After being able to spend some time with the new Pi8 from Bowers and Wilkins, there's quite a lot to be excited for. The totally redesigned earbud is meant to proceed the Pi7 S2, and comes in at a similar $399 price tag. Some audiophiles appreciated these quarks, while others found better alternatives for their needs.The most notable one being the Sennheiser Momentum 4. In my extensive testing, I wanted to see if B&W addressed these concerns in order to warrant the price, and how they compare to one of the best Sennheiser products in the catalogue. Let's find out how the Pi8 performs compared to the Momentum 4.

What’s in the box?

• Momentum 4 Earbuds Ear tips sets (XS/S/M/L) Ear fin sets (S/M/L) Charging case & USB-C cable Quick guide & safety guide

  Pi8 True Wireless Earbuds Extra Small / Small / Medium / Large ear tips 60 cm USB-C to USB-C charging cable 80 cm 3.5 mm jack to USB-C audio cable

Design

The Pi8 boasts a 12mm Carbon Cone dynamic driver that’s been completely redesigned, promising a massive leap in sound quality over the Pi7 S2. Featuring aptX™ Lossless, aptX™ Adaptive, aptX™ Classic, AAC, and SBC Bluetooth CODECS, this ensures seamless audio transmission.

With an IP54 waterproof rating, the Pi8 is perfect for workouts, and the DSP with true 24-bit decoding guarantees you’ll experience the most out of your lossless streaming. An in-app 5-band EQ allows you to customize the sound signature to your liking, while the 3 mics in each earbud ensure crystal-clear call quality.

Instead of discussing the tech specs of the Momentum 4, I think it's most valuable to compare the most differences between each. For more details look at our original review of the Momentum 4.

Right off the bat, the 7mm driver is noticably less sensitive than the 12mm driver in the Pi8. This impacts the sound quality but what's more noticeable is the effect on battery life. The 20-hour total playtime of the Pi8 is average when compared to Sennheiser's 30-hour battery life.

In terms of CODECs, but there's a major difference in how they're implemented. The Pi8 boasts true 24-bit decoding, whereas the Momentum 4 TWS only goes up to 16-bit. Although less than the Pi8, the Sennheiser is able to upsample up to 24-bit, meaning that you'll get close to that sound. Those dedicated to using lossless streaming or FLAC files will most likely prefer the Pi8 for this reason.

Comfort and fit

One of the biggest upgrades with the Pi8 is its ergonomic design. Gone are the rigid corners of the Pi7 S2, making way for a more comfortable, secure fit. At just 7 grams per earbud, the Pi8 is perfect for walking, working out, or sitting in the office. The four different sized eartips make finding the right fit easy and intuitive.

When looking at the nozzle side of both earbuds, it would be easy to convince a layman that these are identical designs. I'm not saying B&W copied the Sennheiser design, but the similarities are unquestionable. It's not surprising considering the fit of the Momentum 4 TWS is top-of the line. At 6.2 grams per earbud, these are negligibly lighter. When A-Bing both earbuds I could hardly find a difference between them. For this reason, I'm giving them a tie in terms of comfort.

Listening Impressions

Soundstage

The Pi8 offers an intimate soundstage that excels in imaging, making it feel accurate and engaging. While not the most expansive, it delivers a fantastic verticality and pinpoint details. The ANC doesn’t significantly impact the soundstage, making it perfect for those who appreciate an analytical, intimate listening experience. Comparing the Momentum 4, there's a more emphasized distance, but it feels like a much flatter kind of sound. The ANC is noticable, but doesn't reduce the sound-width.

Listening to “Storm” by Wintersun will make you appreciate the lush, full vocals, though they don't pan out as far as some might like on the Pi8. The verticality is fantastic, capturing every detail from textures to the hall reverb. Although the staging isn’t like a headphone, there’s a very good detailed presentation to the 3D quality. The Momentum 4 doesn't capture the same height in it's staging, but the reverb is more dramatic.

The Pi8 has a unique sound that’s unlike many other earbuds in the price category, and it’s definitely something fellow audiophiles will want to hear. The Momentum 4 offers a more horizontal soundstage, that's more reminiscent of an earbud. Whether it's from the reduced bit-rate or driver size, it's difficult competing with the Pi8 in terms of staging.

