/on-ear detection	✓	✓
	has find earbuds feature	✓	✓
	supports fast charging	✓	✓
	has a mute function	✓	✓
	control panel placed on a device	✓	✓
	has voice prompts	✓	✓
	travel bag is included	✓	✓
		See price on Amazon	See price on Amazon

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Sony Linkbuds S Review

Reasons why you might like the Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Reasons why you might like the Sony LinkBuds S

Related Reviews

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Sony Linkbuds S Review In Summary

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Sony Linkbuds S Review In Detail

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Weight

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

Lowest Frequency

Highest Frequency

Power

Battery Life

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Charge Time

Has Wireless Charging

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Bluetooth Version

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Has Aac

Has Ldac

Has Aptx Adaptive

Has Aptx Hd

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Supports Fast Charging

Has A Mute Function

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Has Voice Prompts

Travel Bag Is Included