IP ratings refer to the rating of protection given by an enclosure, against dust and water. The letters 'IP' are followed by two values The first value of the IP rating means protection against solids such as dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (sweat).
Having a value of IP54, the JBL Wave Buds'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 JBL Wave Buds, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a rating of IP54 meaning that
they both have the same rating against dust
and that of liquids is that,
they both have the same rating against liquids
The JBL Wave Buds have a weight of 9g . We take in account a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to transport.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7, at 50g
weigh more than the JBL Wave Buds by of 41g
True wireless devices have no wires linking any part of the device together, JBL Wave Buds are true wireless for this matter since they don't have cables. This is a key distinction since wireless earbuds have cables linking the pair of earbuds together. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also is true wireless since it has no wires linking the 2 earbuds .
JBL Wave Buds are resistant to sweat
JBL Wave Buds have stereo speakers, what this means is that JBL Wave Buds's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also have stereo speakers
ANC makes use of advanced technology to actively counter noise. How it works, it studies the sound pattern of incoming noise and after inverts the soundwaves to counter it. Simply put, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) and producing -1 (counter sound by the device) to make 0 thus "diluting" the noise.
JBL Wave Buds have ANC allowing you to listen at lower levels of volume, causing less ear fatigue as you don't need to crank up the earbuds volume to overcome background noise. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have ANC which makes both devices ideal for plane rides and rush hour travels. The JBL Wave Buds and Bowers & Wilkins PI7 operate with different noise cancellation settings, pick the setting that you prefer for commute or that enhances your chill time.
The JBL Wave Buds stay well in place, creating a sound seal that reduces background noise well as preventing the earbuds sound from leaking out .
Both Bowers & Wilkins PI7, and JBL Wave Buds have passive noise reduction which implies that they tone down ambient noise without using ANC to cancel it out. The JBL Wave Buds have a unit size of 8mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, therefor producing better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the device.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 driver unit is 9.2mm in diameter,
making them have a larger driver unit than that of JBL Wave Buds by 1.2mm
, 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 yeah, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not indicate that they produce better quality sound. JBL Wave Buds's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio component produces low recognizable frequencies and if it alters the signal while at it.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, this means that
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 can produce a juicier bass than the JBL Wave Buds
The JBL Wave Buds's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response tells how well an audio device generates high audible frequencies and if it changes to the signal on its way through. Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this means that
both devices can generate equal treble
SPL, is the pressure level of sound, in decibels, dB, JBL Wave Buds's measurement is 100dB/mW. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source.
The JBL Wave Buds's battery life is 8 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 JBL Wave Buds by 3.5 hours
. Every time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less playing time.
The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time. This is given by the vendor, and JBL Wave Buds's case is said to have a full charge of 24 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before having to recharge the case itself.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's charging case has a battery life of 18 hours,
less than that of JBL Wave Buds by 6 hours
It takes 2 hours to fully charge the JBL Wave Buds's battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been unused for long periods. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 takes 3 hours to fully charge the battery,
more than that of JBL Wave Buds by 1 hours
The JBL Wave Buds have a battery level indicator, an indicator alerts you when the earbuds has a low battery.
Its lights display the charging state of your earbuds and charging case. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have a battery level indicator, these allow you to tell the charging state of your device, if charged fully, or having a low battery. The JBL Wave Buds use USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power in a single cable.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too use USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current electronics. JBL Wave Buds have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 has a Bluetooth version of 5,
older than that of JBL Wave Buds
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers. JBL Wave Buds have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the JBL Wave Buds
JBL Wave Buds support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio.
It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because 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 JBL Wave Buds will work fine with your iPhone.
If you intend on using these with Android , 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.
The JBL Wave Buds 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 means both can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as listening to HD audio from other devices. JBL Wave Buds have 2 microphones.
While the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 microphones are 6,
more than that of JBL Wave Buds by 4
. More microphones record better sound quality and help the earbuds to filter out background sounds. The JBL Wave Buds have a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are intended to filter out noise from the earbuds' sound. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too use a noise-canceling type of microphone.
This is useful in noisy environments. JBL Wave Buds microphone sensitivity is measured at -38dBV/Pa. The extent of the analog or digital output signal from the microphone with its input stimulus is a calculation of its sensitivity.
It's the 'loudness' of the voice that the microphone can recognize. JBL Wave Buds support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound so that they can still be heard even while wearing the earbuds
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 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 jog but still want to be able to hear traffic. The JBL Wave Buds support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears .
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 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 JBL Wave Buds have a find earbuds feature. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have the find earbuds feature. You can use the earbuds app on your smartphone to play a sound from your device to find them.
JBL Wave Buds support fast charging. Most often, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to charge the earbuds. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support fast charging.
This kind is similar to regular charging, only that the battery fills up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in just thirty minutes. JBL Wave Buds support multipoint of 2 connections, this feature allows you to link to more than one Bluetooth device and switch between them.
Say, you can seemlessly switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect. JBL Wave Buds have a mute function, they support the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have this function.
The mute function means that you are in position turn off the earbuds' microphone, but you can still hear the other party talk. With the JBL Wave Buds, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also have a control panel on them.
JBL Wave Buds have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, like if there is an issue with the connection. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also support voice prompts meaning the earbuds notifies you if the battery is running low, and you need to recharge them.
The JBL Wave Buds come with their own special pouch. Carrying earphones openly, or placing them inside your pockets without a cover can easily damage them. Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also have a travel bag included, which is useful for safe transportation.