Bass

Most high-end earbuds do their best to convey low-end information. All too often, I describe TWS earbuds as having a “bass sound” rather than a “bass experience”. The Pi8 is unique in the fact that I can honestly say I’m ‘experiencing’ the bass rather than listening to it. The sub-bass is palpable and exciting, while the more discernible mid and high bass fill out the entire sound signature. The Pi8 provides a bass experience that’s booming and palpable, perfect for tracks like “Elevate In Madness” by Candiria. The bass is punchy and full, without being muddy, and works well even on warmer tracks like “I’ve Seen Heaven” by Felix Ames. 

Those of you who are familiar with the Sennheiser house sound know that they've built their reputation with flat sounding equipment. The Momentum 4 TWS is no exception, albeit with some differences. The bass is higher than flat, but only by 3-4db. When listening to "Elevate in Madness" there was still a deep bass sound, despite it not feeling as heavy as the Pi8. Similarly, the pluckiness of the bass and it's harmonics are more exaggerated. In summation, those seeking a balanced sound will prefer the Momentum 4 while bass lovers will lean towards the Momentum 4.

Mids

The mids on the Pi8 are V-shaped, providing fullness and warmth without sacrificing clarity. Instruments and vocals come through with excellent dynamics and detail. The Momentum 4 is significantly flatter, with a more dramatic boost in the upper mids.

On “Letters of Marque” by Allan Holdsworth, ghost notes on the snare are crisp, and the guitar solo has great body and resonance on the Pi8. No matter how heavy the bass can get, there’s enough detail in the guitar and drum sounds. The timbre of the midrange is excellent considering how much low-end these frequencies have to compete with. The Momentum 4 on the other hand seems to specialize in it's midrange. All of these elements present on the Pi8 come out with even more clarity but less warmth. The timbre is also very pleasing, but there's a distinct lack of heaviness in these sounds.

On “oh my love” by FKA Twigs, there’s a sharpness in the mix that allows her vocals to cut through with fantastic clarity. The brightness of the vocals mixes well with the heavy low-end of the Pi8 sound signature, and provides a fantastic listening experience sure to please even the most picky audiophiles. Details come from the 1.5kHz-2.5kHz regions, which have a very natural sounding boost. Nothing pokes out, or is too overwhelming. Meanwhile, the Momentum 4 is able to present the brightness of this mix more accurately. The shimmering vocals aren't tamed, but highlighted by the high-mid boost. Voices have more room to be displayed due to the more subdued low end.

Highs

The highs are relatively neutral, adhering to the harman curve, making cymbals sound clear without being sibilant. They complement the lower frequencies rather than compete with them.

Listening to “Truckin’” by Grateful Dead (performed on 4/12/1978 in Durham, NC), Jerry Garcia’s tone is reigned in but remains clear, perfect for live recordings. Jerry Garcia’s tone is synonymous with diamond cutting high end, which shears through almost any mix. On the Pi8 it’s much more reigned in but not ducked down in the mix. The Momentum 4 on the other hand is able to accurately present the shimmering qualities of this track. There are more shimmering/tactile qualities to the Momentum 4.

The Pi8 isn't an airy sounding earbud, so if you like that sort of sound, these may not be perfect for you. On the other hand, if you’re a bass-head who still wants details and clarity in their sound, then the way the Pi8 is tuned achieves that. The Momentum 4 is able to capture more treble because it isn't competing with such a heavy bass tuning.

Conclusion

The Pi8 isn’t just a pair of earbuds; it’s a musical journey. Whether you’re working out, commuting, or relaxing at home, the Pi8 promises to deliver an unparalleled audio experience. I can safely say that the Pi8 is different enough from the Pi7 S2 to warrant the upgrade. When compared to the Sennheiser Momentum 4 TWS, there's some noticeable differences. The Sennheiser has a more balanced sound that has a greater emphasis on details. The Pi8 to my ears, has a more exciting, bass heavy tuning that brings a lot of fullness out of thin recordings. For me, I see the Pi8 as a truly high end option that outperforms the Momentum 4. Let me know which one's you'd pick in the comments below.